Persons Who Wander
Colorado Senate Bill 187 was passed as part of the 2022 Legislative Session. The bill provides financial assistance to programs that work to attempt to locate persons who wander, and restructures a grant program that assists 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 that may cause them to wander away from safety.
If your loved one is lost, call 911.
What is the Wanderer Recovery Program?
- The Wanderer Recovery Program is for people who have a mental disability creating the tendency to wander, such as Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, autism, brain injury, or developmental, cognitive, neurological, or chromosomal disorders.
How does the program work?
- The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will provide grant funding to assist local governments or their designees in establishing, improving, or maintaining recovery programs implemented by local law enforcement agencies and other first responders.
- This grant funding may be used by applicants toward equipment costs, technology costs, training of search personnel, outreach about recovery programs, and any other eligible cost required to implement or maintain a recovery program.
- The eligible equipment includes wearable medical documentation and technology to aid in the tracking of individuals who have wandered. These assistive technologies aid caregivers and first responders in recovery.
What are some proven benefits?
- Wearable medical documentation provides caregivers and first responders with pertinent information in an easily accessible method.
- Tracking technology improves recovery; most wanderers are found in under 30 minutes once the search has been started using this equipment, unaffected by time of day or weather.
In the News
- Colorado Persons Who Wander Website Goes Live
Families facing issues related to persons who wander have access to a new website for resources and information.
Legislation passed during the 2022 Colorado legislative session enhanced efforts to provide assistance to Colorado families of people who wander, along with the availability of state-sponsored grants to assist local governments with recovery programs. The information is housed under the umbrella of the CBI website.
The Colorado Persons Who Wander website contains information about tracking technology resources, information for families, and tips for what to do when a family member goes missing. The Supporting Recovery Programs Persons Who Wander Grant Program provides a funding opportunity for local governments.
The intent of the ‘Supporting Recovery Programs Persons Who Wander Grant Program’ is to provide grant funding 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.
Members of the CBI worked closely with stakeholders involved in the creation of the legislation during last year’s Colorado legislative session to develop the website.
“We are excited to be able to provide families and others with a one-stop shop for information and resources related to people who wander through a comprehensive website and launch of a grant program,” said CBI Director Chris Schaefer. “We also want to extend our deep appreciation to the stakeholders whose valuable input played a pivotal role in the development of the website.”- Supporting Recovery Programs for Persons Who Wander Grant Application Deadline Is Jan. 26, 2024
NOTE: Deadline to apply for 2023-24 grants is Jan. 26, 2024.
The deadline for submitting an application for the Persons Who Wander grant is January 26, 2024.
The Supporting Recovery Programs for Persons Who Wander Grant Program provides a funding opportunity for local governments. There is $89,141 available to divide among applicants.
The intent of the ‘Supporting Recovery Programs for Persons Who Wander Grant Program’ is to provide grant funding 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.
- FY2024 Persons Who Wander - Six Agencies Awarded Funds to Help Locate Missing Persons
April 29, 2024 – CBI – Lakewood, CO
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is pleased to announce the awarding of the 2024 People Who Wander grants.
Legislation passed during the 2022 Colorado legislative session enhanced efforts to provide assistance to Colorado families of people who wander, along with the availability of state-sponsored grants to assist local governments with recovery programs.
“We are excited to be able to provide families and others with a convenient resource for information related to people who wander through a comprehensive website and launch of the grant program,” said CBI Director Chris Schaefer.
The purpose of the Supporting Recovery Programs Persons Who Wander Grant program is to provide a funding opportunity for local governments in locating persons with medical conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, autism, brain injury, or developmental, cognitive, neurological, or chromosomal disorders.
The funds are to help encourage communities to establish recovery programs and provide tools that will increase the chances of saving the lives of lost and missing persons.
A total of $70,561 is being awarded to six law enforcement agencies. The Aurora Police Department is receiving ($29,870), Logan County ($13,700), Otero County ($11,729), Brush Police Department ($10,587), Montezuma County ($2,635) and Gunnison Police Department ($2,040). They plan to use the funding in a variety of ways.
For example, Otero County will be using its grant funding to purchase a drone for aerial searches of missing people.
“The Otero County Sheriff’s office is thankful for being awarded this grant for People who Wander through CBI, “said Sheriff Shawn Mobley. “In using equipment funded previously through this grant, we have had successful conclusions of search operations for at-risk adults and with this award are hoping to improve our capabilities and efficiency in the field and to ultimately save lives. The drone we are hoping to acquire will allow us to not only see in other light spectrums, but to communicate and deliver lifesaving payloads as well.”
Logan County and the Brush Police Department also purchasing drones to enhance their search efforts for people in rural areas who may wander away from loved ones.
There will be about $90,000 available for next year’s grant program. The CBI expects to open the new grant window in the fall.