Grant Application FAQs

The Recovery Program for Persons Who Wander Grant Program is funded by the Recovery Program for Persons Who Wander Cash Fund.

For FY 2023-24, $89,141 in grants will be available to local governments or their designees to implement or maintain a wandering persons program. This amount is estimated to fund 10 programs at around $9,000 in funding each. Actual grant award numbers and amounts will be determined by the grant application process. Funding for grants is assumed to continue at a similar level in FY 2024-25 and beyond, but this amount may be adjusted through the annual budget process at the discretion of the General Assembly.

This funding is available to assist local governments or their designees in locating persons with medical conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, autism, brain injury, or developmental, cognitive, neurological, or chromosomal disorders by encouraging county sheriffs' departments, municipalities, and county or municipal designees to establish recovery programs and provide tools that will increase the chances of saving the lives of lost and missing persons.  

Funding is available to Colorado counties, municipalities, law enforcement agencies, or designees thereof and may be categorized as:

• A county or combination of counties
• A municipality or combination of municipalities
• A combination of counties and municipalities
• Local or county law enforcement agencies
• First responder services and/or agencies
• Designees of any of the above

Counties, municipalities, and designees may submit grant applications jointly.

The grant funding may be used by a county, any combination of counties, municipality, any combination of municipalities, any combination of counties and municipalities, or designees for the following purposes only: 

• Equipment costs
• Technology costs
• Training of search personnel
• Outreach about recovery programs for persons who wander
• Any other costs required to implement or maintain a recovery program for persons who wander

Some examples of eligible activities may include but are not limited to the following:

• Tracking devices
• Batteries
• Tracking equipment
• Public education materials
• Search personnel training
• Family training

This grant program is estimated to fund 10 programs at around $9,000 in funding each; however, there are no caps stipulated in the program legislation. Applicants should ask for what is needed.

There is no set amount pre-determined for each applicant.  Applicants will submit applications requesting what they need.  An advisory committee will review and evaluate applications and recommend funding. The committee making decisions will evaluate the number of applicants, availability of other funding resources, and requested amounts when making decisions.

Funding will be awarded on Feb. 12, 2024. The award period is Feb. 12, 2024 to June 30, 2024. All goods and services must be received no later than June 30, 2024.

The grant can be used to supplement existing funding, replace existing funding, or as new funding.