At the recent Colorado Counties, Inc. (CCI) conference in Vail, the Arapahoe County Human Services department was honored by the Colorado Department of Human Services with a prestigious award that recognized its outstanding performance during the pandemic.

The award, In Recognition of 99% Timeliness of Benefit Applications During a Global Pandemic in 2021, highlights the department’s excellence of exceeding state measures when processing critical public assistance programs such as food, medical and cash assistance to County residents.

“This recognition is made possible by the incredible staff in Human Services,” said Bob Prevost, Human Services Deputy Director. “We pressed really hard at times to get more work done to ensure the people we serve had their needs met during the pandemic. Our staff did an amazing job of stepping up and working extra hours, therefore getting work done extremely timely.” Arapahoe County was the only County in the large counties group* to receive this recognition.

“In addition to the outstanding performance by our staff, we are also very fortunate to have the full support of the BOCC [Board of County Commissioners], who understood our needs when caseloads doubled during the pandemic,” said Cheryl Ternes, Human Services Director. “With tools in place and the support of our operations, finance and legal divisions, we made it possible to carry out the County’s mission to be first in service and I am very proud.”

The BOCC will celebrate the award next week with Child and Community Support Services staff.

*Large counties include Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Denver, El Paso, Jefferson, Larimer, Mesa, Pueblo and Weld.