In this month's episode of the Engage Jeffco Podcast, we chat with Dr. Chelsea Shore-Miller, Program Manager for the Gateway to the Rockies Opioid Council, to discuss how the coalition is helping fund efforts to combat the lingering impacts of the opioid crisis in the region. Listen to the episode.

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Jefferson County Human Services is aware that the recently passed federal bill House Resolution 1 (HR1) may change eligibility for services like Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). At this time, we are awaiting guidance from our federal partners and are continuing to determine eligibility based on the current criteria. Your benefits stay the same today. See Jefferson County's Federal Impact page for more details, resources, and support.

Jefferson County Head Start will expand its early childhood services in Lakewood and Golden starting this fall after receiving a federal grant from the Office of Head Start.

Four new locations will begin serving the communities in Lakewood and Golden starting Oct. 1, 2025, allowing Jefferson County Head Start to care for 64 more preschoolers and 16 more toddlers and their families. Learn more.

Join the team that makes democracy happen right here in Jeffco. The Clerk and Recorder's office is now recruiting Colorado residents, 16 years and older, for temporary, paid election work! Spread the word and visit our website to apply.

The Jefferson County Treasurer's Office is excited to announce a new escrow payment option for residential and commercial property owners who don’t have mortgage companies paying their taxes. Taxpayers can now turn an annual tax bill into smaller, automated, stress-free monthly payments through EscrowTaxes. Get full details including FAQs about EscrowTaxes.

The Transportation & Mobility Plan (TMP) will be heard by the Jefferson County Planning Commission on Sept. 10. The TMP is being established as a part of the Together Jeffco process that is also updating plans regarding wildfire, evacuation and land use. Please see TogetherJeffco.com for more information on the hearing time and location.

The Jefferson County Department of Strategy, Innovation & Finance (SIF) is thrilled to announce Colleen Doan as the county’s new Budget & Strategy Director.

As the director of Strategy, Planning & Analysis (SPA), Doan will be responsible for overseeing the county’s overall budget process, coordinating countywide strategic planning efforts and managing SPA Division staff. Read more.

Between January and July 2025, the Jefferson County Treasurer's Office accrued roughly $16.35 million in interest on county investments (unaudited). With voters approving 1A, Jefferson County can use all interest earned for county services and projects as determined by the Board of County Commissioners. Learn more and view financial reports.

Want to have your art seen by all of Jeffco? Now’s your chance! Enter the I Voted Sticker Design Contest and your artwork could reach 450,000 voters across Jefferson County. This contest is open to all ages and runs through Nov. 30. Learn more and get the official rules.

Jefferson County Public Health is looking for people ages 14 to 22 who are interested in designing a county-wide media campaign to address youth nicotine/tobacco use and vaping. Over the course of 10 weeks, participants will be paid $25 to attend weekly, 90-minute meetings where they will collaborate with peers and industry professionals in media and advertising. Together, you will create a dynamic multi-component media campaign. Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 27. Learn more and apply.

The Conifer Library Grand Opening celebration will take place on Saturday, Sept. 13, at our new home at 27122 Main St., Unit 100, in Conifer. Mark your calendars to celebrate the occasion with us! View event details.

Prepare the kids in your life for a lifetime of learning at the Jefferson County Public Library (JCPL) Raise A Reader Festival on Saturday, Sept. 27! Held at the Colorado Railroad Museum, this free event is perfect for the whole family. Enjoy a day of train rides, live music, delicious treats and fun activities designed to foster early literacy. Register and celebrate the joy of reading with us.

Join the Jefferson County Library Foundation from Oct. 16-19 at the Jeffco Fairgrounds (15200 W. 6th Ave. in Golden) for A Whale of a Used Book Sale. This fundraiser supports many important Jefferson County Public Library initiatives, and attendees can snag some of the more than 90,000 books, media, puzzles, gifts baskets and more. Learn about this and other events in 2025.

Jeffco Prosperity Partners (JPP) is seeking sponsors for the Annual Gingerbread House Contest to help make the holidays brighter for families experiencing poverty. Your sponsorship creates a magical experience and comes with great benefits, including volunteer opportunities and community recognition. Contact Roxy Dunaway to learn more.

It’s that time of the year — school buses on the road, more bikes on the sidewalks and an increase in traffic overall.

As students return to school this week at Jeffco Public Schools, Jefferson County’s Road & Bridge and Transportation & Engineering teams are excited to share details of a newly installed a raised crosswalk in front of Welchester Elementary School at 10th Avenue and Zang Street. This new crosswalk is just one of Jefferson County’s improvement projects that will help improve pedestrian safety for students, families and all community members. Read the full article.

Finding and affording health care for you and your family can sometimes feel overwhelming. Luckily, in Jefferson County, local organizations are here to help! Whether it’s understanding health insurance, learning about different levels of care or figuring out where to go for discounted care, partners of the Healthy Jeffco Alliance have gathered simple, helpful materials to guide you.

Pine trees in the foothills of Jefferson County are dying due to infestations by the mountain pine beetle (MPB), a native bark beetle that feeds beneath the bark of pine trees.

Each year, from mid-June to mid-August, newly emerged beetles take flight to begin a new generation, targeting healthy, green trees. Efforts to control the spread should focus on newly infested trees, which can be identified and removed in the fall through late spring. Learn more.

This year we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Child Support Program. Child Support Awareness Month was established in 1995 to help ensure that all children have the financial support they need to thrive. Every year we use this month to raise awareness and celebrate all the dedicated child support professionals across the state. This August, apply for child support, get help with your case, make or receive a payment and learn more about the ways Child Support Services can help you.

