Colorado Department of Human Services
Colorado Department of Human Services
Foster youth who leave the system as teens could return until age 21 under new Colorado proposal
About one-third of foster kids who leave the system to live on their own end up homeless within three years. A proposed change would let them go back until their 21st birthday.
Denver’s Tennyson Center to close its residential program after runaways, overdoses and child’s death
State child welfare officials were investigating neglect, lack of supervision and safety issues when Tennyson Center for Children decided to close its residential program.
Opinion: To recover from COVID-19’s impact, Colorado must invest in the workers who are getting us through it
Our elected leaders must commit to investing in essential services to make them sustainable and be better prepared for future crises.
Calls to Colorado’s child abuse hotline fell during coronavirus, but harm to kids likely didn’t
Child welfare officials have been concerned throughout the coronavirus pandemic that kids were out of sight of teachers, doctors who must report abuse
On Edge: Heightened anxiety, depression are testing Colorado’s already-frayed safety nets
As coronavirus makes another virulent run through Colorado, a silent epidemic of mental health challenges is feeding on the anxiety and isolation of the pandemic.
“Fraudulent worker” investigation shakes Moffat County; human services director leaves job
County officials refuse to respond to inquiries about the staff shakeup and probe of more than 80 cases
Pairing mental health counselors with police on calls shows promise in Colorado
Colorado's marijuana taxes funded 10 co-responder programs that dispatch mental health pros with cops. Two years in, the concept seems to be working in cities along the Front Range.
Colorado child protection caseworker under investigation for falsifying reports about checking on kids, at-risk adults
The alleged fraud was uncovered after Moffat County fell behind on abuse and neglect reports, and the state sent in a team of 15 caseworkers to clean up the mess
Colorado’s splintered mental health system has had tragic failures. The state is taking the first step to fix it.
A task force ordered by Gov. Jared Polis calls for creating a new Behavioral Health Administration, but the plan has no new funding
Colorado’s new strategy to prevent child sexual abuse zeroes in on every ZIP code
The child advocacy organization Illuminate Colorado is funding a program to train at least 5% of the population in each county
Food-assistance requests keep soaring in Colorado despite slowing coronavirus unemployment claims
Nearly 70,000 more Coloradans received SNAP benefits in April compared to March. State officials expect that number to continue to climb during the coronavirus crisis.
With Colorado’s budget in tatters, advocates worry the public safety net will further fray
Gov. Jared Polis hit human services hard with his emergency budget cuts last week. Advocates for vulnerable populations say the coming coronavirus-related overhaul contains brutal reductions in spending
Even as Colorado child care centers reopen, their long-term survivability is at risk
Under new restrictions, child care facilities can have no more than 10 kids per room. That means fewer spots for parents -- and less profit for providers.
Record unemployment is leading to unprecedented food insecurity in Colorado
Pantries and food programs are struggling to meet demand as major donors suspend manufacturing. But Gib's New York Bagels in Fort Collins still is sending 5,000 bagels it would normally sell in a week to food banks.
Colorado is releasing incarcerated kids early because of coronavirus
The Division of Youth Services has already sent 22 young people to early parole and is evaluating about 300 others.
Amid coronavirus quarantines and job losses, Colorado girds for wave of domestic violence
"This is just an incredibly dangerous time for those at risk for domestic violence," says an Eagle County human services worker
