View previously published ARPA newsletters.

American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) investments are making an impact in our Boulder County communities by providing resources to people who were hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. In this newsletter, we share examples of the ARPA-supported work that is underway. We invite you to visit the Boulder County ARPA webpage for additional information.

Discover Affordable Housing at the Willoughby Corner Open House.

Boulder County residents seeking affordable housing are invited to an open house at Willoughby Corner, the Boulder County Housing Authority's newest below-market-rate rental community. Visitors will have the opportunity to learn more about the property, tour an available home, learn more about eligibility, and complete an application!

When: Tuesday, January 16, 2025, from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM.

Where: 933 Canterbury Drive (Community Building), Lafayette.

This event doesn’t require to RSVP. Residents can get more information on the units currently open for rent at Búho Place (for those 55+) and multi-family options.

Eligibility:

• Households earning between 50% and 60% of Area Median Income (AMI).
• Or households with a Housing Choice Voucher.

Rent: $1,368-$1,971 per month, inclusive of all utilities. Visit the Willoughby Corner website for more information and updates.

Visit the Willoughby Corner website for more information and updates.

Local Nonprofits and Child Care Providers Will Receive Much-Needed Support from the Upcoming Survive and Thrive Program.

The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted countless businesses and organizations, particularly local nonprofits and child care providers. As these essential pillars of the Boulder County community struggled, the Survive and Thrive Program was created as a way to offer financial support.

Funded by the Boulder County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and the City of Boulder, this program is designed to provide much-needed financial support to nonprofits and child care providers in Boulder County.

The Boulder County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) approved a $7.5 million investment from ARPA to support these community organizations. From established organizations to the often-overlooked Family, Friend, and Neighbor (FFN) caregivers, the program aims to strengthen the backbone of the Boulder County community.

By offering both short-term relief and long-term investments, Survive and Thrive will empower these organizations to:

• Stabilize their business conditions by alleviating financial pressures and helping to secure a sustainable future.
• Strengthen their workforce by supporting employee retention and professional development.
• Optimize their operations by implementing innovative strategies to enhance service delivery

The application for Survive and Thrive is scheduled to open in February of 2025. The application will be open for several weeks, followed by an application review period. After review of the applications, participants will be notified if they have been selected to participate in the program or if there is additional documentation they need to provide. Funding will be distributed in Spring, 2025.

As we continue to emerge from the pandemic, the Survive and Thrive Program is a beacon of hope, ensuring that local nonprofit organizations, licensed child care providers, and unlicensed FFN child care providers can continue to thrive and make a lasting impact on our community.

To find details on eligibility criteria for the Survive and Thrive program for all applicants, visit the Survive and Thrive website. The website also provides a list of Frequently Asked Questions for the Survive and Thrive program (FAQs) to help applicants learn more about the application process, program eligibility and requirements, and other important information.

A virtual Survive and Thrive info Session will be held in February. Invitation and details coming soon. For questions, please contact: Emily Darrell at edarrell@bouldercounty.gov

The Power of Connection: NAMI's Family-Centered Approach

A supportive family system can significantly impact an individual's mental health journey. For the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the role of the community and family members is crucial in reimagining mental health services.

"Years ago, people with mental illness often found themselves without support, and families were frequently blamed for their conditions—a belief now understood to be entirely unfounded," said Anna Kim, NAMI Boulder County Affiliate board member and program coordinator. “But it was a common belief at the time, until individuals across the country came together to start the National Alliance on Mental Illness, now the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization."

A grassroots association is formed by people with common interests, supported by social movements, and largely driven by volunteers.

Historically, the stigma and negative attitudes towards mental health have not only caused personal shame for individuals and their families but have also led to the neglect of their needs. Recognizing the impact of these societal barriers, the organization in Boulder County works tirelessly to create safe spaces. Anna added, “Whether it’s a family member or a person living with a mental health condition, we found that just by talking openly, by getting educated about it, by finding a group of people who understand them, lifts that stigma. Then people are much more likely to get help. And when you get help, there's a much better outcome.”

However, the challenges to identify and treat mental health conditions are still present. The red tape, the lack of coordination of benefits, and the shortage of professionals are just some of the issues people face frequently. “We have a lot of families having to pay out of pocket, especially for psychiatrists because most of them don't take insurance.” Anna said. NAMI is bridging this gap by offering weekly support groups for family members and loved ones. “We receive referrals from organizations like Mental Health Partners because clients often experience isolation while waiting for appointments or the right resources. Here, they can find immediate support through no-waitlist support groups and classes,” said Jack Kim, NAMI Boulder County Affiliate executive director.

ARPA funding support for agencies like NAMI providing accessible mental health trainings will increase their peer-led capacity to reach communities in need. “The organization offers amazing, evidence-based, peer-led training programs to help individuals connect. When we say ‘grassroots,’ we mean everyone is involved—either a person living with a mental health condition or a family member,” added Jack.

NAMI is committed to offering a safe space for every community member. Anna Kim said, “We make sure to create welcoming, accessible programs for everyone, and we connect people to other resources if we don't offer them ourselves. For instance, currently we don’t have a Spanish-speaking support group in Boulder County, but we refer people to other NAMI affiliates in other states, like California, which have virtual Spanish-speaking support groups.”

The nonprofit organization centers its efforts on eliminating as many barriers as possible. “You don’t have to fill out any paperwork to participate in our services. We don’t charge for anything. This way, we reach a lot of people who may not be able to afford other services. Often, people have had negative experiences in traditional professional settings, so they can get a much better start to their journey by coming to us," Jack said.

The organization offers in-person and online sessions free of charge.NAMI’s calendar of events has the most updated information for those who are interested in learning more about the events or to be part of the peer-led sessions. NAMI is part of the nine community-based organizations selected to participate in the mental health awareness training grants to provide equitable access and support to traditionally marginalized communities in Boulder County.

New Mental Health Awareness Training Grants  to Expand Services for Boulder County Residents

Boulder County is making strides in mental health awareness and accessibility. The Boulder County Community Services Department (BCCSD) has allocated funds to nine innovative agencies to provide mental health awareness trainings. A $500,000 grant from ARPA will support the new mental health program to expand services for Boulder County residents. This increased access to mental and behavioral healthcare will prioritize historically underserved communities and work to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues.These trainings will empower the community by providing individuals with the tools to effectively support people from diverse cultural, linguistic, racial, ethnic, and other backgrounds, ensuring equitable access to mental and behavioral health services. "Thanks to ARPA funding, we've been able to hire four new clinicians. Each is currently working with 15 to 25 clients, and we anticipate this capacity will continue to grow," said Maya Sol Dansie, founder of Mayamotion, one of the selected agencies.The nine community-based organizations selected to participate in the program are BOULDERMIND, Luna Cultura, Mayamotion, Clinica Family Health and Wellness, NAMI, Natural Highs, Peak to Peak, Parent Engagement Network (PEN), PEN and Hope Coalition. The goal of these grants is to help more small organizations to offer accessible mental health trainings for community members, provide more training in languages other than English, offer training in different places that are convenient for the community, and provide alternative approaches to mental health management.  Avani Dilger, founder of the Natural Highs agency, also participating in the program, added, “We are extremely grateful to Boulder County's ARPA process that it allowed small grassroots nonprofits like ours to apply and make that connection right." Boulder County is committed to ensuring that everyone has access to mental health support. By partnering with community-based organizations, Boulder County is looking to increase the capacity of more diverse entities to work with the local government and with federal funding.

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