When asked about COVID-19 recovery, community members consistently indicated that physical and mental well-being are a priority and have been deeply impacted by the pandemic. By working to ensure overall health is valued, our community will be stronger and better able to recover.
Outcomes:
- Support clear and effective communication of public health orders
- Enhance efforts to ensure basic needs are met in the community
- Mental and physical health are valued as necessary and prevention-based
Recovery Project
Status
Metrics/Stories
As of Dec. 31, 2023
The City’s Mental Health Response Team (MHRT) is an innovative co-response team consisting of Fort Collins police officers and UCHealth clinicians. The team works together to provide critical care to those experiencing mental and/or behavioral health issues before, during, and after crisis calls. ARPA funds were used to accelerate build-out of the team.
More information about the team.
As of January 2023, staffing costs for this team are being covered by General Funds, however ARPA funding continues to cover programmatic costs such as training, outreach and equipment.
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Testimonial
“I am most proud of the program’s tangible impact on the community, evidenced by improved mental health outcomes
and a more supportive environment. The strengthened relationships with stakeholders reflect the collaborative efforts
that have made the program a true asset to patrol, showcasing our team’s commitment to enhancing overall well-being and safety.”
– Sgt. Andrew Leslie, MHRT Supervisor
In Progress
Spent to Date: $622,007
Allocated: $660,212*
*Amount lower than originally allocated. Program was able to meet needs at a lower cost than originally anticipated. Remaining funds repurposed for other ARPA programs
# of Individuals Diverted from Jail and/or Emergency Department:
519
# of Calls Responded to:
3,000+
# of Community Presentations:
100+
This program supports the creation of innovative teen/young adult diversion programs and competency evaluations
involving defendants with mental illness and/or substance use disorders in the City’s Municipal Court. The pandemic
exacerbated mental and behavioral health issues, stretching already under-resourced programs and resources. It also
highlighted gaps in available resources and the lack of pathways to access resources. The projects funded under this
program seek to reduce those barriers.
Competency Evaluation: Funding covers the costs of competency evaluations for Municipal Court clients. To date nearly three dozen evaluations have been performed, in some cases leading to charge dismissal.
Restorative Traffic Circle: Teens and young adults (aged 21 and under) who have serious traffic infractions and
misdemeanors can deal with their charges in a more meaningful way through the Restorative Traffic Circle program.
Participants work with court staff, first responders, family members and community members to learn about the impact of unsafe driving and are encouraged to adopt safer driving behaviors. If they successfully complete the program, their original charge(s) is (are) dismissed. Of graduates, the vast majority (more than 80%) have not received a new traffic violation since program completion.
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Testimonials
““I really enjoyed being able to redeem my actions as well as give back to
my community.”
– Restorative Traffic Circle Participant
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“[The Restorative Traffic Circle is an] easy, fair process, great eye-opening experience for my son and myself.”
– Parent of Restorative Traffic Circle Participant
In Progress
Spent to Date: $56,384
Allocated: $75,000
# of Restorative Traffic Circle Participants who Completed Program:
84
# of Traffic Complaints Dismissed:
92
View Testimonial >
# of Competency Evaluations Completed:
34
# of Charges Dismissed Through Evaluations:
91
This program provides grant funding to nonprofits and other local partners who serve vulnerable community members. The City has long provided grant funding to local nonprofits and community partners. These organizations have the expertise and experience to best serve residents in need. This additional funding increases capacity for social services programs throughout Fort Collins.
In 2023, nine organizations were awarded funding though the Social Services Recovery Program, with funds benefiting a wide variety of community members, including children and individuals living with disabilities. Funded programs included:
- ChildSafe Colorado, child abuse treatment program.
- Behavioral Health Team / programing at Boys and Girls Clubs.
- Mobile Food Pantry at Poudre High School.
- Inclusion of judicial diversion students in Poudre Libraries Imaginantes bilingual outreach program.
- Alianza NORCO driver’s license navigation program.
In Progress
Spent to Date: $249,263
Allocated: $510,000
Cumulative # of People Served Through Programs:
9,654
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2023 Program Highlights
- 685 youth served by the Behavioral Health Team at the Fort Collins and Harmony Boys and Girls Clubs.
- Expansion of Poudre Library Imaginantes program to include judicial diversion students and additional professional counseling resources.
- 124 Fort Collins residents achieved increased stability through Alianza NORCO’s driver’s license navigation program.
- 52 residents received or renewed licenses.
