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Human Services Strategic Planning
Community of Hope

On October 22, 2024, all Human Services offices will close early. Our hours that day will be 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
El 22 de octubre de 2024, todas las oficinas de Servicios Humanos cerrarán temprano. Nuestro horario de atención será de 8 a.m. a 12 p.m.

Human Services Five Year Strategic Plan

What We’re Doing

In 2023, the Boulder County Department of Human Services (BCHS) set off on a journey to define what matters most to us as an organization and discover the things we need to do to help strengthen our diverse communities.

As part of this work, we know we need to understand the experiences people have when they seek support from us, and the barriers in their lives that we might be able to contribute to breaking down. We contracted with a Colorado company, Integrated Work, to help guide our communities, staff, and partners through a collaborative process to build a plan for our external and internal work over the next five years, including our values, vision, mission, and goals.

Sometimes called “strategic planning”, this work is really about listening, challenging ourselves, and getting creative about solutions. In the past, these strategic planning processes have been led by Human Services management. We are changing this dynamic by seeking and listening to the voices of those traditionally unheard, and making sure they form the foundation of this work. Our services are meant for all community members, and they’re delivered by a diverse group of staff and partners. These are the people who should be co-leading the development of our values, vision, mission, and goals to guide our internal and external work through the end of this decade.

Our values, vision, mission, and goals can be clearer and more specific, so community members, staff, and partners fully understand who we are, what we want to accomplish and why, and how we will do it. It’s also important that these groups see themselves and their roles and opportunities clearly within our values, vision, mission, and goals.

While we expect to finish the first phase of this strategic planning work by the end of 2024, this is just the beginning of our focus on deepening our connections, transparency, and accountability to the communities we are entrusted with serving.

Upcoming Engagement Opportunities!

No community events are currently scheduled. Please check back at a later date.

We are using the VIABLE model for our strategic planning work.

Our vision needs to be clear and compelling.

Building a thriving future together centering racial equity and opportunity for all.

We need to share ideals that will inform our choices and guide our behavior.

People first, always: We empower each other and move forward as a community.

Be real, be true: We champion clarity, honesty, and transparency.

Help where and when you need it: We’re there when and where you need us most.

Building Boulder County for all: We examine system changes to create a community that works for everyone.

Our approach needs to be well defined and broadly understood.

We need to identify barriers that might get in our way and plan for how to overcome them.

We need to name the lessons we want to learn along the way so we can turn setbacks into success.

We need to build strong evaluation into our processes to gather real-time feedback.

Community Engagement

In our first phase of community engagement, we hosted several sessions with community members to help inform our strategic plan.

Participants broke out into smaller groups and discussed the services Boulder County Human Services provides. We asked them to reflect on what could be better about the services and how that could matter for their future.

Below are the themes that have emerged from the first round of community, staff, and partner engagement.

Key Themes

Headline: Women are Key to a Thriving County

One of the major things we learned: women are not just key participants but pivotal stakeholders whose perspectives and experiences are crucial for policy and program development.

We explored this reality through:

  • Diverse Challenges, Gendered Barriers
    • Education and Skill Building,
    • Food Services,
    • Health Coverage,
    • Children and Family Services,
    • Older Adult Care, and
    • Financial Assistance
  • Intersectionality: Race and Ethnicity
    • Gendered dynamics are compounded by race, ethnicity, language, and immigration status

See the presentation prepared by Integrated Work for details on these findings.

Image of a young Latina mother with her baby
An image of a screenshot from the findings presentation headlining that women are key to a thriving community.
Social Determinants of Health graphic with eight sections: financial assistance, food assistance, health coverage, environmental health, employment and income, safety, housing, and transportation.

Streamlined Support

Simplify access to services and resources through a “one-stop-shop” where knowledgeable and empathetic staff help us navigate all the systems based on our individual needs.

Connect for Health Colorado

Responsive Services

Provide immediate crisis support. Gradually reduce assistance as individuals regain independence rather than facing the “cliff effect” of benefits ending. Adapt services to meet local and community needs.

Community members visit a Boulder County team at an outdoor event.

Information Everywhere

Share information about support services broadly through diverse in-person and virtual channels, and in multiple languages across Boulder County. Engage communities through culturally relevant events and spaces.

The Spoke on Coffman Street Construction - Housing Developments

Advocate for Affordability

Acknowledge Boulder County’s high cost of living and advocate for increased support to assist those facing financial challenges, promoting a diverse and inclusive community.

Smiling toddler riding piggyback on mom's back

The Role of Caretaker

Spanning from parental care to elder care:

  • Caretaking services predominantly fall on women.
  • Caretaking impacts educational and employment opportunities significantly
  • Attendees also attribute the burden of ensuring food security and healthcare to women in caretaking roles.

Contact Us

Human Services

Phone: 303-441-1000
TTY: 1-800-659-3656
Fax: 303-441-1523
Submit a question

Mailing Address
P.O. Box 471
Boulder, CO 80306

Boulder Location

3460 Broadway
Map and Directions Boulder Location

Fax: 720-564-2283
Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday/Wednesday/Friday
Issuance Closed 1-2 p.m. for lunch.

Longmont Location

515 Coffman St.
Map and Directions Longmont Location
Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Monday-Friday
Issuance Closed 1-2 p.m. for lunch.

Lafayette Location

1755 S. Public Road, Lafayette
Map and Directions Lafayette Location
Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday/Thursday
Closed 1-2 p.m. for lunch.

Housing & Human Services website

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