Agenda Date: 05/20/2025
Subject:
Title
Resolution 54-2025: Approving an IGA between the Colorado Department of Human Services and the Littleton Police Department for Co-Responder Programs
Body
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From: |
James L. Becklenberg, City Manager |
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Prepared by: |
Doug Stephens, Chief of Police |
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Presentations: |
N/A |
PURPOSE:
This IGA addresses the acceptance and use of grant funds awarded to the LPD by the Colorado Department of Human Services for the department’s Co-Responder Program.
LONG-TERM OUTCOME(S) SERVED:
Safe Community
DISCUSSION:
The IGA details requirements for both parties regarding grant funding awarded to the LPD for reimbursement of expenses related to the department’s Co-Responder Program. The LPD was awarded $108,535 in grant funding for the 2025 State of Colorado fiscal year (7/1/25 - 6/30/26).
BACKGROUND:
The LPD has operated a successful Co-Responder Program since 2018 in partnership with AllHealth Network. Co-Responders are licensed mental health clinicians who accompany LPD officers on calls for service related to individuals experiencing mental health crises. Over the years the Co-Responder Program has expanded from one part-time Co-Responder to its current staffing of two full-time Co-Responders and a full-time Crisis Case Manager. The goal of the Co-Responder Program is to provide immediate access to mental health services, including crisis de-escalation, for those in need at the time of the crisis. Research has shown immediate access to services has been beneficial in reducing repeat calls for chronic service users, as well as being more successful in long-term solutions for those in need.
Funding for the Co-Responder Program has been a collaborative effort between the City of Littleton and AllHealth Network. A significant portion of AllHealth’s funding has come from a state grant for mental health services. The city’s funding has been provided through the general fund as part of the police department’s annual budget allocation. For fiscal year 2025, the State of Colorado Department of Human Services elected to stop awarding this type of grant funding to private entities and instead award it to county and municipal agencies who participate in Co-Responder Programs. In our case, essentially the state has transferred their grant funding from AllHealth directly to the police department. The funding will be used to reimburse a portion of the costs associated with the department’s Co-Responder Program, including staffing for Co-Responders and Crisis Case Managers.
FISCAL IMPACTS:
The police department currently contracts with AllHealth Network to provide licensed clinicians to serve as Co-Responders and Crisis Case Managers. The department’s 2025 (1/1/25 - 12/31/25) contract with AllHealth is $248,612 ($98,457 Jan-Jun and $150,155.34 Jul-Dec). The second half of the year’s contract was contingent on the LPD receiving the grant funding in this IGA and that funding is figured into the increased cost compared to the first half of the contract. This grant funding becomes available for use 7/1/25 and will be used to offset costs for the AllHealth contract after that date.
There is no fiscal impact, either positive or negative, as this grant funding had previously been awarded to AllHealth and resulted in a lesser cost for their services to the department. Now that the funding is awarded to the police department, AllHealth has passed on the equivalent increase in costs for their services due to their loss of the grant funding.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the resolution approving an IGA between the Colorado Department of Human Services and the Littleton Police Department for Co-Responder Programs.
ALTERNATIVES:
N/A
PROPOSED MOTION:
Proposed Motion
I move to approve Resolution 54-2025 approving an IGA between the Colorado Department of Human Services and the Littleton Police Department for Co-Responder Programs.