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.
Get Started
Please see this step-by-step “How-To” guide.
- Every applicant must complete the Privacy Act notification form.
Results of the background checks must be retained in the employee’s file for review by a department representative.
- Schedule an appointment with IdentoGO or Colorado Fingerprinting.
- Access the Photo ID Waiver for Minors.
Disqualifying Crimes
CDEC provides the results of the background checks in a statement that indicates whether the child care employee is eligible or ineligible for employment within a licensed child care facility without revealing specific disqualifying information. If the employee is ineligible, the department will provide the employee with information about each disqualifying crime.
- View disqualification criteria under Colorado Revised Statutes (C.R.S.) 26-6-905 and 26-6-914
- View the Code of Colorado Regulations 12 CCR 2509-8 (7.701.33)
for the definition of a pattern of misdemeanor convictions.
- View the Code of Colorado Regulations 12 CCR 2509-8 (7.701.33)
Per C.R.S. 26-6-905(8)(a)(II), “Convicted” means a conviction by a jury or by a court and also includes a deferred judgment and sentence agreement, a deferred prosecution agreement, a deferred adjudication agreement, an adjudication, and a plea of guilty or nolo contendere.
Results and Next Steps
Eligibility letters will be delivered to the primary email address listed under that facility, and another copy will be mailed directly to the facility.
Inconclusive results will contain detailed information and further instructions which will be delivered to the applicant’s attention by mail ONLY.
The Colorado Department of Early Childhood does not make employment decisions.
How do I obtain a court disposition?
The applicant will need to contact the court in which the case was heard and ask for a certified copy of the disposition. You will need to give the court clerk the case number of the specific court case or provide your name, Social Security number, and date of birth. If the court no longer has the record, you must obtain a records check using your name, dob and social security number and obtain written documentation from the court stating that the record no longer exists or is not found.
The BIU will not accept police records, attorney statements, or personal statements.
How do I appeal my fingerprint arrest record?
Please refer to the Notice to Applicants for further instructions.
How long do I have to obtain court records?
We ask that you respond to the BIU within 30 days. Failure to respond within 30 days will result in additional communication from our department.
What do I do if my criminal case is still pending?
Please provide the BIU with any court reassignments, including the date(s) of hearings for the charges.
My employer received an inconclusive letter. What are the next steps?
The assigned facility licensing specialist will review the information received within 30 days and will contact the employee or employer with the appropriate recommendations.
The Colorado Department of Early Childhood does not process criminal background checks for individuals not working in a Colorado-licensed facility. Please contact the Colorado Bureau of Investigation or 303-239-4208.
Make a Payment
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Questions? Contact the Background Investigation Unit
Division of Early Learning Licensing and Administration, CDEC
710 S. Ash Street
Denver, CO 80246
Phone: 1-800-799-5876
Fax: 303-866-5340
Criminal Background Investigation Checks: cdec_cbc_biu@state.co.us
Questions? Contact Background Investigations Unit- Provider Services Unit
Colorado Department of Human Services, Division of Child Welfare
1575 Sherman Street, 2nd Floor
Denver, CO 80203
Pauline Hoekstra, Background Unit Supervisor
pauline.hoekstra@state.co.us
Phone: 303-801-8668
For Information on Child Abuse and Neglect Requests
go to cdec.colorado.gov/for-providers/background-checks
CDHS Provider Services Unit licensed provider information is found under
Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) Provider Services Unit Facilities
Child Abuse and Neglect Requests (Trails) – PSU Licensed Provider
Please see this step-by-step “How-To” guide.
- Please complete this request and provide it to your employer. They can submit this request online on your behalf by using the Public Child Abuse and Neglect link.
- If you are working with a CDHS-licensed facility for adoption/foster care, the applicant (person being checked) can submit the request using the Public Child Abuse and Neglect link.
- After submitting the online request please pay by credit card. A mail-in check or money order option is also available. The fee is $30 per applicant.
- Make all checks payable to the Colorado Department Human Services, Division of Child Welfare or CDHS DCW.
- Our mailing address is:
Colorado Department of Human Services, Division of Child Welfare
Attn: Trails Background Investigation Unit (BIU)
1575 Sherman Street, Second Floor
Denver, CO 80203
- Our mailing address is:
- How do I appeal a child abuse and neglect (Trails) finding?
Please contact the Child and Adult Mistreatment Dispute Review Section (CAMDRS) at cdhs.colorado.gov/child-and-adult-mistreatment-dispute-review-section or 303-866-5700.
Other Applicants – Abuse and Neglect Requests (Trails)
Other Applicants are:
- Out-of-state licensed child care providers.
- Out-of-state foster care or adoptions.
- Private or step-parent adoptions.
- Previous residents of Colorado for employment or volunteer purposes whose position includes having unsupervised access to children.
- Any other child care providers not licensed by the state of Colorado.
- *If you are working with a Colorado-licensed facility, please refer to the other sections for the correct process.
Get Started: Child Abuse and Neglect Requests (Trails)
Please see this step-by-step “How-To” guide.
- Please complete this request and provide it to your employer. They can submit this request online on your behalf by using the Public Child Abuse and Neglect link.
- After submitting the online request please pay by credit card. A mail-in check or money order option is also available. The fee is $30 per applicant.
- Make all checks payable to the Colorado Department Human Services, Division of Child Welfare or CDHS DCW.
- Our mailing address is:
Colorado Department of Human Services, Division of Child Welfare
Attn: Trails Background Investigation Unit (BIU)
1575 Sherman Street, Second Floor
Denver, CO 80203
- Our mailing address is:
- How do I appeal a child abuse and neglect (Trails) finding?
Please contact the Child and Adult Mistreatment Dispute Review Section (CAMDRS) at cdhs.colorado.gov/child-and-adult-mistreatment-dispute-review-section or 303-866-5700.