Grant awards for the 2023 Behavioral Health Services Impact Fund Grant Program, including the Gary A. Darling Award, were approved today by the Board of Larimer County Commissioners during their Administrative Matters meeting.

Behavioral Health Services [BHS] is the administrator of funds generated through a ballot initiative for the expansion of behavioral health services in Larimer County.  BHS invests those funds into the community through the Impact Fund Grant Program and other initiatives to support countywide needs.

“The monies that are generated by the .25% sales tax (.25 on a $100 purchase) go out into the community, throughout the county with geographical diversity, to support community-based organizations, ” Larimer County Commissioner John Kefalas stated.

The 2023 grant awards were approved by the Behavioral Health Policy Council before receiving final review and approval by the Board of Larimer County Commissioners.

Targeted Grant areas for the Impact Fund are determined by the BHS Technical Advisory Committee and the Consumer Advisory Committee.

Targeted Grants are designed to address gaps in behavioral health care with concentrated focus and funding and include:

• Care Coordination & Systems Integration
• Workforce Expansion & Support
• Alternatives & Interventions in Criminal Justice
• Services in Diverse Settings
• Expansion of Child & Youth Services

Responsive Grants are awarded to organizations that identify a behavioral health need and propose solutions that fall outside of Targeted Grant areas but align with BHS funding priorities.

This year, BHS received 78 applications and over $7.5 million in funding requests, far exceeding requests from previous years. “It shows that organizations across the county are realizing how important it is to invest in behavioral health.” Larimer County Commissioner Kristin Stephens said.

BHS is awarding 35 grants to diverse programs serving county residents with a total funding distribution of $2,816,731. 

2023 Grant Recipients:

• 3Hopeful Hearts
• 8th Judicial District Attorney's Office
• Abundance Foundation
• Alliance for Suicide Prevention of Larimer County
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County
• Centennial Area Health Education Center
• ChildSafe Colorado
• Colorado State University - Campus Connections Program
• Colorado State University - Psychological Services Center
• Cor Defense
• Crossroads Ministry of Estes Park
• Crossroads Safehouse
• Disabled Resource Services
• Early Childhood Council of Larimer County
• Elderhaus Adult Day Program
• Estes Park Schools
• Every Child Pediatrics
• First Responder Trauma Services
• Fort Collins Museum of Discovery
• Harmony Foundation
• Health District of Northern Larimer County
• Hearts & Horses
• Housing Catalyst
• La Cocina
• Lighthouse
• Mindset Reps
• North Colorado Health Alliance
• Outreach Fort Collins
• Partners
• SummitStone Health Partners
• The Center for Family Outreach
• The Family Center/La Familia (TFC/LF)
• The Matthews House
• UCHealth Northern Colorado Foundation
• Yarrow Collective: Peers of Larimer

The prestigious 2023 Gary A. Darling Grant was awarded to the UCHealth Northern Colorado Foundation. The award will be used to fund a co-responder clinician and maintain the co-responder program in partnership with Fort Collins Police Services in Larimer County.

“Thank you to the voters of Larimer County. If they had not passed this tax we would not have these resources today to invest in access, intervention, and coordination throughout our community," stated Larimer County Commissioner Jody Shadduck-McNally. “It’s all of us working together for the health and welfare of our community. And, that’s really important.”

Behavioral Health Services is honored by the number and quality of grant applications received and is pleased to recognize these organizations and their commitment to serving the behavioral health needs of communities in Larimer County.