Wessell Family Foundation

A 25,000 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY WAS OPENED FOR A FOOD DISTRIBUTION CENTER FOR THE SAN LUIS VALLEY AND 31 COUNTIES IN SOUTHERN COLORADO AND IT'S OPERATIONAL. THE FACILITY ALLOWS OVER THE ROAD DRIVERS TO DELIVER MORE NUTRITIOUS FOOD TO PARTNER AGENCIES ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST REGION WHILE CUTTING DOWN ON TRANSPORTATION TIME AND MILEAGE. THERE ARE MANY FARMERS IN THE SAN LUIS VALLEY WHO DONATE FOOD TO THE CENTER OR ALLOW THE PROGRAM TO PURCHASE ITEMS AT A LOW COST. 6,000 VOLUNTEERS SHARED THEIR TIME AND TALENT EQUALING 44,900 HOURS OF WORK.

A PROJECT CREATED ITS FIRST SPECIALIZED CASE MANAGER ROLE WITH A SPECIFIC EMPHASIS ON SERVING OLDER CLIENTS AGES 50 YEARS OLD OR OLDER. A GERIATRIC MEDICAL CASE MANAGER WORKS WITH HIV AND AIDS AND POTENTIAL CLIENTS WITH ENROLLMENT, SCREENING, ADMINISTRATION, AND DEVELOPMENT OF INDIVIDUALIZED COMPREHENSIVE CARE PLANNING TO INCLUDE SUPPORTIVE AGING SERVICES FOR ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS. A SCREENING TOOL DESIGNED UNDER THE GERIATRIC 5M'S - A MODEL FRAMEWORK FOR CARING FOR OLDER ADULTS, WILL BE USED TO INFORM COMPREHENSIVE CARE COORDINATION AND SERVICES THAT SUPPORT THE AGE-RELATED NEEDS OF CLIENTS AND IMPROVE THEIR HEALTH OUTCOMES OVERTIME.

THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH 17 ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS 20 COLORADO COUNTIES, 60+ AMERICORPS MEMBERS WERE RECRUITED TO SUPPORT COLORADO HEALTHCARE CORPS (CHC). CHC ADDRESSES THE SHORTAGE OF HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND CREATES A PATHWAY TO HIGH-DEMAND CAREERS FOR DIVERSE INDIVIDUALS. IT IS PROJECTED THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS WILL SERVE MORE THAN 23,000 PATIENTS.

PREVENTION EDUCATION IS A TOOL FOR PREVENTING CHILD ABUSE AND DISRUPTING THE CYCLE OF ABUSE. THE SCHOOL PROGRAM USES A THREE-TIERED HOLISTIC APPROACH THAT INCLUDES TIPS AND RESOURCES FOR PARENTS, TRAINING FOR SCHOOL PERSONNEL, AND DEVELOPMENTALLY AGE-APPROPRIATE PRESENTATIONS FOR KINDERGARTEN, 3RD, AND 5TH GRADE STUDENTS. IMPACTS OF THE PROGRAM INCLUDE 61 SCHOOLS, 6128 PRE-K-5TH GRADE CHILDREN WERE SERVED, 345 CLASSROOMS RECEIVED INFORMATION, AND 1,781 SCHOOL STAFF AND PARENTS WERE TRAINED. INTERVENTION SERVICES ARE OFFERED IN A CENTRALLY LOCATED, CHILD-FOCUSED FACILITY AND A COORDINATED RESPONSE BY ALL INVESTIGATIVE AGENCIES. THE AYUDA (HELP) PROJECT WORKS WITH THE PRINCIPLES OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION TO NURTURE, STABILIZE, AND ENSURE LONGEVITY FOR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS SERVING LATINOS AND ADVOCATING FOR IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES FROM MANY NATIONS. AYUDA WORKS WITH TWENTY NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT COLORADO. DURING THE PANDEMIC, A CRISIS AROUND THE COVID-19 VIRUS DEVELOPED REGAR