craigdailypress.com

Putting a face with a name is one reason representatives from almost 20 agencies attend monthly interagency meetings, but the exchange of information and ideas is the No. 1 reason most attend.

"This is one of the most productive meetings I attend," Moffat County Partners Director Tara Jenrich said. "I hope they never stop doing this."

Twenty-three people attended Wednesday's meeting, all representing a group that offers some level of services to children, such as the Northwest Colorado Dental Coalition, Police Department, Grand Futures Prevention Coalition, juvenile detention officers, Boys and Girls Club and YoungLife.

Each gave an update on their program and solicited input, questions and in some cases, volunteers.

The Women's Foundation of Northwest Colorado is starting a steering committee that will design programs and activities for girls in fifth through 12th grade. Debbie Henkens, community care coordinator for the Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association, asked those attending Wednesday's meeting to consider working with the committee, which meets at noon Nov. 16 at the Craig Holiday Inn.

Cody Reed, bilingual cultural mediator at the Steamboat Mental Health Center said she's working on a combined Routt and Moffat counties program that would assess the need for immigrant and refuge services and create a plan to provide those services.

"The demographic situation here is changing rapidly, and we expect that to continue," she said. "That means changes have to take place."

There will be a brainstorming meeting at 5 p.m. Thursday at Hayden High School.

Boys and Girls Club Director Jonathan Godes said that enrollment for fall programs was low but growing every day. The club is open from 3 to 6 p.m. and will continue to operate out of East Elementary School until late October, when remodeling of the former armory is expected to be complete.

Then, it will begin serving youths ages 6 to 18. Until then, it can serve only students in first through fourth grade.

Christina M. Currie can be reached at 824-7031, ext. 210, or ccurrie@craigdailypress.com.