Human Services – Garfield County, Colorado

Apply for 2027 Human Services Commission grants

A big sister gives her little sister a kiss on the cheek.

The Garfield County Human Services Commission (HSC) is now accepting applications for its 2027 grant cycle. Applications are due to the Garfield County Manager’s office by 5 p.m. on August 7, 2026.

West Mountain Regional Health Alliance (WMRHA) is a backbone non-direct service organization serving Eagle, Garfield, and Pitkin counties, focused on building an integrated health system that supports optimal health for all residents through collaboration, expanded access to care, and a focus on social needs. One of the Alliance’s key initiatives is the Mountain Coalition for Food and Nutrition Security (MCFNS), a regional network convened by WMRHA that embraces food and nutrition security as a human right and prioritizes accessibility, equity, cultural responsiveness, and locally driven solutions. Local resources

Garfield County Human Services staff is preparing for changes to how individuals can qualify for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food assistance and Medicaid benefits. Work requirements are now a prerequisite for some populations to qualify for food assistance. For certain populations, some individuals applying for Medicaid eligibility may be dependent on work requirements and re-determination must be completed every six months, rather than the traditional 12 months. Garfield County Human Services Director Sharon Longhurst-Pritt told the Board of County Commissioners that a large increase in workload is anticipated due to changes stemming from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

Two child best friends playing together on a swing set.

The Garfield County Child Safety Fair is again welcoming families to Rifle on Friday, April 25, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The annual event, which takes place at Rifle Middle School, 753 Railroad Ave., provides parents and children with entertainment and information on keeping kids safe. The fair features free food, giveaways, music and dancers, and families will also receive information on how to connect with local safety resources. For more information, please contact Garfield County Foster Care Coordinator Lindsay Shaffer at 970-625-5282, ext. 3108.

Young woman giving hug to her child with brown soft Teddy bear while both are sitting on a bed.

Garfield County has granted $35,000 to the West Mountain Regional Health Alliance (WMRHA) toward funding its 2024 operations, which include expanding access to affordable, high-quality healthcare; improving food security; homelessness prevention; and advocating for underserved residents in Garfield, Pitkin, and Eagle counties. West Mountain Regional Health Alliance is a collaboration between local government agencies, healthcare providers, and regional organizations and nonprofits. WMRHA Executive Director Cristina Gair told the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) that the alliance’s mission is to build an integrated healthcare system that provides optimal health for everyone in the west mountain region. She added that the alliance

Pinwheels commemorating Child Abuse Prevention Month.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and River Bridge Regional Center plants pinwheels at the Garfield County Courthouse in Glenwood Springs each year for every child who came through the center the previous year. This year, 271 pinwheels are being planted and River Bridge is looking for volunteers to help. The special planting activity takes place at noon on Saturday, April 1, at the courthouse, 109 8th Street, near the veterans memorial. The blue pinwheel is the symbol for Child Abuse Prevention Month. Anyone looking to spread awareness can also have a small pinwheel garden planted at their home or

Group of seniors enjoying in conversation during lunch at a dining table in a nursing home.

Nominations are now being accepted for 2023 Senior Awards and Friend of the Seniors in Garfield County. All nominations and letters must be submitted by Friday, March 24. The awards ceremony takes place on Saturday, April 22. Nominations

Families are invited to attend the Garfield County Child Safety Fair Friday, April 29 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Enjoy free food and giveaways, learn safety information, and find local resources for children and families in our communities. In addition, there will be music, dancers, and other entertainment. The Child Safety Fair takes place at the Rifle Middle School. This event is fun for the whole family, and is entirely free. So come on out, enjoy a free lunch, and you may win some cool prizes. For more information, contact Lindsay Zimmer at 970-625-5282 ext. 3108 or by email

Close-up shot of student hand holding pen and writing in notebook, working at home. E-learning

