News Release
[August 5, 2025 – Denver, Colo.]: Caring for Denver Foundation awarded more than $14 million to support 25 community-based organizations and City and County of Denver agencies, dedicated to providing alternatives to jail solutions. These efforts focus on supporting people with mental health and substance misuse challenges who are involved with, or at risk of becoming involved with, the legal system—helping them get the care they need and reducing the chances of returning to the system.
Founded and funded by the people of Denver through a sales tax initiative, Caring for Denver Foundation provides financial support for programs and services that address Denver’s mental health and substance misuse needs.
The recently awarded grants fall under Alternatives to Jail, one of three community-identified funding areas prioritized by Caring for Denver. These grants reflect Caring for Denver’s commitment to provide compassion and care—not criminalization—for people experiencing substance misuse and mental health challenges.
“We’re excited to partner with community organizations and the City on solutions that ensure Denverites receive the vital care they deserve,” shared Lorez Meinhold, Caring for Denver executive director. “Too often, people facing mental health or substance use challenges end up in the legal system when what they really need is care. This funding supports programs that help prevent that—from the start.”
Each funded program addresses the complex needs of individuals involved in the legal system by offering a range of services such as mental health support, peer counseling, substance misuse treatment, increased access to behavioral health clinicians, trauma-informed care, and culturally competent services. Many provide care for at-risk or involved youth that meets people where they are. Grantees play a vital role in supporting recovery by honoring each person’s unique journey.
Alternatives to Jail
Caring for Denver Foundation approved 25 grants totaling $14 million to City agencies and community-based nonprofit organizations within the City and County of Denver in the Alternatives to Jail priority area.
Breakthrough Alliance of Colorado Inc.
Supporting formerly incarcerated or recovering individuals in the Denver area by providing workshops focused on substance misuse reduction and stabilization factors for those exiting the criminal legal system.
CHEF – Culinarians Helping Entrepreneurial Folks
Supporting individuals in recovery and re-entry, helping break cycles of addiction and recidivism. Through a peer-led, recovery-first model, the program fosters healing, accountability, and connection—empowering participants to build stable, substance-free lives.
City and County of Denver – 911 Communications
Reducing unnecessary engagement with law enforcement by embedding behavioral health clinicians within the call center to provide crisis intervention, de-escalation, additional resources for callers, and consultations to call takers, dispatchers, and responders.
City and County of Denver – Denver Police Department
Adding peer support specialists to help LEAD program participants engage in behavioral health supports. This program provides trauma-informed intensive case management for people who are frequently arrested on low-level charges.
City and County of Denver – Denver Police Department
Continuing the existing co-responder program in place to provide 24/7 coverage to areas of highest need with a team of clinicians, a program evaluator, a program director, a behavioral health navigator, and program managers.
City and County of Denver – Department of Public Health & Environment
Providing behavioral health support and wraparound services through STAR crisis services and its network of culturally, linguistically, and geographically appropriate providers.
City and County of Denver – Department of Public Health & Environment
Expanding the Substance Use Navigation (SUN) program to increase reach and impact by responding to non-emergency mental health and substance misuse calls and ensuring routine treatment follow-up with clients.
Contemporary Learning Academy (DPS School)
Offering for mental health, substance intervention, and intensive case management services for seven Central Region Denver Public Schools pathway schools.
Expanding counseling and peer-led LiveDifferent Recovery services to provide trauma-informed, culturally responsive support to Denver residents who are justice-impacted or at risk of system involvement.
Providing safe spaces for BIPOC youth to work through―and heal from―the traumas they have experienced, and to increase their resilience and coping skills to either stay out of and/or successfully navigate out of the juvenile criminal system when they are already involved.
Providing services to individuals struggling with substance misuse, mental health and/or recidivism. These services include groups addressing criminal thinking, as well as mental health and substance misuse sessions led by licensed staff with lived experience.
Latino Coalition for Community Leadership
Expanding inclusive mental health care for both victims and frontline workers as Denver youth are facing high exposure to violence causing trauma and mental health issues.
Providing and deepening critical and mental health and trauma supports to Denver youth who are at risk of gang involvement with programming designed to improve youth mental health, reduce substance misuse, and prevent justice-involvement.
Mile High Behavioral Healthcare
Offering an intensive pre-and post-release behavioral health program to help justice-involved men and women successfully transition from the criminal justice system back into community. Service goals include reducing clients’ mental health issues, substance use disorders, and recidivism.
Continuing social-emotional programs (Restorative Theatre™) for youth in residential and day treatment centers, and to expand into diversion programming with Denver’s Office of the Municipal Public Defender.
Offering a re-entry program providing mental health support for men transitioning from incarceration to community life integrating trauma-informed care, substance use support, and cognitive restructuring that supports successful reintegration.
Transforming cycles of trauma, addiction, violence, and incarceration through powerful, evidence-based programming in Colorado prisons and community corrections—creating ripple effects that improve mental health and build safer, stronger communities for all.
Expanding access to trauma-informed, culturally responsive care for individuals with sex offense convictions transitioning from incarceration to the Denver community.
Providing mental-health-oriented, trauma-informed creative writing and storytelling workshops to participants engaged with the Denver Specialty Courts at treatment centers and sober living facilities.
Supporting young males of color, ages 11–25, who are court- and community-referred with mental, emotional, and behavioral health services to reduce justice involvement, expand career paths, and build healthy relationships.
Supporting the RISE to Learn, Thrive to Lead program, pairing therapy, coaching, and family support to foster healing and resilience through connections and care.
Offering long-term substance use disorder treatment for individuals in the Denver judicial system. The program provides evidence-based practices, helping individuals rebuild their lives for successful reintegration, long-term stability, and decreased return to incarceration.
The Salvation Army Intermountain Division
Supporting justice-involved men at the Denver Harbor Light Center, an addiction recovery program focused on helping men obtain sobriety, address addiction’s underlying causes, and avoid returning to cycles of incarceration.
Offering an intergenerational program that provides ongoing culturally responsive programs and services to families to break cycles of substance misuse, trauma, and incarceration with supports for adults and their children.
Volunteers of America Colorado Branch
Hiring a peer support specialist that will bring their lived experience to engage clients, identify barriers, and link individuals to essential services in an effort to support community members in recovery and increase health outcomes.
About Caring for Denver Foundation
Caring for Denver Foundation was founded and funded with overwhelming voter support to address Denver’s mental health and substance misuse needs by growing community-informed solutions, dismantling stigma, and turning the community’s desire to help into action. Guided by community input, the organization has granted more than $212 million in the areas of alternatives to jail, community-centered solutions, youth, and special initiatives since it began.