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The Office of Colorado’s Child Protection Ombudsman opened its phone lines to Colorado citizens in 2011. Today, nearly a decade after receiving its first call from a citizen, the CPO has connected with more than 4,800 citizens, stakeholders and legislators with concerns or questions about Colorado’s child protection system. Since its inception, the CPO has …

The Office of Colorado’s Child Protection Ombudsman Celebrates 10-Year Anniversary Read More »

The phone call came in around 12 p.m. I answered, “Office of Colorado’s Child Protection Ombudsman, how can I help you?” The static on the cell phone call was distracting. Yet her words were raw and brutally clear. She cried hard, from the depths of her soul. Grief stricken. Helpless. Desperate. “I need your help. …

Learning to Listen: How the art of mediation enables ombudsmen to listen, understand and help. Read More »

The CPO produced its first video! Check out our new short video to learn more about the work we do on behalf of Colorado’s children, youth and families. To see more updates from the month of June, read our latest newsletter here.

As the COVID-19 outbreak stretches into the spring, children and families across Colorado continue to face uncertainty and hardship. During the past weeks, the Office of Colorado’s Child Protection Ombudsman has continued to respond to concerns from Colorado citizens, monitor statewide policies that will impact services, support child protection workers and connect with youth impacted …

How We’ve Been Working for Colorado: CPO May Newsletter Read More »

As the outbreak of COVID-19 has impacted all of Colorado’s crucial services, the Office of Colorado’s Child Protection Ombudsman has remained concerned about the lack of protective equipment provided to child protection workers. These county department employees continue to respond to reports of abuse and neglect, entering homes and other locations without the equipment necessary …

Office of Colorado’s Child Protection Ombudsman Helps Secure Masks for Child Protection Workers Read More »

As the United States and other countries around the world race to delay the spread of the COVID-19 virus, Coloradans, like millions of others around the globe, have been required to engage in a relatively new practice called “social distancing.” One must look no further than social media — where the hashtag, #StayAtHome, has been …

Avoiding the gulf: How “social distancing” has the potential to separate families more than six feet. Read More »

County human service departments respond to 40,000 reports of possible child abuse or neglect throughout Colorado each year. Roughly 100 times a day, child protection workers serve as first responders to these reports, typically by entering families’ homes at their own risk. As the spread of COVID-19 has overwhelmed Colorado, the reports of abuse and …

Child Protection Ombudsman Releases Brief on Prioritizing Child Protection Workers During COVID-19 Read More »

Thank you for coming to work today. Like many of us, you woke up this week and saw a tragedy unfolding. The world as we know it altered – off course – leaving thousands of people without basic food, shelter, and health care. Like many of us you were scared. But you showed up anyway …

An Open Letter to Child Protection and Human Services Staff Everywhere Read More »

On average, there are more than 620 youth in custody every day in Colorado. Consistently, there are 40 to 100 youth living in each of the Division of Youth Services’ secure facilities. Because these youth are housed together – living in close proximity of each other – they are at greater risk for infection. Many …

As Impact of COVID-19 Spreads, Colorado’s Child Protection Ombudsman Signs Letter Calling for Efforts to Ensure the Safety and Well-being of Youth Living in Secured Facilities Read More »