1

Access and Functional Needs Subcommittee

The HSAC Access and Functional Needs (AFN) Sub-Committee makes recommendations on emergency management activities to HSAC/DHSEM which may include but are not limited to:

  • State-wide planning, prevention, preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery activities will include all levels (local, non-profit, state, federal) to accomplish integration of the whole community by addressing access and functional needs.
  • Increase collaboration among Federal, State and local agencies to identify entities responsible for originating, delivering, and receiving support for the access and functional needs of the whole community
  • Ensure robust and efficient emergency planning, prevention, preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery systems are in place to address Access and Functional Needs 
  • Share data among public agencies for the rapid identification of Access and Functional Needs.
  • Align, integrate, and strengthen state coordination of Access and Functional Needs to build person-centered systems and planning before, during, and after emergency incidents 
  • Implement appropriate funding model(s) and accountability for Access and Functional Needs programs funded by the Colorado Joint Budget Committee;
  • Improve depth and diversity in the Access and Functional Needs network;
  • Provide guidance and advice to the DHSEM in the division’s implementation of a statewide network of Access and Functional Needs Coordinators and Whole Community Inclusion Planning Specialists;
  • Articulate, expand and revisit the definition of access and functional needs for use by emergency management systems as needed.

Purpose

The subcommittee's purpose is to meet community needs by guiding the development of all-inclusive systems, practices, and relationships in emergency management to better serve the whole community in Colorado through prevention, preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery efforts.

Committee Member List 

Members

  • Co-Chair, Amanda Hettinger, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE)
  • Co-Chair, Sadie Martinez, Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM)
  • Julia Beems, University of Colorado Denver/Center for Inclusive Design and Engineering
  • Shirl Garcia, Community Member
  • Pat Chappell, American Red Cross
  • Ian Anderson, The Salvation Army
  • Cliff Moers, Colorado Commission for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind
  • Aimee Voth Seibert, CDPHE
  • Stephanie Hackett, Brighton Emergency Management
  • Bob Heldenbrand, Colorado DHSEM
  • Dave Osborn, Colorado DHSEM
  • Connie Chavez, The Independence Center
  • Michael Houston, FEMA Region VIII
  • Veronica Moody, Rocky Mountain MRC
  • Emily Shuman, Rocky Mountain ADA
  • Loni Koller, American Red Cross
  • Jaclyn Kurle, Colorado Department of Human Services
  • Joycelyn Fankhouser, Boulder County
  • Christe Coleman, Colorado DHSEM
  • Lori Zazzaro, San Juan Basin Public Health
  • Anne Walton, Douglas County
  • Curtis Garrett, Atlantis Community, Inc.
  • Josh Winker, Lt. Governor's Office
  • Luke Adams, Colorado Commission for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind
  • Derek Killibrew, Colorado DHSEM
  • Vacant, HCPF Partner
  • Justin Sasso, Colorado Broadcasters Association
  • Ethan Williams, Colorado DHSEM
  • Gabby Roldan, Colorado DHSEM
  • Hunter Knapp, Project Protect Food  Systems
  • Olga Gonzalez, Cultivando
  • Roberto Rey, AARP
  • Karen Klein, Colorado Division of Aging and Adult Services
  • Mary Putman, The Reciprocity Collective
  • Tim Mann, Colorado DHSEM
  • Caitlyn Garko, Colorado DHSEM
  • Penn Street, Audio Information Network of Colorado
  • Billy Allen, Center for Independence
  • Noah McCord, Colorado DHSEM
  • Yael Holzman Castellands, Colorado 211 and Disaster Response
  • Charlotte Olsen, US. HHS

Meeting Information 

The subcommittee shares information on the current year and two previous years' meeting minutes and agendas. Please click the expanding folder link below for access to each of those years.

2024 Meeting Information
2023 Meeting Information 
2022 Meeting Information 
2021 Meeting Information 

January Meeting

February Meeting

  • No meeting held

March Meeting

April Meeting

May Meeting

June Meeting

July Meeting

August Meeting

September Meeting

October Meeting

November Meeting

December Meeting

 

AFN Subcommittee Resources and Reports

The subcommittee produces annual reports, guidance documents and other resources. Links to these documents are provided below.