Members of a task force created by the Colorado General Assembly believe Colorado can be a national leader when it comes to how it prevents and finds youth who run away from placement in foster care and residential treatment facilities. In its final report, The Timothy Montoya Task Force to Prevent Children from Running Away […]
A mandatory reporter is a person who is required by state law to make a report of child abuse and/or neglect if they suspect it may be occurring. Most states require people with certain occupations – such as doctors or teachers – to be mandatory reporters, and some states have placed this requirement on all
Mandatory Reporting Task Force Resource Guide Read More »
12-year-old Timothy Montoya was hit and killed by a car shortly after running away from out-of-home care in June 2020. In response to this tragic death – and to the dangerous circumstances experienced by many other youths who have run from out-of-home care – the Colorado legislature established the Timothy Montoya Task Force to Prevent
Click here to download the full issue brief It’s not uncommon for young people in Colorado youth detention facilities to suffer fractured bones, broken teeth, cuts and deep bruises as staff attempt to physically restrain them. Videos of use of force incidents in Colorado Department of Human Services-Division of Youth Services (DYS) facilities during the
Laws regarding child abuse and neglect are largely created by state governments. This means that there are, essentially, 50 different approaches to protect youth and stop abuse and neglect. Increasingly, states have started to examine these systems and ask a crucial question: Do child abuse and neglect mandatory reporting laws prevent child abuse and neglect
The CPO appeared before the Colorado Child Welfare System Interim Study Committee on June 27 to present on four critical issues facing children and families involved in the state’s child welfare and protection systems. “As we look for solutions, we must think about accountability and transparency along a continuum for all of us stakeholders,” said
Child Protection Ombudsman voices concerns to child welfare interim committee Read More »
Applications for three vacancies on the 12-member Office of the Colorado Child Protection Ombudsman Board of Directors are now open through the Colorado Governor’s Office and Colorado Judicial Branch. The CPO Board meets virtually or in a hybrid format for three hours every other month to review agency documents, such as financial reports, meeting minutes
CPO Board of Directors applications open Read More »
The Office of the Colorado Child Protection Ombudsman released a new report from the University of Denver’s Colorado Evaluation and Action Lab that provides an unprecedented look at the lived experiences of youth who have run away from foster care or residential treatment facilities as well as the experiences of current treatment providers. “Not all
New research captures voices of youth who have run away from out-of-home placements Read More »
Senior Client Services Analyst Claire Hooker discusses the importance of family time and her testimony on HB 23-1027.
Collaborating on better policies for Colorado families Read More »
A mother living in another state called our agency seeking help for her son, who was living with his father in Colorado. She was concerned about her son’s fentanyl addiction and safety. An assessment by the local county human services agency had been opened after her son violently acted out towards his father, threatened self-harm
