Friday, June 27, 2014

ARCH Becomes ADRC

New Name Same Great Organization

 Adult Resources for Care and Help (ARCH) has changed their name. The statewide organization will now be known as ADRC or Aging & Disability Resources of Colorado. ADRC is housed in the Mesa County Department of Human Services and will continue to provide the same excellent service to residents with the new name.

Aging & Disability Resources of Colorado (ADRC), is a resource center for older adults and adults with disabilities who are exploring options for long-term care services. 

ADRC or Aging & Disability Resources of Colorado is a unique and exciting program that is available to adults 60 years and older as well as adults 18 years and older with a disability. The ADRC program provides a "one-stop shop" approach for accessing long term care services and community resource. This is accomplished by an extensive collaboration with community partners.

ADRC Director Christie Higgins said “The only change will be the name.  ADRC Resource Specialists remain the same and they will continue to help families navigate the long-term care system. The same reliable Resource Specialists will continue to make all the same referrals for services, identify resources and assist with the application process of long-term care across Western Colorado.”

The ADRC program connects adult disabled or elderly residents with basic needs such as transportation, handyman assistance, caregiver respite, home-maker episodic assistance and an in home program called Home Connections. ADRC also has financial assistance programs that can potentially assist with durable medical equipment, dental and/or vision care that is not otherwise covered (please inquire about eligibility requirements).

Contact Christie Higgins for an interview call 970 257-2203 or christie.higgins@mesacounty.us
For an ARDC Resource Specialist in your county:
MESA COUNTY - 970-248-2746
GARFIELD / RIO BLANCO / MOFFAT / ROUTT COUNTIES - 970-963-1639
DELTA / MONTROSE / GUNNISON / HINSDALE / OURAY / SAN MIGUEL COUNTIES - 970-249-2436  http://www.wc211.org/arch-of-mesa-county
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Wednesday, June 18, 2014

You Don't Have to Be Perfect to Be the Perfect Parent!

Foster Care of Mesa County is need of foster care families. The need is especially urgent for school aged children 6-18 years old.

In a community as giving and caring as Mesa County it seems unfathomable these children are being sent to other counties to find loving homes, rather than being able to stay in their community and the schools they know, says Foster Care Recruiter Sarah St. Martin. 

To help us make our plea for more foster families Foster Care of Mesa County would  be willing to present on the need and enormous benefits of foster care to the children, families and community to any local civic or church organization.  


To learn more about being the perfect parent to a school aged child in Mesa County please contact Sarah St. Martin at 970-248-2794 or sarah.stmartin@mesacounty.us

A personal story on Foster Care http://ow.ly/xQNiJ

Wednesday, June 11, 2014


CDHS Names New Director of Child Welfare
(Denver) – The Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) has named Ann M. Rosales as its new Director, Division of Child Welfare, in the CDHS Office of Children, Youth and Families (OCYF). Ann currently serves Mesa County as Administrator in Child Welfare.

Rosales has more than 20 years of experience in the Child Welfare field, most recently serving as the Mesa County Department of Human Services Child Welfare Administrator.

She has helped to bring prevention efforts to Mesa County, including SafeCare, the Colorado Community Response Program, family engagement initiatives, permanency roundtables, and kinship supports through the Title IV-E Initiative.

"Ann brings a wealth of front-line experience to this critical position at CDHS," said Julie Krow, Director, Office of Children, Youth and Families. "Her focus on best practice, accountability and transparency fits perfectly with the strategic direction of Governor Hickenlooper’s Child Welfare Plan."

Her immediate responsibilities will include strategic planning for the Division and working with OCYF to align programs that serve youth.

She begins her new duties August 4. 

Colorado Welfare Fraud Council Awards
Mesa County Deputy District Attorney, Zeerip Prosecutor of the Year

 Mesa County Department of Human Services and Mesa County District Attorney’s Office are pleased to announce Deputy District Attorney; Bo Zeerip of the 21st Judicial District has been awarded State Prosecutor of the Year from the Colorado Welfare Fraud Council (CWFC).


Zeerip has been with the District Attorney’s office for seven years and was nominated by Mesa County Department of Human Service’s Susan Skyberg,.  Skyberg described Zeerip in the following way “Throughout this process, prosecutor Bo Zeerip was awesome to work with.  Bo was very inclusive during the 2 year process and kept me informed of the developments in this case every step of the way.  He included me in the sentencing decisions and wanted to make sure our wishes were considered, even though he didn’t have to.”
 “Bo does outstanding work for us here in the District Attorney’s Office, he is truly deserving of this statewide recognition.” said Mesa County District Attorney, Pete Hautzinger.

 Prosecutor of the Year award recognizes an individual who has made an outstanding contribution and/or shown excellence in the prosecution of welfare fraud.

The Colorado Welfare Fraud Council (CWFC) is a non-profit statewide organization comprised of city, county, state, and federal employees who work in some capacity
with the various public assistance programs available to people in Colorado.  The members are dedicated to the detection and prevention of fraud in all public assistance
programs.
  

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

June is National Adult Protection Awareness Month

Community Leaders to Proclaim June 2014 as
National Adult Protection Awareness Month
Help us pull back the curtain on elder abuse and neglect

Mesa County, CO--- Mesa County Department of Human Services receives an average of over 70 new adult protection referrals each month.  Victims of adult abuse or neglect are at-risk adults age 18 or over who are unable to protect themselves due to age or disability.  These individuals are sometimes not aware of the resources in our community and often have no one else to protect them.

 Approximately 46% of the victims are over 70 years old and are physically impaired or have some form of dementia.  The younger at-risk adult victims are persons with physical or mental disabilities.  Abuse, exploitation and neglect are caused by a member of the victim’s own family in a large percentage of cases. These residents are often vulnerable to assault, burglary, fraud and other crimes because they cannot provide for their own care and protection.

A schedule of recognition proclamations is as follows:
City of Grand Junction - Wednesday, June 4th at 7pm, Grand Junction City Hall
Mesa County Commissioners - Monday, June 9th at 9am, old county courthouse
Town of Palisade – Tuesday, June 10th, 6pm Palisade Town Hall

The Mesa County Department of Human Services is committed to advocating for people’s rights.  Senior citizens and persons with disabilities are vital members of our families, our society, and our community.  Colorado will become a Mandatory Reporting state effective 07/01/2014.   Historically, 1 in 5 cases of adult abuse are actually reported.  Adult abuse encompasses many different types of harms and can occur in community, home or institutional settings. It is hoped that Mandatory Reporting will increase the number of referrals and provide greater safety for the older adults in our community.
For more information on suspected adult abuse and neglect please visit www.humanservices.mesacounty.us or call the Adult Protection Hotline at 248-2888, option 2.  Callers can remain anonymous if they so chose.


Services Closed in Observance of Independence Day 2020

In observance of Independence Day, all Mesa County Department of Human Services offices will be closed on Friday, July 3. All offices wi...