Garfield County’s Link to Success program offers training and assistance for people seeking to improve their job skills and increase competency with technology, helping them to earn employment. Previously offered only for clients utilizing the Colorado Works cash-assistance program, the Link course will soon be available for anyone taking part in a Garfield County Department of Human Services (DHS) program. Clients of DHS can sign up for Link beginning in early May. Anyone utilizing Colorado Works is required by the state to participate in 22-33 activity hours a week to gain or further their skill set. Link is a four-week

The Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) reports that calls to the Colorado Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline, 844-CO-4-Kids (844.264.5437), have rebounded after a significant drop during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019, the year prior to the pandemic, the total number of calls to the hotline was 219,478. In 2020, CDHS saw a dramatic drop in calls to 193,448 because many mandatory reporters were not seeing kids in person at schools, child care or doctors appointments. In 2021, calls increased 8% to 208,949. The overall uptick is, in part, due a 20% increase in calls from education professionals. As Coloradans

An elderly woman eating soup sitting at a table in the house.

Garfield County has awarded a contract to Aspen Chef to provide lunches for seniors in eastern end of the county. The senior meals program had suspended its lunches on Jan. 20 in Glenwood Springs and Carbondale, while a new catering option was sought. The contract starts on Feb. 21, 2022, and new meals services are slated to begin the following day, Tuesday, Feb. 22. Aspen Chef, which is owned and operated out of Basalt by Chef Alan Kokish, has prior experience providing senior meals to both Eagle and Pitkin counties. The contract to provide meals is not to exceed $47,500

Over shoulder view of senior man eating dinner at home

A program that provides take-home meals for Garfield County seniors in Glenwood Springs and Carbondale is suspending on January 20 while the county solicits caterers to continue the service. The popular Grab n’ Go lunches program have been well-utilized during the COVID-19 pandemic. The county is seeking caterers to provide the meals to keep the program in operation and has contacted seniors who are affected by the service suspension. Seniors in eastern Garfield County can still attend congregate meal sites from Parachute to New Castle. “During the pandemic, we have been providing heat-at-home meals in Glenwood Springs and Carbondale. It

Modern senior couple spending time in the kitchen

Garfield County has agreed to help fund home-delivered meals to seniors in the Carbondale area. The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) approved a one-time supplemental grant for $40,000 to the nonprofit Valley Meals and More to ensure home-delivered meals can continue to reach seniors who need them. The county is performing a needs assessment to help determine how robust a meal program needs to be in place to serve local seniors. Garfield County Department of Human Services (DHS) currently provides congregate meals for seniors, but a gap in service for home-delivered meals exists on the eastern end of the county.

A portrait of poor sad small girl with parents eating indoors at home, poverty concept.

Garfield County is partnering with the Garfield County School District 16 to bring limited Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) services to the Family Resource Center in Parachute. Appointments are being taken on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The new Parachute location offers another option for families to attend appointments without having to travel to Rifle or Glenwood Springs. TANF provides temporary assistance and intensive support to help eligible families secure employment and attain self-sufficiency. Eligible clients include women who are pregnant, and families that have one or more children in the home that have struggled to maintain economic stability due to

The Garfield County Department of Human Services (DHS) continues to provide essential services for people seeking assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic Though the county’s emergency general assistance has now ended, disaster temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) is still available for individuals who are eligible.

GARFIELD COUNTY, CO – Garfield County Senior Programs is suspending all group programs operations, beginning Saturday, March 14, due to risks presented by the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). The closures include congregate meals at our seven meal sites.

Sharon Longhurst-Pritt has been named the new Garfield County Human Services director. An employee of Garfield County since 2006, she is excited to oversee and support the Human Services Department.

