Current Deputy Ombudsman and national ombudsman leader selected to oversee Colorado agency
DENVER (May 7, 2026) — The Office of the Colorado Child Protection Ombudsman (CPO) announced today that Deputy Ombudsman Jordan Steffen will succeed Stephanie Villafuerte as Colorado’s next Child Protection Ombudsman, effective June 22, 2026. Steffen was selected by the CPO Board of Directors following a competitive nationwide search.
Steffen is a national expert in public sector ombudsman practice and has established herself as a leader in driving system-level reforms in Colorado’s child protection system. She brings a unique background to the role as a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and licensed attorney.
“I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve as Colorado’s next Child Protection Ombudsman and to build on the strong foundation Stephanie Villafuerte has established during the past 10 years,” said Steffen. “I look forward to working with advocates and partners across our state to ensure children and families are heard, supported and protected.”
Steffen first joined the CPO’s executive team in 2016 as the Director of Communications and Policy. In this position, she established and directed the CPO’s communications department. Since becoming Deputy Ombudsman in 2018, Steffen has consistently applied her unique blend of legal analysis, experience with the legislative and budgetary processes, strong writing skills and deep understanding of ombudsman principles to help the agency fulfill its statutory mandates.
Steffen will succeed Stephanie Villafuerte, who was appointed as the state’s first independent Child Protection Ombudsman in 2015. Villafuerte dedicated her tenure and much of her legal and public policy career to improving the safety, well-being and outcomes of children and families across Colorado.
“I am incredibly proud of the work this agency has accomplished and I am confident Jordan will continue to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families across our state,” said Villafuerte. “Her experience, compassion and commitment to investigating complicated systems make her well-suited for this position. I look forward to seeing the office continue to thrive under her leadership.”
In 2023, Steffen was appointed as President of the United States Ombudsman Association Board of Directors. In that role, she has worked to prioritize the expansion of diversity, equity and inclusion principles, leading efforts to strengthen and support ombudsman work in all 50 states. Steffen has also lectured and taught at the local, state and national level on the value and impact of ombudsman work, particularly in improving the lives of children and families involved with the child protection system.
The search for the next Deputy Ombudsman will begin soon, with additional details to be announced at a later date.