Persons Who Wander Grant Program

The Persons Who Wander Grant Program is administered by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation for the Fiscal Year 2026-27 funding cycle. The program is intended to assist local governments and their designees in locating persons who may wander because of medical conditions such as Alzheimer's Disease and related dementias, autism, brain injury, or developmental, cognitive, neurological, or chromosomal disorders. The program encourages county sheriffs' departments, municipalities, and county or municipal designees to establish recovery programs and provide tools that increase the chances of saving the lives of lost and missing persons. The program operates under C.R.S. 24-33.5-415.9 concerning local recovery programs for persons who wander and grants to local governments. Grant funds may be used only for eligible activities associated with implementing or maintaining a recovery program for persons who wander. Permitted costs include equipment costs, technology costs, training of search personnel, outreach about recovery programs for persons who wander, and other costs required to implement or maintain such a program. The total amount available for the program is $85,709. Individual award minimums and maximums and the anticipated number of awards are not stated. Awards to qualifying counties, municipalities, and designees will be prorated according to the availability of state grant funds. No matching contribution is required. The award period is January 1, 2027 through June 30, 2027. Eligible recipients include a county, a combination of counties, or a county designee; a municipality, a combination of municipalities, or a municipality designee; any combination of counties and municipalities or their designees; local or county law enforcement agencies; and first responder services or agencies designated by a county or municipality to administer a recovery program. Counties, municipalities, and designees may submit applications jointly. Applications must identify the specific activity for which funding is requested, verify that recovery program participants are enrolled by their caregiver, estimate the number of people at risk of wandering who might qualify for assistance, and estimate the startup or maintenance cost of the proposed recovery program. Applicants must also demonstrate work with organizations serving individuals with medical conditions that may cause wandering and describe how recovery program participants will receive information about wandering, how to prevent wandering, and how to respond to wandering. Applicants must describe the availability of local funding sources. Funding decisions will be made by the CBI Director or designee in consultation with Persons Who Wander grant management staff. Evaluation considers the specific activity requested for funding, availability of existing local funding sources, prevalence of people at risk of wandering, collaboration with caregivers and relevant service organizations, and how information about wandering prevention and response will be provided to family members of program participants. Priority is based on the respective need for tracking services and the availability of local funding sources. The program was announced August 31, 2026, and project applications must be submitted online through the specified Google Forms application on or before October 30, 2026 at 5:00 PM MST. Applicants are strongly encouraged to read the Grant Application Instructions and review the FAQs. Failure to submit a complete project application may result in denial of funding. General technical assistance concerning the application process is available through webinars, office hours, and other means. Funding decisions are expected in early to mid-November 2026, with grant agreements expected in mid- to late November 2026. Applications denied funding may be appealed within three days of notification, but an appeal may contain only clarifying information addressing the reasons stated in the denial notification and may not contain new information. The award period runs from January 1, 2027 through June 30, 2027. Awarded grantees will receive additional information regarding administrative requirements. Grantees must submit one financial report and one programmatic report describing use of grant funds, including search and rescue statistics involving technology obtained under the program, implementation and maintenance policies, and other relevant performance information. These reports are due on or before July 15, 2027, and performance metrics will be outlined at the time of award. Questions concerning the grant program and requirements may be directed to Drake Brownfield, Grant Specialist, Colorado Bureau of Investigation, at drake.brownfield@state.co.us or 303-239-4248. Programmatic application questions and answers are posted to the program FAQ website as part of CBI's fair and impartial competitive application process.

Clearly identify the activity requested for funding and quantify the local population at risk of wandering. Document the availability of existing local funding because funding decisions prioritize need and local resource availability. Demonstrate collaboration with caregivers and organizations serving affected individuals. Clearly explain how families and participants will receive information about wandering, prevention, and response. Submit a complete online application by the deadline because incomplete applications may be denied.