15th Annual Caregivers Conference-Got Bounce.

Agenda For Caregivers Conference August 19, 2015

8:30 Registration

9:00am Opening Remarks

9:15-10:00am Brown & Brown

10:00-10:15 Break

10:15-11:30 Caregivers Conga(stroll vendor booths and see demonstrations)

11:30-1:00pm Keynote Luncheon Jane Barton Got Bounce 

1:00-2:15pm Gift basket giveaways 

Human Services Sends Welfare Fraud Case to DA for Prosecution

The Mesa County Department of Human Services (MCDHS) Fraud and Recovery Unit recently sent a suspected fraud case to the Mesa County District Attorney’s office totaling over $$45,970.12. The suspected fraud occurred between August 1, 2008 to October 31, 2013.  Welfare Fraud investigators uncovered enough evidence to allege the following:

Food Assistance:  $34,261.00

Medicaid               $ 8,710.16

LEAP                    $ 2,438.44 

Admin Costs          $   560.52  

Additionally, this case had School Lunch fraud associated with it.  The USDA Food and Nutrition Services/ National School Lunch Program is the victim on that portion with is $831.26

The total recovery for the investigation is 46,801.38 (all victims)

Intentionally defrauding public assistance programs consists of falsely reporting information on an application including household composition, household resources or household income. Punishment includes repayment of benefits issued and may result in a 1-year to lifetime ban from receiving public assistance benefits and/or criminal prosecution.

“Knowingly providing false information on a public assistance application in order to receive benefits is a crime and it is something we take very seriously,” said Tracey Garchar, Executive Director for the Mesa County Department of Human Services.  “These benefits are in place for people who are eligible and genuinely need them in order to help provide basic needs for their family,” added Garchar.

If you or someone you know suspects welfare fraud, please call the Mesa County Department of Human Services Welfare Fraud Hotline at 256-2421.

Foster Family Info Night

Mesa County- Foster Care of Mesa County will host a foster care informational open house, June 29, 2015 at Main Street Bagels.

Foster care families provide stability, protection and a nurturing environment while a permanent plan is made for children and their biological families.

Some of What Foster Parents do?

• Protect, nurture, guide and provide unconditional love for the children in their care
• Participate as part of the professional team that works to meet the foster child’s needs
• Provide transportation for family visits and health appointments

  “This is a great opportunity for anyone to come and ask questions about being a foster parent and to talk to foster parents about what it is like to foster. Hope to see you there!” said Connie Mercer, from Foster Care of Mesa County.

Foster Family Informational Open House:

Date: Monday June 29

Time: 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm

Location: Main Street Bagels (Vault room)

Address: 559 Main St, GJ 81501

Or call the Foster Parent Information Line at 248-2794.

Mesa County Workforce Center Receives Designation

Mesa County- The Mesa County Workforce Center has been officially designated by Governor John Hickenlooper as a Local Workforce Development Area.  In accordance with Federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and the Colorado Workforce Development Council, Mesa County demonstrated its ability to achieve this regional status by meeting all the criteria required by federal law and state policy. The designation means the Workforce Center no longer operates as part of the Colorado Rural Workforce Consortium.

“This designation will continue to allow us to quickly meet the needs of the local business community while remaining an important partner in economic development,” said Suzie Miller, Business Services Manager with the Mesa County Workforce Center.

The Mesa County Workforce Center achieved this designation due to years of impressive performance in building relationships with the business community, helping people find jobs, and assisting people in addressing barriers.

            According to the Mesa County Human Services Director, Tracey Garchar, “The Mesa County Workforce Center being designated as our own region is a different opportunity to continue to do what we have done in the past. We will still work with the State, but we won’t be part of the Rural Consortium, which is the network of rural workforce centers. We will continue with a genuine focus and value on the success of the people in our community.  As a Local Workforce Development Area we will be able to fully build and strengthen our services with business, education, and economic development efforts to meet the needs of Mesa County.”

 Mesa County has effectively been operating the Mesa County Workforce Center since 1998 as an integrated One Stop Shop for business and job seekers. This designation will strengthen the collaborations with business, industry, secondary and higher education.

Events for June 2015 for National Adult Protection Awareness Month

Mesa County Department of Human Services (MCDHS) 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 & events for June is as follows:

City of Grand Junction - Wednesday, June 17th at 7pm, Grand Junction City Hall

Town of Palisade – Tuesday, June 9^th, 6pm Palisade Town Hall

City of Fruita –Tuesday June 16^th, 7pm, Fruita City Hall

Annual Adult Protection Awareness Luncheon-Thursday June 18, DHS Room 1060 1:30-3:00pm

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.  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.

Commissioners to Proclaim May NATIONAL FOSTER/KINSHIP PARENT APPRECIATION MONTH

Commissioners to Proclaim May

NATIONAL FOSTER/KINSHIP PARENT APPRECIATION MONTH

Mesa County, CO- The Mesa County Commissioners will Proclaim May as National Foster/Kinship Parent Appreciation Month on Monday May 18^th at 9:00am. The Proclamation will be signed at the old County Courthouse, 544 Rood, in the Public Hearing Room. Members of the media are invited to attend. DHS staff and a Foster Family (The Sipes) will be accepting the Proclamation and will be on hand for interviews immediately following the Proclamation.

In Mesa County there are nearly 300 children and youth in foster care.  There are over 180 Foster and Kinship families, in Mesa County, who open their homes and hearts to children. These Foster/Kinship families and play a vital role in helping children and families heal and reconnect, thus launching children into successful adulthood. During the month of May we take the opportunity to thank these heroes of our community for providing loving safe homes for children and families in crisis.

More Foster/kinship families are needed to provide stability and love to children of all ages in Mesa County.  If you are interested in becoming a Foster Parent contact Foster Care of Mesa County at 970 683 2607. 

Colorado Welfare Fraud Council Awards

Mesa County Deputy District Attorney, Garcia Prosecutor of the Year

Mesa County—For the second year in a row Mesa County Department of Human Services and Mesa County District Attorney’s Office are pleased to announce that a Deputy DA from the 21^st Judicial District has been awarded Prosecutor of the Year by the Colorado Welfare Fraud Council (CWFC.   Deputy District Attorney; Dan Garcia is this year’s recipient of the prestigious award. 

Mr. Garcia has been with the District Attorney’s since April 2013 and was nominated by Mesa County Department of Human Service’s Investigator Matt Furphy. Mr. Garcia worked a case involving a habitual offender of Welfare Fraud.  The case was scheduled for trial but ended in a plea agreement. Furphy attributes Mr. Garcia’s diligent work as the reason a plea deal was accepted thus preventing the case from going to a costly trial. Furphy described Garcia in the following way “Throughout this process, prosecutor Garcia was awesome to work with.  Mr. Garcia 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.”  

 “Dan 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.