Issue Brief

Mandatory Reporting Task Force

Next Meeting: Oct. 4, 2023 (8:00-11:00 am)

Housed in the Office of the Colorado Child Protection Ombudsman (CPO), the Mandatory Reporting Task Force was created by the Colorado General Assembly with the passage of House Bill 22-1240.

The task force will analyze the effectiveness of and issues with the law requiring individuals from specific professions to report suspected child abuse to authorities, including:

Effectiveness of mandatory reporting laws in keeping children safe
Disproportionate impacts of mandatory reporting on under-resourced communities, communities of color and persons with disabilities
Alternative processes and services for families who do not present child safety concerns but may benefit from other supports
Sufficiency of training and infrastructure to support mandated reporters in fulfilling their legal duties
Areas of the current law that require clarification regarding the role and duties of mandated reporters

Meeting over two years, the task force is reviewing national best practices and consulting with numerous experts, researchers and people with lived experience. In January 2025, a final report of findings and recommendations will be submitted to the General Assembly, Governor’s Office and Colorado Department of Human Services.

All meetings of the Mandatory Reporting Task Force are open to the public and streamed live via Zoom. A period for public comment is scheduled for each meeting and provides anyone the opportunity to share their experience and perspective on issues the group discusses. Zoom links, agendas and additional resources for each meeting will be posted between 12-24 hours before the meeting. For more information, please visit the CPO Events Calendar.

If you would like to receive email updates regarding the Mandatory Reporting Task Force, please click here to send your request to Deputy Ombudsman Jordan Steffen.

Task Force Meetings (Open to Public)

Oct. 4, 2023 (8:00-11:00 am)

Nov. 8, 2023 (8:00-10:00 am)
Dec. 6, 2023 (8:00-11:00 am)
Feb. 7, 2024 (8:00-11:00 am)
April 3, 2024 (8:00-11:00 am)
June 5, 2024 (8:00-11:00 am)
Aug. 7, 2024 (8:00-11:00 am)
Oct. 2, 2024 (8:00-11:00 am)
Dec. 4, 2024 (8:00-11:00 am)

Task Force Members

Dawn Alexander	Early Childhood Education Association of Colorado
Yolanda Arredondo	Colorado Department of Human Services
Kevin Bishop	Colorado Office of the Alternate Defense Counsel
Samantha Carwyn	Families Minister
Carlos Castillo	Denver Police Department
Ashley Chase	Colorado Office of the Child’s Representative
Jill Cohen	Colorado Office of the Respondent Parents’ Counsel
Michelle Dossey	Arapahoe County Department of Human Services
Jessica Dotter	Colorado District Attorneys’ Council
Tara Doxtater	Recovery Coach / Parent Advocate
Ida Drury	The Kempe Center
Jennifer Eyl	Project Safeguard
Leanna Gavin	Kalamaya \| Goscha
Zane Grant	CASA of Pueblo County
Nathaniel Hailpern	Parent Advocate
Adriana Hartley	Office of the Delta County Attorney
Lori Jenkins	Kindred Kids Child Advocacy Center
Shayna Koran	Parent Advocate
Tess McShane	Family Resource Center Association
Gina Lopez	Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault
Criston Menz	Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Michelle Murphy	Colorado Rural Schools Alliance
Michael Nicoletti	Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies
Margaret Ochoa	Colorado Department of Public Safety
Colleen O’Neil	Colorado Department of Education
Sara Pielsticker	Disability Law Colorado
Roshan Kalantar	Violence Free Colorado
Brynja Seagren	Boys & Girls Club of Metro Denver
Nicci Surad	Mesa County Department of Human Services
Dr. Kathryn Wells	The Kempe Center
Donna Wilson	WellPower
Kelsey Wirtz	Denver Health Medical Center
Jade Woodard	Illuminate Colorado
Stephanie Villafuerte	Office of the Colorado Child Protection Ombudsman

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