Grand opening for new River Bridge Regional Center facility

GARFIELD COUNTY, CO – The River Bridge Regional Center is officially opening its doors at its new home in Glenwood Springs, and the public is invited to a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11 a.m. on Dec. 7. The facility is also home to Mountain West SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) Alliance, which serves residents of the Ninth Judicial District, including Garfield, Rio Blanco, and Pitkin counties. River Bridge provides services to child-abuse victims, their families, and the community, including sex assault examinations for both adults and children. The nonprofit works with law enforcement, mental health therapists, medical providers, prosecutors, and victim

Federal review highlights hard work of Child Welfare staff

GARFIELD COUNTY, CO – The Child and Family Services Review (CFSR) team of the federal Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Children’s Bureau recently evaluated the State of Colorado Human Services child welfare practices. Garfield County Department of Human Services volunteered to be one of three counties reviewed on its child welfare practices. Of the 17 cases reviewed in Garfield County, nine received a 100 percent strength rating on every criteria level. The CFSR review team praised the county for its “ubiquitous hard work and dedication” and remarked that Garfield County exhibits a “culture of caring” Statewide, 65 cases

GARFIELD COUNTY, CO – Two new compressed natural gas (CNG) vans are entering service for the Garfield County Senior Program Traveler system. Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) and Garfield County received several grants for them, and the county provided supplemental funding as well. The two vans are 14-passenger vehicles, which provide service to senior citizens and disabled travelers in the county. An event is planned November 3 at 11:00 a.m. to celebrate placing the new CNG vans into service with the Traveler program, which will replace two aging vans in the fleet. The public is invited and welcome for the

Meghan Hurley in the River Bridge Regional Center waiting room with Frasier on his first day of work. Frasier's presence will offer support to child abuse victims, more compassionately the yellow stuffed duck Hurley is holding.

GARFIELD COUNTY, CO – There is a well-worn, enormous fuzzy stuffed animal in Meghan Hurley’s office. It is a duck, and its yellow, friendly girth is the size of a watermelon. This duck has heard it all. It has quietly accepted and supported many tears and anguish from children in the 9th and 5th Judicial District service areas who have been abused, sometimes sexually, sometimes by persons who are their caregivers. Hurley is a therapist, and her title is CORE Sexual Abuse Treatment Provider, for River Bridge Regional Center in Glenwood Springs. The well-loved, fuzzy duck cannot respond and give

DU MSW graduation

Local guides available to assist insurance marketplace customers

Open enrollment extends from November 15, 2014 to February 15, 2015. Whether you are renewing or enrolling for the first time, you must complete enrollment by December 15, 2014, to have coverage January 1, 2015, and avoid a gap in your coverage. Eagle County Health and Human Services, in partnership with Pitkin County Human Services, Community Health Services, Inc., Garfield County Human Services and Public Health departments and Mountain Family Health Centers, was one of 58 organizations in Colorado selected to provide in-person assistance to customers of the new health insurance marketplace starting in October. ECHHS received one of the

LiveWell grants awarded to local entities for healthy eating and active living

GARFIELD COUNTY, CO – LiveWell Garfield County has just awarded a total of $19,925 in funding for the fall cycle of mini grants administered in Garfield County for organizations that promote healthy eating and active living. The two largest grants will help with active transportation related projects. Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) will administer $5,000 in mini grant funds for its Regional Travel Patterns Study from Aspen to Parachute. The study will assess travel behavior in the region, and is aimed at assisting local government decision-making about transportation investments. This funding is for communities in Garfield County that could not

Tour de Farms

GARFIELD COUNTY, CO – The benefits of bike riding are numerous, better health being one of them. An upcoming bike ride will not only yield the generally expected benefits for 40 riders, but the added feature of instruction on great gardening techniques. It is the Tour de Farms, which is just what it says, a tour of farms (or rather, in-town gardens) on bicycles. Participants will go on a bike ride tour of three public and private gardens in Rifle, and each garden site will have conservation experts who will talk about soil conservation, water conservation and elements of gardening.

