Blue Envelope Program

The blue envelope and stickers on display at the Clerk and Recorders Office

Contact Us

  1. Clear Creek Health Assistance Team

    Email CCHAT
    Phone: (303) 670-7566 (non-urgent)

Clear Creek County is proud to offer the Blue Envelope Program, which promotes safe and effective interactions between first responders and individuals with conditions or disabilities that may impact communication.

This initiative helps the County's law enforcement and first responders quickly recognize when they are interacting with someone who might need extra time, patience, or accommodations. The program is for individuals who may benefit from extra understanding during a law enforcement encounter, including those with intellectual or developmental disabilities such as Autism or dementia, and those with communication barriers like hearing impairments or language processing difficulties. 

By providing an easy-to-spot symbol, the Blue Envelope fosters trust, ensuring that every interaction is handled with greater awareness and sensitivity.  Simply place important documents like driver's licenses and insurance information in a blue envelope! You can also pick up other identifying items such as a seatbelt cover and sticker. There is no signup or personal information gathered for this program. Swing by a location, pick up your materials, and you are a part of the program. 

Items

These items are available to the public FREE of charge! Choose any or all of these items as a way for yourself, friends, or family members to use as an easy way to be identified by first responders as someone with potential communications challenges.

  • Blue EnvelopeA blue envelope that has a mountain embedded into it.
  • Blue Envelope Sticker
  • Seatbelt cover (coming soon!)

Locations:

  • Clear Creek County Sheriff's Office
  • Clear Creek County Clerk and Recorder
  • Clear Creek County Health and Wellness Center
  • Idaho Springs Police Department
  • Empire Police Department

More about the Blue Envelope Program

Launched in Connecticut in 2020, the Blue Envelope Program was originally designed to provide a simple solution to help drivers with communication challenges during traffic stops. It uses a bright blue envelope to hold essential documents along with clear instructions for both the driver and the officer. It has since expanded to include materials people can have with them even when not driving, such as bracelets, lanyards, and buttons. This allows for a better understanding among all first responders in any type of interaction with members of the public.

The program’s success quickly led to its adoption across the nation, with law enforcement agencies in parts of New Jersey, Maine, Massachusetts, Arizona, San Diego, and Colorado implementing similar initiatives. These programs encourage first responders to approach identified citizens with empathy and clear communication, reducing misunderstandings and anxiety.