Week of March 30, 2023
$2.00
DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
DouglasCountyNewsPress.net
Check out:
VOLUME 121 | ISSUE 21
Spring HOME & GARDEN Special Section
In this week’s paper!
Country recieves more than $60K in funding for mental health
Parking issues grow in Castle Rock Meadows Town Center a concern BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
U.S. Rep. Jason Crow, second from right, stands with Douglas County Commissioners Lora Thomas (left of Crow), George Teal (left of Thomas) and Abe Laydon (left of Teal) in the foreground of the photo next to a ceremonial check for funding for mental health services in Douglas County at a March 20 news conference. Standing with them are leaders in providing mental health services in the COURTESY PHOTO VIA DOUGLAS COUNTY county.
Rep. Crow delivers check BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
A giant check heralded the arrival of more than half a million dollars in federal funding for Douglas County’s efforts to support the public’s mental health. “It is no surprise to parents that we are in the midst of a mental health crisis for our children. We’re near the bottom of the nation in terms of our rates for youth suicide,” said U.S. Rep. Jason Crow, who secured the
funding as part of the federal spending process. Crow’s comments came during a March 20 news conference with Douglas County’s elected leaders, where officials announced that the funding would flow to several of the county’s efforts to develop a safety net for people experiencing a mental health crisis. “With this funding, it’s our goal to develop reliable follow-up support to keep individuals and families engaged in treatment following a crisis, while avoiding cycling through the emergency or criminal justice system to address mental health
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 14 | CALENDAR: PAGE 11 | SPORTS: PAGE 22
needs,” said Laura Ciancone, Douglas County’s coordinator of mental health programs. That “is a very costly track and we all pay for it,” Ciancone said. “Stabilizing people during a crisis and connecting them to services (is) key to addressing mental health needs and preventing the revolving door of crisis response.” Crow, who represents much of the south and east Denver suburbs in Congress, spoke to what he sees as the broader context of mental health support. SEE FUNDING, P8
Castle Rock town council members are considering increasing parking requirements for multifamily developments due to concerns about a lack of spaces in the Meadows Town Center area, but the town is limited in how it can respond. During a discussion on multifamily parking requirements at the March 21 meeting, council members called out the Meadows Town Center for being underparked while planning further development. In January, the council approved 44 apartments and 41 townhomes with 152 residential parking spaces, which is the required number of spaces, at SEE PARKING, P8
T BEFSTHE O T BES
2023
VOTE NOW - APRIL 15th DouglasCountyNewsPress.net CastlePinesNewsPress.net CastleRockNewsPress.net
Special CD Rate
5.01% APY* 10 Month Term
120 S Wilcox St. Castle Rock, CO 80104 | 303-660-4001 *Annual Percentage Yield (APY) and interest rate of Certificate of Deposit (CD) may change after account opening. Fees could reduce earnings on the CD. A penalty may be imposed for early withdrawal. *The CD is automatically renewed into a Standard 9 month CD with current rate at renewal. *The Annual Percentage Yield is current as of March 16, 2023.