ABSTRACT

In the summer of 1980, the State of Colorado's Department of Local Affairs, Division of Impact Assistance received a grant from the Department of Energy to formulate a Human Service Delivery Plan for Colorado's oil shale region. Within the oil shale region, the Garfield County Human Service Council (HSC) and the Mesa County HSC had formed. The Eastern Advisory Group of the Impact Mitigation Task Forces was already in the process of developing an inventory of human service agencies and needs, and was receptive to working. The HSC eventually became recognized by county government, and in 1982, they jointly produced the Garfield County Human Service Plan. Ideas concerning "new citizen integration projects," county human service monitoring projects, intergovernmental relations strategies, political action, and fund solicitation were among the topics circulated. The state can take partial credit in the gains made by HSCs, by adopting a flexible system of assistance through its Human Service Delivery Plan.