The Provider Services Unit consists of a variety of individual teams that work together to provide support and oversight to child care agencies and facilities within the state of Colorado. Learn more about the individual teams below.
Licensing
“Licensing” is the process by which the Department approves a facility or agency for the purpose of conducting business as a residential or day treatment child care facility or child placement agency., in accordance with Volume 7 rules and related statutes. Each agency/facility is designated a Licensing Specialist who is responsible for ensuring that their assigned agencies and facilities, including Day Treatments, licensed by the Colorado Department of Human Services are in compliance with all related state laws and regulations to ensure the health, safety, and well-being of those in care. Additionally, the Licensing Specialist is responsible for conducting auditing visits to the agency/facility, approving the building structure of the facility, ensuring that the agency/facility has policies and procedures as required by related regulations, and auditing staff files, child/ youth files, and foster parent files to ensure they contain the necessary information as required by regulation. The Licensing Specialist also provides technical assistance and guidance to facilities to ensure compliance with related statutes and regulations. The assigned Licensing Specialist works in collaboration with the assigned Monitoring Specialist to provide consistency and support to the agency/ facility.
To obtain information on becoming a licensed agency or facility, please send an email to cdhs_dcw-facilitylicenseapps@state.co.us
Contact Information
Supervisor:
Pauline Hoekstra, Licensing Supervisor
Pauline.Hoekstra@state.co.us
Kate Bradley, Adoption and Licensing Supervisor
Kate.Bradley@state.co.us
Manager:
Logan Ellett, Provider Development Manager
Logan.Ellett@state.co.us
Investigative Monitoring
“Monitoring” is the process by which the Department is responsible for investigating licensed entities to determine agency/facility culpability and compliance with Volume 7 rules and related statutes. Each agency/facility is designated a Monitoring Specialist who is responsible for ensuring that their assigned agencies and facilities, including Day Treatments, licensed by the Colorado Department of Human Services are in compliance with all related state laws and regulations to ensure the health, safety, and well-being of those in care. Additionally, the Monitoring Specialist is responsible for conducting Stage II Investigations to ensure compliance with related regulations and statutes following all child abuse and neglect investigations conducted by the counties; investigating Complaints received on the licensee that are specific to identified regulation violations; and, providing an ongoing review of Critical Incident Reports submitted by licensed providers to the Department through the Trails system and investigating the incidents if there are potential regulation violations. The Monitoring Specialists also provides technical assistance and guidance to facilities to ensure compliance with related statutes and regulations. The assigned Monitoring Specialist works in collaboration with the assigned Licensing Specialist to provide consistency and support to the agency/facility.
To file a complaint please call (303) 866-3275 or email cdhs_clientservices@
Contact Information
Supervisor:
Pam Neu, Monitoring Supervisor
Pamela.Neu@state.co.us
Manager:
Laurie Burney, Provider Performance Manager
Laurie.Burney@state.co.us
Performance Management Outcomes (PMO)
The Performance Management & Outcomes team serves as the quality assurance component within the broader Provider Services Unit. The main objective of the PMO team is to evaluate the quality of trauma-informed practices and care in residential programs, as well as provide ongoing support, consultation, and training for licensed Colorado providers. The PMO team operates independently from licensing and monitoring in a non-regulatory capacity, with a focus on ensuring the delivery of high-quality services. The goal is to assist providers in implementing their trauma-informed care plans and ensuring they are utilizing data-driven, evidence-based practices. This is a proactive approach that aims to enhance the quality of care, services, and outcomes for children, youth, families, and employees within licensed agencies and facilities. Additionally, the PMO team provides training and resources to promote the success of licensed provideres. The PMO team is working to create a training academy for residential providers known as, The Colorado Provider Training Academy, which will provide CORE training to direct care staff, their supervisors, and clinical staff. More information will be privided to all residential providers in the near future.
Trauma Informed Care Model:
QRTP Trauma-Informed Care Model
Process:
Those seeking a Qualified Residential Treatment Program (QRTP) license are required to submit their trauma informed care model to the Performance Management & Outcomes (PMO) team within the Provider Services Unit upon application for a QRTP license with the Division of Child Welfare (DCW).
Email address to submit Trauma Informed Care Models for approval:
Contact Information:
Supervisor:
Adrienne Palazzolo, Performance Management & Outcomes Supervisor
Adrienne.Palazzolo@state.co.us
Manager:
Laurie Burney, Provider Performance Manager
Laurie.Burney@state.co.us
Contracts Administration
The contracts administration team provides oversight, referral review, admission and discharge determination, quality assurance, billing, and compliance enforcement for contracts enacted between the Department and out-of -home care providers to serve children/youth who are otherwise unable to access placement within Colorado. This includes:
- IDD Program: serving children and youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
- Acute Residential Program: serving children and youth in need of psychiatric care at a PRTF level, or treatment at a QRTP level.