In Progress
Spent to Date: $200,000
Allocated: $300,000
# Households Approved for Reduced Recreation Fees
1,524
# Total Enrollments in 2023:
9,469 (7,800 enrollments in 2022)*
Childcare, youth sports, swim lessons and adaptive recreation programs were the most accessed activities supported by ARPA dollars.
*Enrollments subsidized by ARPA dollars, recreation funds and philanthropic donations. In 2021, when no APRA funding was used to support the program, there were $5,680 enrollments.
Funds to purchase electric handheld lawn and garden equipment for use in parks and cemeteries. Electric lawn and garden equipment produces lower emissions than gas-powered equipment, helping improve air quality for community members and staff.
In Progress
Spent to Date: $0
Allocated: $70,000
83% of Parks’ handheld lawn and garden equipment has been converted to electric-powered.
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Program Highlights
- ARPA funds used as local match to secure a grant from the Regional Air Quality Council (RAQC) to replace additional equipment.
- Electric handheld equipment easier to maintain and train staff in its operation.
- Staff appreciate not smelling like exhaust at the end of their shift.
The Cultural Services Access Fund provides qualifying community members with access to enriching art and cultural experiences at City of Fort Collins cultural facilities including The Lincoln Center, Fort Collins Museum of Discovery and The Gardens on Spring Creek. Specifically funded programs include free field trips for Title 1 schools, free performances at facilities, camp scholarships and free facility use. Funds have also allowed each facility to become more welcoming to Spanish-speaking visitors through the translation of materials and signage.
Typically, this program has been funded by contributions from nonprofit partners, grants and limited City funds. ARPA funding has significantly expanded the program, allowing additional community members to access Cultural Facilities. In 2022 an additional $185,000 in ARPA funds were allocated to the program and an additional $300,000 of ARPA funds were allocated in the 2023-2024 Budget to continue this increased level of programming and access.
In Progress
Spent to Date: $285,000
Allocated: $485,000
# of Program Participants 2023:
66,705 individuals
23,841 of those were ARPA funded
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2023 Program Highlights
- ARPA funds have allowed more Poudre School District students to access the Museum of Discovery, The Lincoln Center and The Gardens on Spring Creek through field trips. Funds not only subsidize admission and program fees but cover transportation and staffing costs for field trips. These specific costs are often a barrier for schools wishing to take students on field trips.
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“Taking my 4th and 5th grade choir to The Lincoln Center was a remarkable opportunity, especially for kids
who typically lack exposure to the arts. The experience sparked their imagination, dissolved barriers, and
kindled newfound appreciation for the arts.”
– Poudre School District Teacher
Completed Projects
TecGen gear is reusable PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) that protects firefighters from exposure to bodily fluids, chemicals, COVID-19 variants, and other illnesses. This gear is more durable than the plastic gowns used on COVID-19 related calls in 2020 and 2021. It allows first responders to do their job more safely while on emergency calls. Funding this upgraded gear with ARPA dollars meant first responders were equipped with better gear faster.
Future gear replacements, including gear for volunteer firefighters will be funded with non-ARPA funds.
Complete
Spent to Date: $137,945*
Allocated: $150,000
*Project completed under budget
All Firefighters (approx. 210) outfitted with TecGen Gear
Additional Information
Additional information about these ARPA-funded projects, along with all of the programs funded in the City’s 2023-2024 Budget can be found on the City’s Budget Website.
Non-APRA Projects
In addition to the many ARPA-funded programs that relate to the Recovery Theme of Health, there are many other projects and programs supported by the City through non-ARPA funding that relate to the theme.
Key
- Status: Defines if the project is complete, in progress or no started. Please note many projects in progress may not have spent funds but are in the planning and launching phases.
- Spent to Date: Amount of funding spent on the project thus far.
- Allocated: Amount of ARPA SLFRF dollars budgeted for a particular project.
- Metric: Piece of data that demonstrates the outcome and impact of a project.
Glossary
- ARPA: American Rescue Plan Act, federal act passed in March 2021, established $1.9 trillion in COVID-19 relief funding. The City received $28.1M of ARPA funds in 2021.
- ARPA Funds: ARPA Funds or American Rescue Plan Act Funds refers to the funds the City of Fort Collins has received from the federal American Rescue Plan Act. In the majority of cases, ARPA Funds is used as shorthand to refer to the $28.1 million SLFRF received by the City
- SLFRF: State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). $360B was allocated via SLFRF to state and local governments to assist with recovery. The City of Fort Collins received $28.1 million SLFRF funds for pandemic response and recovery.