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. […]
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.
How We’ve Been Working for Colorado: June Newsletter Read More »
Ombudsman Stephanie Villafuerte spoke with the Denver Post about remaining vigilant when it comes to protecting youth in the Division of Youth Services during COVID-19. “These are the most hidden kids in our community, and because they are literally hidden from community view, they are at the most risk.” -Ombudsman Stephanie Villafuerte for the Denver
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
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. In the time of stay-home orders and closed schools, children are walking a tightrope without a safety net. They are more at risk than ever before for abuse and neglect. The network of public services like schools, after school programs, and health care providers that weaves together a
Check on the Children: A Message from Children’s Ombudsman in the Time of COVID-19 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
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
Ombudsman Stephanie Villafuerte joined the Arapahoe County Department of Human Services to speak with CBS4 News about the drop in child abuse reporting during COVID-19 and the ways child protection workers are getting creative to find protective gear on the front lines. “If you keep case workers safe, you’re going to keep children and families
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 »
