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Colorado CANS FAQs

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Last Updated: Jan 14, 2026

Colorado Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths Frequently Asked Questions This is still a draft - questions and edits will be added as needed

Resource Type: FAQ

Issue: Qualified Residential Treatment Program, Residential Child Care Facility

Audience: County Directors, General Public, Service Providers

DCW Town Hall 20250814 QRTP Lifetime Limit Waiver Requests in Family First

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Last Updated: Aug 15, 2025

Resource Type: Presentation

Issue: Qualified Residential Treatment Program

Audience: County Directors, Service Providers

Psychotropic Medication for Children and Adolescents in Colorado’s Child Welfare System

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Last Updated: Jul 14, 2025

Resource Type: Fact Sheet, Form, Trauma-Informed Care Treatment Model Templates

Issue: — — Child Placement Agency — Foster Care, — — Qualified Residential Treatment Program, Child Placement Agency — Adoption, Child Placement Agency — Foster Care, Day Treatment, Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility, Qualified Residential Treatment Program, Residential Child Care Facility, Specialized Group Facility

Audience: County Directors, General Public, Judicial/Legal, Service Providers

OCR – Foster Youth Bill of Rights

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Last Updated: May 5, 2025

Colorado Office of The Child's Representative - Foster Youth Bill of Rights

Resource Type: Link

Issue: — — Child Placement Agency — Foster Care, — — Qualified Residential Treatment Program, Adoption — Private & International, Child Placement Agency — Adoption, Contracts Administration, Performance Management & Outcomes, Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility, Qualified Residential Treatment Program, Residential Child Care Facility, Specialized Group Facility, Therapeutic Foster Care, Treatment Foster Care

Audience: County Directors, General Public, Service Providers

Toolkit link to Enhanced Standard Assessment (Independent Assessment) Referral Form for County Departments

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Last Updated: Apr 10, 2025

Resource Type: Tool or Toolkit

Issue: Qualified Residential Treatment Program

Audience: County Directors

December 2024 Prevention and Core Services Newsletter

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Last Updated: Jan 9, 2025

Prevention and Core Services Newsletter December 2024 December signals the end of the year. It is a time for reflection, gratitude, and action. It is the ultimate planning month. What do you want to accomplish in 2025? What do you want to add more of to your life or experience…

Resource Type: Newsletter

Issue: Prevention Services

Audience: County Directors, General Public, Judicial/Legal, Other, Service Providers

IV-E Reimbursement for Children and Youth

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Last Updated: Oct 4, 2024

County child welfare staff should complete the required steps to claim IV-E reimbursement for children and youth receiving federally approved evidence-based services in Colorado's prevention plan. Watch the video and learn how to ensure that proper Trails entry is completed for all children/youth receiving these services.

Resource Type: Video

Issue: Funding & Reimbursement

Audience: County Directors, Judicial/Legal, Service Providers

OBH Momentum Program website

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Last Updated: Jul 22, 2024

For Momentum Program website

Resource Type: Link

Issue: Funding & Reimbursement

Audience: County Directors, General Public

Colorado Cross-Systems Training Institute

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Last Updated: Mar 28, 2024

The Colorado Behavioral Health Administration and the Cross-Systems Training Institute are committed to protecting the health and safety of all Coloradans. We have transitioned all of our trainings to a virtual platform, and at this time for the foreseeable future all live trainings are being offered virtually. We also encourage…

Resource Type: Link

Issue: Child Placement Agency — Adoption, Child Placement Agency — Foster Care, Day Treatment, Performance Management & Outcomes, Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility, Qualified Residential Treatment Program, Residential Child Care Facility, Secure Residential Treatment Center, Specialized Group Facility

Audience: County Directors, General Public, Service Providers

Building Bridges Initiative

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Last Updated: Mar 28, 2024

Building Bridges Initiative provides tools to support your work with the Building Bridges five core values and principles to implement best practices

Resource Type: Link

Issue: Child Placement Agency — Foster Care, Performance Management & Outcomes, Qualified Residential Treatment Program, Residential Child Care Facility

Audience: County Directors, General Public, Service Providers

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

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Last Updated: Mar 28, 2024

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation and to improve the lives of individuals living with mental and substance use disorders, and…

Issue: Child Placement Agency — Foster Care, Performance Management & Outcomes, Qualified Residential Treatment Program, Residential Child Care Facility

Audience: County Directors, General Public, Service Providers

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN)

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Last Updated: Mar 28, 2024

resources on child trauma by The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN)

Resource Type: Link

Issue: Child Placement Agency — Foster Care, Performance Management & Outcomes, Qualified Residential Treatment Program, Residential Child Care Facility

Audience: County Directors, General Public, Service Providers

Relinquishment Procedures Information Memo

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Last Updated: Jan 4, 2024

The purpose of this memorandum from the Division of Child Welfare (DCW) is to provide information to counties and vested partners regarding Relinquishment Counseling in Colorado.

