Denver committee approves community-corrections funding extension, WIC expansion

Denver’s Health and Safety Committee approved a consent-agenda package July 29 that continues $8.39 million in community-corrections funding through Sept. 30, 2027, adds WIC capacity at Denver Health clinics and extends citywide chronic-disease planning. The package also expands a medical examiner contract to include administration of a fellowship program. Full City Council action was not established in the records reviewed.

The committee agenda says a Denver Health and Hospital Authority grant amendment adds a WIC service location and budget capacity for a part-time educator. The educator will enroll patients in and provide Women, Infants and Children services during pediatric and OB/GYN appointments at Denver Health outpatient clinics. The record does not name the added location, specify the position’s hours or set a client target; it says the amendment does not change the agreement’s overall capacity or term.

A Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment grant amendment adds $585,177, bringing the stated total to $685,177, and extends the grant through June 30, 2027. The funding supports citywide chronic-disease health-assessment, framework and infrastructure work. The record does not identify priority diseases, the number of residents to be assessed or specific direct services to be offered.

The committee also approved an amendment to Denver’s revenue agreement with the Colorado Division of Criminal Justice. The amendment adds $8,393,627.98, for a stated total of $24,982,353.51, and extends the agreement 12 months to cover continued Denver Community Corrections funding for the 2026-27 state fiscal year. The committee minutes characterize the money as continued funding, not a new program. They do not specify the services, staffing levels or number of clients covered.

The package changes the scope of forensic physician Leon Kelly’s contract, under Neon Forensics LLC, to add administration of the Office of the Medical Examiner’s Fellowship Program. The contract continues to cover emergency on-call forensic physician services, and the July materials say its capacity and term are unchanged.

The most recent public dollar figure located for the contract is $1.383 million. An April City Council record says an earlier amendment added $1 million, bringing the total to $1.383 million, with no change to the term. The July amendment does not state an additional amount, new total or new end date.

The records establish committee approval and scheduled funding and service changes, but do not establish that the expanded services had begun or that the full City Council had taken final action.