La Plata County Commissioner Julie Westendorff has been appointed to the State Board of Human Services this week, a Wednesday news release announced.
Gov. John Hickenlooper appointed Westendorff to the nine-member board where she will serve a two-year term expiring March 1, 2019.
The board is responsible for adopting policies, rules and regulations relevant to the State Department of Human Services administration, including policy on foster care, adoption, mental health programs, alcohol and drug abuse programs, senior services, veterans’ services and programs for people with developmental disabilities.
The board also adjusts the minimum amount awarded for old-age pensions.
“This is a great opportunity to represent the voice of a medium-size county, to say where we need to adjust the rules, and that the rules need to be workable for us,” Westendorff said. “Everything is always Denver-centric in Colorado. This is an opportunity to participate at the state level and achieve our goals at no cost to the county.”
Westendorff will attend state board meetings on the first Thursday and Friday of each month at no cost to La Plata County. The state will pay her travel expenses.
Westendorff’s monthly office hours at the Pine River Library will be changed to the third Thursday of each month beginning in February.