Resource Type: Memo

Issue: Adoption — Private & International, Relinquishment Counseling

Audience: County Directors, Service Providers

Colorado Child Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS)

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Last Updated: Dec 14, 2023

Colorado Child Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS)

Resource Type: Link

Issue: Qualified Residential Treatment Program, Residential Child Care Facility

Audience: County Directors, General Public, Service Providers

Professional foster care pilot program

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Last Updated: Dec 14, 2023

The Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) is excited to announce a new contract for therapeutic foster care and a professional foster care pilot program with Superior Caregivers.

Resource Type: Link

Issue: Performance Management & Outcomes

Audience: County Directors, General Public, Service Providers

Family First Implementation Team – Workgroups

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Last Updated: Aug 21, 2023

This folder contains meeting agendas, minutes and other related documents from the different workgroups of the Implementation Team.

Resource Type: Tool or Toolkit

Issue: Funding & Reimbursement, Independent Assessment, Prevention Services, Provider Services, Qualified Residential Treatment Program

Audience: County Directors, Service Providers

Placement Continuum – Problems and Actions

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Last Updated: Aug 21, 2023

This document (PDF) addresses the following issue: The placement continuum lacks the right number and composition of beds to be fully responsive to the needs of Colorado's children and youth, resulting in high numbers of kids getting "stuck" at certain points of the continuum and failing to receive responsive care

Resource Type: Report

Issue: Provider Services

Audience: County Directors, Service Providers

Task Force Recommendations

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Last Updated: Aug 21, 2023

This Google Sheet provides details on the recommendations of the CHild Welfare Task Group in areas such as collaboration, advocacy, financing and more.

Resource Type: Tool or Toolkit

Issue: Prevention Services

Audience: County Directors, Service Providers

SB21-137: Behavioral Health Recovery Act

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Last Updated: Aug 21, 2023

This is a summary of the 2021 bill concerning the "Behavioral Health Recovery Act of 2021".

Resource Type: Link

Issue: Prevention Services, Provider Services

Audience: County Directors, General Public, Service Providers

Colorado Vendor Self Service (VSS) system

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Last Updated: Aug 21, 2023

The ColoradoVSS website allows vendors to manage their account, review and respond to solicitations. Most State agencies and many Institutions of Higher Education post solicitations for goods, services, and construction notices on the ColoradoVSS website.

Resource Type: Link

Issue: Funding & Reimbursement, Prevention Services, Provider Services

Audience: County Directors, Service Providers

OBH Momentum Program

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Last Updated: Aug 21, 2023

The Rocky Mountain Human Services (RMHS) Momentum Program supports the transition of children and adults from inpatient mental health institutes, hospitals, home and other care settings to community living.

Resource Type: Link

Issue: Funding & Reimbursement, Prevention Services, Provider Services

Audience: County Directors, General Public, Service Providers

Child and Youth Mental Health Treatment Act (CYMHTA) Program

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Last Updated: Aug 21, 2023

This web link provides information on the Children and Youth Mental Health Treatment Act (CYMHTA) (C.R.S. 27-67-101, et. seq.), also called House Bill 18-1094, which allows for families to access mental health treatment services for their child or youth. CYMHTA is an alternative to child welfare involvement when a dependency…

Resource Type: Link

Issue: Funding & Reimbursement, Prevention Services, Provider Services

Audience: County Directors, General Public, Service Providers

Delivery of Child Welfare Services Task Force

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Last Updated: Aug 21, 2023

The task force, composed of county and state staff, was created to analyze laws and rules related to the Delivery of Child Welfare Services to ensure the alignment with Family First.

Resource Type: Link

Issue: Prevention Services, Provider Services

Audience: County Directors, Service Providers

Colorado Family First Implementation Team

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Last Updated: Aug 21, 2023

This group is responsible for developing, deploying and monitoring a plan to implement Colorado's Family First Implementation Road Map

Resource Type: Link

Issue: Independent Assessment, Prevention Services, Provider Services

Audience: County Directors, General Public, Service Providers

FamilyFirstAct.org

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Last Updated: Aug 21, 2023

This website provides access to a comprehensive set of resources related to Family First. It has information on the law, as well as a searchable database of resources on a wide range of relevant topics.

Resource Type: Link

Issue: Prevention Services, Provider Services

Audience: County Directors, General Public, Service Providers

General Family First Fact Sheet

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Last Updated: Aug 21, 2023

This Fact Sheet highlights the overarching goals of Family First and describes the key components related to placement and prevention services.

Resource Type: Fact Sheet

Issue: Prevention Services, Provider Services, Qualified Residential Treatment Program

Audience: County Directors, General Public, Service Providers

Implementing The Family First Prevention Services Act: A Technical Guide for Agencies, Policymakers and Other Stakeholders

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Last Updated: Aug 21, 2023

The guide is a question-and-answer-style resource containing commonly (and not-so-commonly) asked questions about the many important provisions in Family First.