Families asked to participate in medical expenditure survey locally

GARFIELD COUNTY, CO – A small group of preselected Garfield County families are receiving a knock on the door from a field representative of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to collect local data on health care. The first-time visits are to report what the true costs of health care are in this rural county, and the data will be melded with results gathered nationwide from metropolitan areas. The Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) is a confidential, on-going, nationwide survey aiming to pin down accurate cost figures for health care across the country. The survey also looks

Licensed early childhood programs plant seedling trees through grant

GARFIELD COUNTY, CO – Garfield County is greener and little tykes are learning about little sprouts through a grant from the National Project Learning Tree (PLT) program of the Colorado State Forest Service. Free seedling trees prompted planting projects through the Garfield County Department of Human Services (DHS) Child Care Program and 12 schools throughout the state. The DHS Child Care Program received 15 seedlings for local early child care and education programs interested in beautifying outdoor play areas and providing learning opportunities for children, teachers and families involved in planting and nurturing the trees. “The opportunity to get free

Child care home operators are encouraged to become licensed

GARFIELD COUNTY, CO – Garfield County is reaching out to potential child care providers to offer an orientation class with the goal of getting them to license their operations. The Child Care Licensing Orientation is Thursday, May 8, from 6:30 – 8 p.m. It will be held in the Garfield County Administration Building at 108 8th Street, Glenwood Springs. “Those who are starting a new facility are welcome, and people who are operating an unlicensed facility should come.” said Dana Damm, Human Services Childcare Program Manager / Licensing Specialist. “Being licensed is required by law, and it is very important

Child Safety Fair April 25 presents services for families

GARFIELD COUNTY, CO – Family fun, food and entertainment are all part of the 6th Annual Child Safety Fair this Friday, April 25. Garfield County families can enjoy an outing for fun and safety, and get important information about resources for children, youths and families at this free event. The event is from 1 to 4:30 p.m. at the Garfield County Department of Health and Human Services Building, 195 West 14th Street, in Rifle. This year’s event is shaping up to be exceptional, as more organizations than ever will share information on their programs and services, plus local businesses will

A red carpet free movie event celebrates National Adoption Day

GARFIELD COUNTY, Rifle, CO. – Celebrate National Adoption Day with Garfield County Department of Human Services as Brenden Rifle 7 Theaters graciously hosts a free community movie screening of “Free Birds.” The event is Friday, November 15, from 3 to 5:30 p.m. at the Brenden Rifle 7 Theaters, at 250 West 2nd Street in Rifle, Colorado. Residents may sign up to receive more information about becoming foster parents and will receive free tickets to the movie (limited quantity). Guests will enjoy an elegant red carpet experience while the Department of Human Services honors well deserving, local adoptive and foster parents.

GARFIELD COUNTY, CO – A new opportunity offered locally by the Graduate School of Social Work at the University of Denver (GSSW) gives students the ability to study for their Master of Social Work (MSW) degrees without leaving Garfield County. The program has three features to attract students to the program in addition to local accessibility for a master’s level education: Western Colorado MSW students will pay tuition that is substantially lower than what GSSW’s on-campus students pay, there are eight $8,000 child welfare stipends offered for tuition assistance, and the $65 application fee will be waived for prospective students

Child Safety Fair April 26 focuses on children and family support

GARFIELD COUNTY, CO – Skipping rocks, playing baseball, and building forts are the simple things of childhood. Celebrating youngsters and childhoods the way they are supposed to be, carefree and happy, is the purpose of a community event Friday at the Garfield County Health and Human Services Building in Rifle. The 5th Annual Child Safety Fair Friday, April 26, 2013, from 1-6 p.m., will include: food, entertainment, prizes, giveaways, safety information and resources for citizens in Garfield County. “While this event helps us to give families information on safety and community resources, it is also a special time for those

Seniors may qualify for low-income dental assistance

Update October 9, 2013 The OAP Dental Program has been extended until until June of 2014. GARFIELD COUNTY, CO – Garfield County participates in a program for senior citizens, which provides valuable and needed dental services that may be too expensive for some elderly residents to afford. The Old Age Pension Dental Program provides low-income dental care to senior citizens who receive Old Age Pension (OAP) medical assistance. Senior citizens who qualify for OAP may obtain dentures, denture repair, and preventative and restorative oral services. The OAP Dental Program is available until June 30, 2013. The OAP Dental Program provides

