Issue Brief

Timothy Montoya Task Force to Prevent Youth from Running from Out-of-Home Placement

Next Meeting: October 11, 2023 (8:00-10:00 am)

Housed in the Office of Colorado’s Child Protection Ombudsman, the Timothy Montoya Task Force to Prevent Children from Running Away from Out-of-Home Placement was created by the Colorado General Assembly with the passage of House Bill 22-1375 and formed in September 2022.

Named after 12-year-old Timothy Montoya who was hit and killed by a car shortly after running away from his out-of-home placement in June 2020, the task force will study runaway behaviors to develop a consistent, prompt and effective response for youth who run away from foster care and residential child care facilities.

Meeting over two years, the task force will hold virtual meetings open to the public. The Zoom link, call-in information and meeting materials for each meeting will be posted between 12-24 hours prior to its start. For more information, please visit the CPO Events Calendar.

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

Task Force Meetings (Open to Public)

Task Force Members

Kelly Abbott	Colorado Department of Public Safety
Norma Aguilar-Dave	Savio House
Michelle Bradley	Douglas County Department of Human Services
Ashley Chase	Colorado Office of the Child’s Representative
Anna Cole	Colorado Human Services Directors Association
Jenna Coleman	Specialized Alternatives for Families and Youth (SAFY)
Brian Cotter	Denver Police Department
Dennis Desparrois	CDHS – Division of Child Welfare
Jenelle Goodrich	Kinship Provider
Dave Hayes	Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police
Chelsea Hill	Foster Parent with Lived Experience
Kevin Lash	Parent with Lived Experience
David E. Lee	Colorado Division of Youth Services
Chase Leonard	Cañon City Police Department
Dr. Renée Marquardt	Colorado Department of Human Services
Beth McNalley	Denver Department of Public Safety
Brandon Miller	Southern Peaks Regional Treatment Center
Becky Miller Updike	Colorado Association of Family & Children’s Agencies
Elizabeth Montoya	Parent with Lived Experience
Lynette Overmeyer	Mesa County Department of Human Services
Stephanie Villafuerte	Colorado Child Protection Ombudsman
Jana Zinser	Foster Parent with Lived Experience

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