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.
                                                                                   

###

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...