May 12, 2016
Boulder County Launches New Online Human Services Benefits Management Site
New Online Human Services Benefits Management Site
Web portal helps people manage their supports, learn about other options
Boulder County, Colo. - Boulder
County has launched a new, easy-to-use website designed to give the public
direct access to information about services and supports available to them.
Known
as Boulder County Connect, the online tool available at www.BoulderCountyConnect.org also helps
people manage their own supports and benefits, learn about others for which
they may qualify, and connect with county staff who can help them.
“We
believe everyone should be able to see the full range of supports available and
communicate with us as conveniently as possible,” said John Green, Boulder
County Connect Project Manager. “This new online tool makes it easier for
people in our community to get the help they need, when and where they need
it.”
Boulder
County Connect offers information on a variety of programs administered by
Boulder County’s Department of Housing and Human Services (BCDHHS), from Food
Assistance (SNAP) to Colorado Works (TANF), and from Housing Choice Vouchers to
the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), and everything in between. Visitors
can see basic program information, including eligibility requirements, and can
download the forms and other materials they need. During business hours, the
site has supports specialists available to help visitors via a live chat
function.
Existing
BCDHHS clients are able to create accounts to track and manage their supports
through Boulder County Connect, reducing the need for phone calls or trips to
county offices. The site allows clients to see the status of their cases in
real-time, find out what documents might be needed, and upload those documents
directly to BCDHHS – from anywhere and at any time.
“Systems
that make it easier for our clients to see and manage their own supports are
critical as we work to empower people in our community to find their own paths
to stability and well-being,” said BCDHHS Director Frank Alexander.
In
addition to providing information on BCDHHS programs and supports, the site
includes details and contact information for additional resources offered by
our community partners throughout Boulder County.
Developed
over the past year, Boulder County Connect is part of the department’s response
to the community’s needs for simpler and more seamless service delivery and
integration. By offering comprehensive information on a full range of supports
in an easily accessible and user-friendly way, Boulder County Connect helps
bring us closer to our vision of a stronger and more holistic community safety
net.