Ensuring safety for Colorado’s children today and envisioning a stronger child protection system for the future.
Contact us to share a concern about your experience with Colorado’s child protection system.
Do you have an active case with our team? Curious about the CPO’s projects? Contact us directly for case updates and more information.
What We Do
As an independent agency we work on behalf of Colorado’s children and families. We listen to the public about their experience with and concerns about child protection, research and investigate those issues, and determine the best way to resolve each inquiry. Our work also allows us to collaborate with lawmakers, professionals and other stakeholders to advance legislation and policies that will have a lasting, positive impact on our children and families
Colorado’s Child Protection Ombudsman was created to ensure the state’s complex child protection system consistently provides high quality services to every child, family and community in Colorado. In addressing every citizen’s concern the CPO will:
Listen
We listen to people about their experience with and concerns about child protection.
Investigate
We research and investigate concerns reported by any Coloradan about service delivery within the child protection system.
Resolve
We determine the best way to resolve concerns – that might mean bridging communication barriers or resolving conflicts based on misunderstanding.
Identify Trends
We identify trends where the community’s needs have changed and the system hasn’t had the funding, resources or practices to keep up with it. As a result, we make public recommendations for system improvement.
Create Change
We convene lawmakers, professionals and other stakeholders to advance legislation and policies that have a lasting, positive impact on children and families.
Our Impact
Our work plays an important role in increasing collaboration within the system, identifying opportunities for improvement and advocating for the policies, funding and resources professionals need to best serve children and families.
Advocacy
We collaborate with child protection experts, providers, the public, the General Assembly and other stakeholders to recommend systemic changes and advance legislation that improves outcomes for all Colorado children and families.
Advocacy
We collaborate with child protection experts, providers, the public, the General Assembly and other stakeholders to recommend systemic changes and advance legislation that improves outcomes for all Colorado children and families.
Child Protection Ombudsman voices concerns to child welfare interim committee
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 Colorado Child Protection Ombudsman Stephanie Villafuerte. “This list is but a sampling of the issues that our agency sees. These issues are going to be …
CPO Board of Directors applications open
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 and agency updates. One meeting each year is held outside the Denver metro area and in a rural community. Click here to learn more about …
FAQs
Anyone who has concerns regarding Colorado’s child protection system. We often hear from parents, grandparents, foster parents, attorneys, child protection professionals, mental health providers and medical professionals, and youth in foster care or the Division of Youth Services.
The CPO is charged with hearing the public’s complaints related to services administered by any public agency or provider that receives public money to support the safety, permanency or well-being of children. We also help Coloradans navigate the complex child protection system and connect them with resources.
The CPO will contact you regarding your complaint within 48 business hours of receiving a message. We will research your complaint – this may include reviewing records we have independent access to that are not otherwise available to the public. We may also contact relevant agencies. Once the case is closed, we will contact you.