Survey results will be used to support recommendations for investments in increased services

Boulder County, Colo. -- The Boulder County Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Advisory Council (IDDAC) and Boulder County Department of Housing and Human Services (BCDHHS) are seeking feedback from local mental and behavioral health service providers about supports currently offered to the IDD community.

Information collected through the brief survey will be used to support future recommendations to Boulder County Commissioners and BCDHHS around investments to help improve the quantity and quality of mental and behavioral health services for people of all ages in Boulder County with IDD, including those with traumatic brain injury and autism. The survey is another extension of efforts resulting from a property tax increase approved by voters in 2002 to help support such programs in Boulder County, and comes on the heels of an IDD needs assessment completed in January 2019 focusing on those receiving services. A common theme in responses to that assessment centered around the need for more access to qualified mental health providers.

“The Boulder County IDD Advisory Council was created in January 2020 and we knew that mental and behavioral health would be one of the first priority areas for this group to explore,” said Rebecca Seiden, Boulder County Housing and Human Services IDD Mill Levy Program Coordinator. “Working together, we developed a questionnaire for mental and behavioral health practitioners in Boulder County to better understand gaps in services, as well as what is available.”

While BCDHHS will also reach out directly to providers about the survey, mental and behavioral health practitioners serving all ages are encouraged to participate, and can contact Rebecca Seiden (rseiden@bouldercounty.org) to receive the survey link. Practitioners are asked to complete the survey before August 1, 2021. To learn more about the IDD Advisory Council, visit www.BoulderCountyIDD.org.

More about the Boulder County Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Property Tax

The Development Disabilities property tax, approved by voters in 2002, supplemented an existing mill levy to support developmental disabilities programs in Boulder County. Funding from this tax pays to help people of all ages with cognitive and developmental disabilities live fuller, more satisfying and independent lives.

More about Boulder County Housing & Human Services

The Boulder County Department of Housing and Human Services is a 500-person integrated services delivery organization that supports whole families and individuals through a multiple generation approach that focuses on the full range of services that help people thrive.

Over an average 12 months during typical times, BCDHHS serves more than 90,000 distinct clients with a wide range of wrap-around services, including food, housing, health coverage, financial assistance, childcare, safety, education and skill building, parenting supports, and much more.

Visit www.BoulderCountyHHS.org to learn more about BCDHHS’ prevention-based wrap-around community supports and services, and follow Boulder County Housing and Human Services on social media at www.Facebook.com/BCDHHS and www.Twitter.com/bouldercohhs.