GARFIELD COUNTY, CO – Promoting Safe and Stable Families, a federally-funded grant program, brings the nationally recognized Nurturing Parenting Program (NPP) to families in Garfield County. The Nurturing Parenting Program enhances empathy, self worth, empowerment, and discipline, while parents and children have fun and grow closer as a family. The NPP integrates parents with their children in some of the class sessions in the curriculum. Parents are invited to register their families for the 15-week class, which begins in January, 2013. Space is limited, and the program is offered at no cost to participants. Registration will occur during the first

GARFIELD COUNTY, CO – Three boys in Garfield County have only had each other. And now, they will have more than that, they will have an adoptive father and mother to complete their family and their dreams. The adoption of these three brothers will be complete this month, a celebration not only their own, but also one heralding National Adoption Day. “We are very happy for this adoption to happen,” said Mikki Baumann, Garfield County child welfare caseworker. “But while these kids are getting a new family, and we don’t have any other children awaiting adoption in Garfield County presently,

GARFIELD COUNTY, CO – The Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) will be available for eligible households starting November 1, 2012, and running through April 30, 2013. Qualifying limited-income households may receive assistance to pay a portion of their home energy bills. For the 2012/2013 heating season, Garfield, Eagle and Pitkin counties have contracted with Discover Goodwill of Southern and Western Colorado to administer the program. Discover Goodwill has administered the LEAP program for El Paso County for more than 15 years, and has developed an effective process for managing approximately 20,000 applications per heating season. “By contracting with Goodwill, households

Two new Medicaid programs are offered in Garfield County

Two new Medicaid programs are available to Garfield County residents through the county’s Department of Human Services; but mild early interest indicates word may not have reached those who need to access the programs. The Adults without Dependent Children (AwDC) expansion presents the chance for a limited number of previously unqualified individuals to benefit from Medicaid. The other new program, Medicaid Buy-in Program for Working Adults with Disabilities, offers assistance for disabled wage earners to buy into Medicaid. Only a very small number of people have applied for the new Medicaid coverage locally since the programs were announced in the

Two new Medicaid programs are offered in Garfield County

GARFIELD COUNTY, CO – Two new Medicaid programs are available to Garfield County residents through the county’s Department of Human Services; but mild early interest indicates word may not have reached those who need to access the programs. The Adults without Dependent Children (AwDC) expansion presents the chance for a limited number of previously unqualified individuals to benefit from Medicaid. The other new program, Medicaid Buy-in Program for Working Adults with Disabilities, offers assistance for disabled wage earners to buy into Medicaid. Only a very small number of people have applied for the new Medicaid coverage locally since the programs

What: Child Safety Fair When: Wednesday, April 11, 2012, 1-6 pm Where: Garfield County Fairgrounds, 1001 Railroad Avenue, Rifle, CO Cost: Free Garfield County families are invited to the 2012 Child Safety Fair April 11 at the Garfield County Fairgrounds. The event presents community and personal safety information for children, car seat safety checks, tooth varnishing for youth and much more! In addition, the event features preschool registrations and community resources for families offered by many agencies in Garfield County. Participating agencies include Garfield County Public Health, Garfield County Sheriff’s Office, Garfield School District RE-2, Advocate Safehouse Project, Childhelp Colorado

It wasn’t altogether the mountains. It may not have been the outdoors at all. It is the people here that attracted Mary Baydarian to accept the position of Director of Human Services of Garfield County. And it is what the people are doing here that most interested Baydarian. “What brought me here is the community involvement I found,” said Baydarian. “Public agencies and non-profits work very well together here, and they have a passion for helping our more vulnerable population. The organizations and the partnerships here accomplish things together that wouldn’t have been achievable separately.” That is where Baydarian sees

Families in Garfield County have always had high family values, helping them weather much change, says Lynn Renick, director of Garfield County Human Services. Renick is retiring January 4, after directing the county agency which oversees family interests locally for 16 years. “When I came to Garfield County at the end of 1994, the county was mostly rural and western, and while family values haven’t changed, the environment for families is different now. There are more opportunities and resources for families than 16 years ago. “But while some things are better now, other things aren’t. The economy 16 years ago