Multi-Year Funding Framework

Graphic with three photos showing people taking part in summer 2025 Behavioral Health Services multi-year funding framework engagement sessions

 

Larimer County Behavioral Health Services is moving forward with a key strategic goal: to strengthen our community investment approach by allocating a portion of funding to support multi-year, cross-organizational system improvement projects. This will be done through the design of a Multi-Year Funding Framework.

The department is working with Corona Insights to facilitate community engagement, synthesize input, and collaborate with stakeholders on implementation and evaluation plans. 

Implementing a multi-year funding model is about deepening community-driven investments in things that lead to system-wide change in behavioral health care.

Using community input and health data, BHS will identify key issues and fund organizations that will address them over time.

This multi-year approach has long been advocated for and supported by BHS advisory groups and aims to use tax dollars wisely for the greatest impact. We are thankful for the groups’ feedback that has shaped our department’s evolving investment strategy. BHS staff discussed this complementary investment approach with county commissioners in April. You can watch the meeting on YouTube at: youtu.be/DU0F6siG-Vw.

Graphic of half circles to illustrate Behavioral Health Services' investment strategy

FAQs

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  1. How has Behavioral Health Services invested Larimer County's behavioral health tax dollars since the department formed in 2019?

    In 2018, 61% of voters approved a 20-year, 0.25% sales tax to improve behavioral health services. That means for every $100 spent, 25 cents go toward these efforts. Since 2019, the tax has raised about $128 million.

    So far, the tax dollars generated have gone to:

    Since 2019, 77 organizations have received $17.7 million through yearly grants. The annual grant program will NOT go away; instead, the county also wants to support projects that last several years and promote collaboration.

    The behavioral health tax runs through Dec. 31, 2038, and would need voter approval to be renewed.

  2. Will this investment strategy replace the department's annual Impact Fund Grant Program?

    No. The annual grant program will NOT go away. The county also wants to support projects that last several years and promote collaboration, and this will be separate and complementary to the annual grant program.

    Since 2019, 77 organizations have received $17.7 million through yearly grants. 

  3. How is the department taking community ideas into consideration for this project?

    Behavioral Health Services believes in community-driven, community-informed work and bringing people and organizations together to solve our community's complex behavioral health challenges.

    The department is working with Corona Insights to facilitate community engagement, synthesize input, and collaborate with stakeholders on implementation and evaluation plans. Members of the behavioral health care community -- think private providers, hospital system representatives, municipal leaders, nonprofit staff, and more -- have been sharing their ideas and will continue to be part of this work.

Questions?

Email the team at bhs@larimer.org.