Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Holiday Hours for Mesa County Department of Human Services Offices


In observance of the Christmas holiday and New Years, all Mesa County Department of Human Services offices will be closed on Wednesday, December 25 and Wednesday, January 1. 

Closed offices:
Department of Human Services Administrative Offices (510 29 ½ Road)
Adult Protection (510 29 ½ Road)
SEP (510 29 ½ Road)
Child Welfare (510 29 ½ Road)
Economic Assistance (510 29 ½ Road)
Workforce Center (512 29 ½ Road)

Have a happy and safe Holiday Season!

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

All Mesa County Department of Human Services office will be closed for Thanksgiving


In observance of Thanksgiving, all Mesa County Department of Human Services offices will be closed on Thursday, November 28, and Friday, November 29. All offices will reopen for business on Monday, December 2.

Closed offices:
Department of Human Services Administrative Offices (510 29 ½ Road)
Adult Protection (510 29 ½ Road)
SEP (510 29 ½ Road)
Child Welfare (510 29 ½ Road)
Economic Assistance (510 29 ½ Road)
Workforce Center (512 29 ½ Road)

Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving!

Monday, November 4, 2019

In Observance of Veterans Day, Mesa County Department of Human Services offices will be Closed


In observance of Veterans Day, all Mesa County Department of Human Services offices will be closed on Monday, November 11. All offices will reopen for business on Tuesday, November 12.

Closed offices:
Department of Human Services Administrative Offices (510 29 ½ Road)
Adult Protection (510 29 ½ Road)
SEP (510 29 ½ Road)
Child Welfare (510 29 ½ Road)
Economic Assistance (510 29 ½ Road)
Workforce Center (512 29 ½ Road)

Have a happy and safe Veterans Day!

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Department of Human Services Closure on Monday, September 2, in observance of Labor Day

In observance of Labor Day, all Mesa County Department of Human Services offices will be closed on Monday, September 2. All offices will reopen for business on Tuesday, September 3.

Closed offices:
Department of Human Services Administrative Offices (510 29 ½ Road)
Adult Protection (510 29 ½ Road)
SEP (510 29 ½ Road)
Child Welfare (510 29 ½ Road)
Economic Assistance (510 29 ½ Road)
Workforce Center (512 29 ½ Road)

Have a happy and safe holiday, and Labor Day!

Wednesday, June 26, 2019

Department of Human Services Closures on Thursday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day


In observance of Independence Day, all Mesa County Department of Human Services offices will be closed on Thursday, July 4. All offices will reopen for business on Friday, July 5.

Closed offices:
Department of Human Services Administrative Offices (510 29 ½ Road)
Adult Protection (510 29 ½ Road)
SEP (510 29 ½ Road)
Child Welfare (510 29 ½ Road)
Economic Assistance (510 29 ½ Road)
Workforce Center (512 29 ½ Road)

Have a happy and safe holiday, and Independence Day!

Tuesday, June 18, 2019

Mesa County Workforce Center and Hilltop Celebrate Spring 2019 GED Graduation

2019 Spring GED graduates
Back, left to right:Andrea Gustafson, Ayla Morgan, Dalton Rader, Joshua Tracy, Sarah Doll, Ashley Lange
Front, left to right: Lynae Fisher, Kyley Rowell, Jorge Aragon

On June 14, members of the Mesa County Workforce Center, Hilltop Resource Center, friends and family members gathered at the Workforce Center to take part in and watch the graduation ceremony for the GED class of Spring 2019. Student speakers, elected by their fellow classmates, were Lynae Fisher and Jorge Aragon. This the the 3rd GED graduation held at the Workforce Center.

Class elected speaker: Lynae Fisher

Class elected speaker: Jorge Aragon

Class valedictorian: Ayla Morgan

Wednesday, June 12, 2019

Western Slope Alliance Livable Communities Conversation



Please join the Mesa County Workforce Center, AARP Colorado and other local partners for a FREE community conversation about making Grand Junction, Mesa County and the Western Slope even more livable for people of all ages. AARP Colorado’s entire eight-member staff and seven-member volunteer Executive Council will be on hand to hear from local residents and businesses, and to discuss their priorities in areas of federal and state advocacy as well as ways to make Western Slope communities even more age-friendly.


RSVP is required. Call 1-877-926-8300 or register online by June 19, 2019.

Western Slope Community Alliance
    Mesa County Workforce Center
    AARP Colorado
    City of Fruita
    Club 20
    Grand Junction Housing Authority
    Hope West
    Mesa County Council on Aging
    Western Slope Food Bank of the Rockies
    Mesa County Libraries
    Mesa County RSVP

Agenda
    7:30  AM:  Full Breakfast Available
    8:00 - 8:15 AM: Introductions:  Local Officials;  AARP Staff and Executive Council
    8:15 - 8:30 AM: AARP Age Friendly Communities Presentation,
      Bob Murphy, State Director
      Roberto Rey, Associate State Director-for Livable Communities
      John Rodwick, Western Slope Community Alliance
    8:30 – 9:30 AMPresentations- Making Western Slope Communities More Livable
    9:30 – 10:15 AM: Panel Discussion and Q & A
       Moderator- Bob Murphy, State Director, AARP Colorado
       Panelists- (1) representative from each of the nine Co-Sponsors
    10:15- 10:30 AM: AARP Advocacy Report
       Kelli Fritts, Associate State Director for Advocacy
    10:35 -10:45 AM: Wrap-Up and Moving Forward

Thursday, May 30, 2019

Free Summer Meals for your Kids


Have your kids eat free nutritious meals this summer in a safe and fun environment. Find a Summer Food Service Program site near you or text FOOD to 877-877. http://kidsfoodfinder.org/ 

Lleve a sus niños a comer alimentos nutritivos gratis este verano a un ambiente seguro y divertido. Encuentre un sitio cerca o mande un mensaje de texto con la palabra COMIDA a 877-877. http://kidsfoodfinder.org/




Tuesday, May 21, 2019

Mesa County Department of Human Services Offices will be Closed on Monday, May 27, 2019 in Observance of Memorial Day


In observance of Memorial Day, all Mesa County Department of Human Services offices will be closed.