Resource Type: Handbook

Issue: Prevention Services

Audience: County Directors, General Public, Service Providers

Tool for Engaging the Legal Community in Implementing Family First.

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Last Updated: Jul 7, 2023

}Published by the American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law. This tool lays the groundwork for state and local child welfare agencies to partner with the legal community to identify and address the Act’s potential legal implications as part of the implementation process. The goal of the tool…

Resource Type: Tool or Toolkit

Issue: — — Qualified Residential Treatment Program, Independent Assessment

Audience: County Directors, Judicial/Legal

Implementation Guide for County Directors

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Last Updated: Nov 18, 2022

The Colorado Department of Human Services and the Colorado Human Services Directors Association have created a guide to support county directors in the implementation of Family First. Each section of the guide is formatted to include: (1) an introduction, (2) "what county directors need to know," on the topic and…

Resource Type: Handbook

Issue: — — Qualified Residential Treatment Program, Child Placement Agency — Foster Care, Funding & Reimbursement, Independent Assessment, Prevention Services, Provider Services

Audience: County Directors

Family First – Services provided in RCCF, QRTP, and PRTF 2022 Town Hall

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Last Updated: Oct 12, 2022

This 41-minute town hall recording from 2022 provides guidance on the different services provided in Residential Child Care Facilities (RCCFs), Qualified Residential Treatment Programs (QRTPs) and Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities (PRTFs).

Resource Type: Video

Issue: Provider Services, Residential Child Care Facility

Audience: County Directors, General Public, Service Providers

Understanding Claiming Under the Family First Prevention Services Act: Session Four Presentation

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Last Updated: Aug 31, 2022

Power Point slides of presentation on Session 4 of "Understanding Claiming" training

Resource Type: Presentation

Issue: Funding & Reimbursement

Audience: County Directors, Service Providers

Child Welfare Prevention Task Group

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Last Updated: Aug 31, 2022

This is a link to the CDHS website, which houses prior meeting agendas and minutes, a calendar of upcoming meetings, and links to working documents of the CWPTG sub-committees.

Resource Type: Agendas, Meeting Notes, Minutes

Issue: Prevention Services

Audience: County Directors, Service Providers

Understanding Claiming Under the Family First Prevention Services Act: Session Three Presentation

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Last Updated: Aug 24, 2022

Power Point slides of presentation on Session 3 of "Understanding Claiming" training

Resource Type: Presentation

Issue: Funding & Reimbursement

Audience: County Directors, Service Providers

Impacts of Fentanyl Town Hall

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Last Updated: May 26, 2022

This 1-hour town hall recording provides insights from experts on the impacts of fentanyl on Coloradans.

Resource Type: Video

Issue: Prevention Services, Provider Services

Audience: County Directors, General Public, Service Providers

Diligent Recruitment and Retention & Foster Care Training/Resources Town Hall

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Last Updated: May 12, 2022

This 1-hour town hall recording provides insights from experts on diligent recruitment and retention and foster care training.

Resource Type: Video

Issue: Prevention Services, Provider Services

Audience: County Directors, Service Providers

CDHS Independent Assessment Toolkit

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Last Updated: Apr 22, 2022

This toolkit includes a wide range of documents and resources that provide detailed guidance on the independent assessment process.

Resource Type: Tool or Toolkit

Issue: Independent Assessment, Provider Services

Audience: County Directors, General Public, Service Providers

The Child Welfare Prevention Task Group Theory of Change

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Last Updated: Apr 18, 2022

This Theory of Change is intended to serve as a living, multi-year strategic roadmap to guide efforts of the Child Welfare Prevention Task Group (CWPTG), an advisory group of the Child Welfare SubPAC within the Colorado Department of Human Services. This Google Drive link gives access to meeting details and…

Resource Type: Roadmap

Issue: Prevention Services

Audience: County Directors, General Public, Service Providers

Independent Assessment Fact Sheet

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Last Updated: Apr 16, 2022

Family First Independent Assessment Fact Sheet

Resource Type: Fact Sheet

Issue: — — Qualified Residential Treatment Program, Independent Assessment

Audience: County Directors, General Public, Judicial/Legal

Family First Memo List

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Last Updated: Apr 1, 2022

This spreadsheet lists all of the memos that have been released by the state that are relevant to Family First.

Resource Type: Memo

Issue: Funding & Reimbursement, Independent Assessment, Prevention Services, Provider Services, Qualified Residential Treatment Program

Audience: County Directors, Service Providers

UPDATE LINK Transitioning Placement Facilities as of 2.28.2022

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Last Updated: Feb 28, 2022

This document provides a comprehensive list of (Residential Child Care Facilities) RCCFs that were transitioning as of 02/28/2022* The list includes provider name, county/region, and bed capacity. (*This document will be updated as needed, please reference the date to know when the last update occurred.)

Resource Type: Other

Issue: Provider Services, Qualified Residential Treatment Program, Residential Child Care Facility

Audience: County Directors, Service Providers

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