- Foster Care Program: serving children and youth in need of therapeutic or treatment foster care, including administration of CDHS’s professional foster care pilot.
- Respite Program: serving children and youth in foster care who are in need of respite at a community or residential level in order to stabilize and return to their foster home of origin.
Referrals for beds contracted with the Department are reviewed by Intake and Resource Specialists when a complete referral packet is submitted. These specialists will ensure comprehensive review of the application materials and will determine initial eligibility for access to the state-contracted beds. If the referral packet is determined to be eligible, the Intake and Resource Specialist will forward the information to the program’s administrator and to the facility or agency staff. If the referred client cannot be admitted to the program, or if the program has a waitlist and the client cannot admit in a timely manner, the Intake and Resource Specialist can provide technical assistance to referring entities to assist the team in identifying alternate resources and solutions. The Intake and Resource Specialist may also assist in identifying support services to ensure appropriate discharge planning.
Final admission determinations are made by the Program Administrators. The administrator determines when and how the client can admit to the program, including any accommodations needed at the facility or home. The Program Administrator approves the client’s length of stay, and monitors client progress. The Program Administrator will set discharge criteria and determine discharge time frame. The Program Administrator is responsible for the content of the contract, oversight of the program’s budget, quality assurance of the contracted agency, and compliance measures as relates to regulation, contract terms, and funding. The Program Administrator additionally assesses the program’s overall efficiency and effectiveness, targets opportunities for further service, recruits new providers, and provides expert opinion on services for children with acute needs.
Contact Information
Supervisor:
Shawn Bross, State Residential Program Manager
Shawn.Bross@state.co.us
Manager:
Dennis Desparrois, Provider Services Unit Manager
Dennis.Desparrois@state.co.us
The Provider Services- Background Investigation Unit
*Coming Soon to Provider Services*
Currently, the Colorado Department of Early Childhood conducts all background checks for providers licensed under the Provider Services Unit
Colorado applicants are required to participate in a criminal background check including a Colorado Bureau of Investigation check and a Federal Bureau of Investigation check and a child abuse and neglect records check. Colorado applicants may also be required to participate in additional background checks such as criminal history checks, state sex offender registry checks and state child abuse and neglect checks from previous state(s) of residence.
Contact Information
Supervisor:
Pauline Hoekstra, Licensing Supervisor
Pauline.Hoekstra@state.co.us
Manager:
Logan Ellett, Provider Development Manager
Logan.Ellett@state.co.us
Contact Us
General Inquiries
Colorado Department of Human Services — Division of Child Welfare
1575 Sherman St.
Denver, CO 80203
Phone: 303.866.5932
Provider Services Unit Organizational Chart
Inquiries for Licensure
To inquire about becoming a Child Care Facility or Agency with the Provider Services Unit, please contact: cdhs_dcw-facilitylicenseapps@state.co.us
Provider Rule Feedback
Please send in your questions, comments or concerns regarding rule changes to cdhs_dcw_providerrulefeedback@state.co.us.
Appeals/Waivers
For questions about Appeals and Waivers, please contact: cdhs_cw_24hourlicensingappeals@state.co.us
Complaints
To file a complaint on a licensed agency or facility, please call (303) 866-3275 or email cdhs_clientservices@state.co.us For more information please visit https://cdhs.colorado.gov/contact-cdhs
Background Investigating Unit
For questions regarding 24-hour child care facilities and day treatment background records, please visit the CDEC site: CDEC- Background Checks
Trails Support
Need Trails support? please email all questions and Access Request Forms to: cdhs_dcw-providerservices@state.co.us
Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting
To report please call the Colorado Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline: 844-CO-4-Kids
Colorado Open Records Act (CORA)
CDHS is committed to transparency and open government. CDHS complies in all respects with the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) and meets all of its constitutional and statutory duties to the people of Colorado in an orderly and expeditious manner. To request public documents related to licensed agencies and facilities, you can submit a CORA request by email cdhs_cora@state.co.us or mail your request to:
Colorado Department of Human Services
Attn: CORA manager
1575 Sherman St.
Denver, CO 80203
For more information visit: https://cbi.colorado.gov/about-us/colorado-open-records-act-cora/colorado-criminal-justice-records-act-ccjra