Closed offices:
Department of Human Services Administrative Offices (510 29 ½ Road)
Adult Services (510 29 ½ Road)
Child Welfare (510 29 ½ Road)
Economic Assistance (510 29 ½ Road)
Workforce Center (512 29 ½ Road)

Have a happy and safe holiday, and Happy Memorial Day!

Important Changes to Mobile Food Pantry


Effective Monday, June 10, 2019, the Salvation Army will no longer be a distribution location for the Mobile Food Pantry. The new location will be at the Downtown Vineyard Church on the corner of 4th and Grand Avenue. The second location at Clifton Christian Church, on F 1/4 Road, will remain. Please click here to see a complete list of dates, times and services provided through Western Colorado 2-1-1 food services and programs of Mesa County.

Monday, May 20, 2019

Got Teens?? Check Out Our New Adulting Guide


Adulting can be difficult even on the best day. Growing up in society today has many different challenges young adults even a few years ago didn't face. Western Colorado 2-1-1 has made this free Guide to Adulting available to everyone. Get information about education, employment, housing and so much more. Find helpful tips on finances, health care as well as transportation. Take advantage of the included worksheets to better navigate the path of adulting. Western Colorado 2-1-1 is a free, confidential, information and referral service connecting people in need to important local community resources via the phone (888-217-1215) or on their website at www.wc211.org.

Thursday, January 17, 2019

February SNAP Benefits will be Early for Most Recipients Clients must make them last


Due to the continuing partial federal government shutdown, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the State of Colorado have released February SNAP benefits early to most recipients. The Department urges clients who received an additional SNAP payment on their EBT cards from Jan.16-20th to keep in mind that it is an advance SNAP payment for February. The additional funds are intended to help clients with their February food purchases. No additional SNAP benefits will be allotted in February. All SNAP participants will be able to use their EBT cards to purchase food as long as there are benefits on their card. Participants should plan food purchases carefully throughout January and February so their food needs are met through the partial government shutdown. If more food resources are needed during the partial government shutdown, we encourage clients to reach out to a local food bank or community agency in their area. To find those resources, please contact: Colorado 2-1-1: 844-493-8255 Hunger Free Colorado: 855-855-4626 Colorado Benefits Center: 855-871-2696 SNAP benefits will not be issued again until March, and only if the funds are available from the federal government. As additional information becomes available, we will share it.

Wednesday, January 16, 2019

SNAP Benefits/Government Shutdown


Due to the continuing partial federal government shutdown, the United States Department of Agriculture and the State of Colorado have decided to release February SNAP benefits early to most of our customers.
All SNAP participants:
● You will be able to use your EBT card to purchase food as long as you have benefits on your card. ● Plan food purchases carefully throughout January and February so your food needs are met through the partial government shutdown.
● SNAP benefits will not be issued again until March, if funds are available from the federal government.
 ● We do not have any further information about March SNAP benefits at this time.
● If you need more food resources during the partial government shutdown, we encourage you to reach out to your local food banks or community agencies in your area.

○ To find these resources in your area, please contact:
 ■ Colorado 211: 844-493-8255 or visit https://211colorado.communityos.org/cms/home
■ Hunger Free Colorado: 855-855-4626
 ■ Colorado Benefits Center: 855-871-2696
● When the shutdown ends, SNAP benefits will go back to normal. If you received an additional Food Assistance (SNAP) payment on your EBT card from January 16-20:
● This is not an additional payment for January. These are your February SNAP benefits.
● The early payment of February SNAP is meant to help with next month’s food.
● No SNAP benefits will be added in the month of February. 

Friday, January 11, 2019

Mesa County Child Welfare a State Model


Colorado received national recognition for providing financial support for the reimbursement of transportation, in HB 18-1306Improving Educational Stability For Foster Youth, as the first state to legislate the implementation of the federal law that compels school systems to ensure that, among other things, foster kids have a ride to school. 

Mesa County Department of Human Services Child Welfare Division is one of two model counties in the state accessing these funds to help keep foster kids in their school of origin.        
                                                         
Too often the community believes that child welfare is about a child’s safety when in reality a child's well-being is Child Welfare’s first goal. A child’s educational needs are equally as important as their physical safety and emotional well-being.

According to MCDHS Child Welfare Manager Hannah Webster “When a child or youth is placed into out of home placement, the child is subject to multiple changes and transitions all at once. The funding from this bill allows us to maintain some stability, structure and sense of community for a child by offering mileage reimbursement to get the child/youth to their school of origin if that is determined to be in their best interest."

Studies continue to show the more school moves a child has the less likely they are to graduate from high school. 

The Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) Administrative Review Division recently began reviewing whether county departments are following the proper process in making the best interest determination regarding a child’s potential change in schools as a result of a placement, or change in placement. Initial data reflects a need for significant improvement in this area. CDHS recognized Mesa and Arapahoe as the only two counties in the state making strides to improve that data by leveraging of HB 1306 funding for the benefit of foster families.
                                                                                   

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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...