Jefferson County has been ranked No. 4 in the large employer category awarded by Healthiest Employers of Colorado!

At a time when workplace well-being is more vital than ever, the 2025 Healthiest Employers of Colorado awards shined a spotlight on organizations that are going above and beyond to support the physical, mental and emotional health of employees.

Join CASA of Jefferson and Gilpin Counties for a fun, family-friendly mini golf tournament on Aug. 27. If you can hold a putter, you can play! 

CASA supports children navigating the court system, so every swing makes a difference. Your ticket includes dinner, drinks, door prizes and more. Learn more and get your tickets.

Subscribe to Reaching Out: NREL Community Connection, a quarterly newsletter featuring updates on campus events, community partnerships and NREL’s local impact, delivered straight to your inbox.

For even more NREL insights, tune in to The NREL Podcast for the latest research highlights and behind-the-scenes stories from the people driving innovation and advanced energy research at NREL.

Heritage Lakewood and the Belmar Vintage Baseball Association proudly present the Belmar Base Ball Bout — a vintage baseball match — on Saturday, Aug. 30 at 10 a.m. This game will feature vintage rules, uniforms and snacks!

Sign up to play or come watch for just $5! Learn more.

Join us for a free outdoor Movie in the Park on Sept. 5 at The Green at 38th, 7101 W. 38th Ave in Wheat Ridge! We’re showing Disney’s Moana 2, and the fun kicks off at 6 p.m. with lively Polynesian dancers, a thrilling fire knife show and vibrant Tahitian drumming. The movie starts at dusk (around 7:45 p.m.), so bring a blanket, grab some snacks and enjoy an unforgettable evening with the whole family! Learn more.

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and in honor of this important month, Jefferson Center is hosting its second annual Hope;ink Semicolon Tattoo Event on Saturday, Sept. 6. You can choose from a selection of impactful semicolon flash tattoos. Proceeds from this event will benefit Jefferson Center’s programs and services.

Join us as we celebrate the grand opening of The Green at 38th, a brand-new community space created for connection, relaxation and fun. This vibrant new park features a playful playground, charming art exhibits, open green space to unwind and a stage for performances and events. The grand opening will be a joyful day to mark the completion of this exciting project, with free fitness classes, live entertainment and plenty of surprises for all ages. Check out the schedule of events.

Join neighbors and friends for a fun-filled day at the Fall Market on Saturday, Sept. 13, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Find craft vendors, tasty food truck bites and booths from local businesses, all while helping shelter pets. Plus, Foothills is thrilled to launch its first-ever peer-to-peer fundraising campaign, and we’re inviting YOU to join us. Raise funds for the animals, earn fun prizes at various milestones and celebrate your incredible impact at the market. Register and start raising funds today.

Registration is open for foursomes and individual players for the West Metro Chamber's Jeffco Cup Golf Tournament on Thursday, Sept. 25, at Foothills Golf Course. A few event and hole sponsorships are also still available. In addition to recognizing the overall winning team, the scores for each community will be aggregated to crown The Jeffco Cup Champion. Find more details and registration information.

Looking for a summer challenge? Sign up for the Trail Running Series at Bear Creek Lake Park, hosted Wednesday evenings in September starting at 6 p.m. This fun, community-focused race series features a different route each week, giving you the chance to explore the park’s diverse and scenic trail system. Visit Lakewood.org/TrailSeries for details and to register.

The City of Westminster is continuing a community conversation about a proposed 0.4% sales tax to improve emergency services and neighborhood streets. For an additional 2 cents on a cup of coffee, Westminster aims to build a new central fire station, dedicate an additional $2 million to improve neighborhood streets and hire 30 additional paramedics, firefighters and emergency support personnel. Learn more about the Pavement and Paramedics initiative.

Taste the past; celebrate the present. Celebrating Lakewood’s agricultural heritage, Cider Days offers fun and excitement for the entire family, including a mix of live performances, activities and tasty harvest treats. 

Tickets for the Oct. 4-5 event are on sale now and range from $8 to $15 (children ages 2 and younger are free).

Foothills Park & Recreation District is hiring childcare workers in Lakewood and South Jeffco for the upcoming school year. Have fun at work while providing an enriching experience for local kids. Positions are available in after school care, as well as winter and spring break camps.

Little Learners Preschool is all about giving young children a warm, welcoming space to grow, explore and get ready for kindergarten. Housed at the Wheat Ridge Recreation Center’s Children’s Pavilion, our state-licensed, half-day preschool program is designed for ages 3 to 5, running afternoons from 1:10 to 4:10 p.m. Enrollment is now open for the 2025–2026 school year. See what Little Learners offers.

Stop by Apex Park and Recreation District this fall for a season full of family-friendly fun and community get togethers! Bring your little pumpkin to Apex Center for Trick or Trot on Oct. 25, which includes a 5K and Kids Candy Hunt. From spooky fun to family-friendly activities, there’s something for everyone in our fall lineup, including free community movie nights, awesome fitness classes, kids camps and more! Find more information and register today!

Centered on the theme “Grow with Wheat Ridge,” the 2025 Carnation Festival marked the proud debut of the city’s refreshed mission and vision statements. Crafted thoughtfully by the city council, they now guide every department, project and conversation. “Grow with Wheat Ridge” is more than a slogan; it is an invitation. It asks residents, businesses and visitors to grow their roots in the city, help it flourish and work together to cultivate a community that thrives.