Family First News
- The Child Welfare Prevention Task Group (CWPTG) will kick off the 2025 meeting schedule on February 14, 2025 from 1:30 to 3:00.
There is an open tri-chair seat that we would like to fill at that meeting. If you have interest, or would like to learn more about what that entails, please contact Amy Sciangula.
- Mark your calendars for the April Child Welfare Town Hall on the 10th from 3:00 to 4:00 pm. Family First 2025 and Beyond will provide an overview of current evidence-based services listed on the Colorado plan, requirements for a service to qualify for reimbursement from the Federal Government, why accurate Trails entry is important, and how to navigate the Colorado Family First website. You can also join by phone if Google Meet is not available to you, +1 385-999-6265 Pin# 286 800 373#.
Core News
- The Core Services Dashboard is a tool to understand Core Services funding utilization across the State. It also serves as a tracking tool for Core Services Plan submissions. Once the SFY 2025-2026 Core Plans are distributed, we will keep track of who has submitted, plans under review, and completed plans. If you have any ideas for what to include in the dashboard, please let us know!
- There has been a change to the date of the 2nd Core Quarterly of 2025. The next Core Quarterly will be on May 5, 2025, in Garfield County from 2:00 pm – 3:30pm. The original date coincides with the Court Best Practices Convening & CQI in Vail. With people wearing multiple hats that day, it has been moved to the following Monday, 5/5/2025. Thank you for your understanding. Additional information will be distributed closer to the date.
The remaining 2025 Core Quarterly Dates are:
- May 5th, 2025, in Garfield County (Rifle, CO) 2:00pm – 3:30pm
- July 28th, 2025, in La Plata/San Juan Counties (Durango, CO) 2:00pm – 3:30pm
- October 27th, 2025, in Las Animas County (Trinidad, CO) 2:00pm – 3:30pm
Program Area 3 (PA3) News
- Do you wish there was a report, or two, that you could run in Trails to track data for your county’s Program Area 3? Well, thanks to our amazing Trails folks we are developing several reports with the opportunity to build more. The reports will be searchable per your county and within timeframes you enter. You will be able to view reports that outline length of PA3 involvement, closure reasons, subsequent referrals to child welfare within 6/12 months or subsequent out-of-home placements within 6/12 months of a PA3 closure, and service explanation (e.g. Family Functional versus only the provider name). Stay tuned for announcements as the reports become available.
- Did you know that 75% of Core dollars are used under Program Area 5 (PA5) and not Program Area 3 (PA3)? That means most counties are addressing prevention, but most likely at the secondary or tertiary level after a family has come to the attention of child welfare. A new diagram shows what this may look like in your county, or spark conversation about how addressing risk could look at your agency. If you missed the Child Welfare Town Hall: When Child Welfare Intersects with Prevention on February 13, keep an eye out for the recording.
Memo Spotlight
- IM-OCYF-2025-0001 – Guidance to Counties when Parents/Caregivers are Unavailable. It provides information related to the abandonment of children due to the arrest and/or detainment of parents or caregivers by a law enforcement or immigration enforcement agency or in other circumstances that are beyond the control of the parent(s) and/or guardian(s).
- OM-CW-2025-0004 – Missing Youth Rule Revisions. There have been revisions to Volume 7 Rule as it pertains to missing children and youth. These rule revisions bring Volume 7 into alignment with the requirements of the Social Security Act (SSA) and the Trafficking Victims Protection and Prevention Reauthorization Act of 2022.
- OM-CW-2025-0005 – Documentation Sharing for Fatal, Near Fatal and Egregious Child Maltreatment. An instructional letter to provide jurisdictional law enforcement agencies involved in fatal, near fatal, or egregious incidents of child maltreatment with an understanding of the purpose and importance of sharing relevant reports of information critical to the state multidisciplinary Child Fatality Review Team.
 County Space – Email Amy Sciangula or Yerson Padilla your news, ideas, or questions.
County Question: Our County has a Core Service we would like to provide. Can we utilize Core funding to pay for FTE salary?
Answer: Yes! If you have a need in your County for a Core Service and need to hire staff to provide the services please complete the “County Staff Funded By The Core Services Program” page in the Core Services Plan. You can also submit a Core Plan Amendment to include the staff needed if your plan has been submitted and approved.
Salaries are reimbursable by the State and include fringe and operating costs directly related to the Core Service-funded FTE positions. Additionally, consultation, training, and staff development for county Core service staff when necessary for the delivery of a Core service can also be reimbursed. |
Resources
- The Division of Child Welfare (DCW) recently launched a new statewide website to support counties and community providers in understanding Plans of Safe Care (PoSC), a federal requirement for infants prenatally exposed to substances. If you would like more information on the reporting process, please see the most recent information memo IM-CW-2025-0003. For questions on PoSC, please contact Shannon Bryan in the CPP unit at shannon.bryan@state.co.us
- Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) reminds residents statewide that they may be eligible for assistance to pay a portion of their home heating bills this winter, as well as lower their energy costs for years to come. So far this season, a record number of Coloradans have applied for — and received — benefits through the Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) when compared to this same time in previous seasons.
- Early Screening for Autism Can Help Your Child Thrive: Learn About Your Child’s Development. Learning about child development can help parents, caregivers and teachers recognize common behaviors related to their child’s age and when to seek professional help. Early identification of Autism is crucial for effective skill-building and treatment. Autism West, based in Colorado, provides early intervention and identification services.
- Are you seeking suggestions of how to talk with children ages 3-6 about ICE? A therapist, collaborating with the Rocky Mountain Welcome Center, has created a helpful outline to assist families navigating these difficult conversations with care and understanding. Take a look at the [linked] document and share it with those who might benefit from it.
- The Colorado Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) is holding a series of virtual engagement events. On February 19 from 4:00 to 5:00 pm and February 25 from 10:30 to 11:30 am, BHA will share updates to rule drafts related to the Children and Youth Mental Health Treatment Act (CYMHTA). Community members will have the opportunity to provide feedback and ask questions. Both events are virtual on Zoom and registration can be accessed by clicking on the dates in this paragraph. Live interpretation services will be available.
Training Opportunities
- **SPECIAL** Child Welfare Town Hall February 20 from 2-4:30pm: Managed Care Entities and July 1st Changes. This town hall features information about the upcoming policy change that brings residential treatment (QRTP & PRTF) for youth in the custody of County Departments of Human/Social Services child welfare and the Division of Youth Services under the behavioral health capitated benefit (Managed Care Entities MCEs which includes Regional Accountable Entities RAEs) effective July 1, 2025. You can also join by phone if Google Meet is not available to you, +1 631-898-6373 Pin# 825 277 672#.
- Recognizing and Responding to Human Trafficking – Web-based, self-paced, free training.
Funding Opportunities
- Child Welfare and Domestic Violence Agency Collaborations to Support Families. Assists jurisdictions in improving community response to incidents of domestic violence where a child is present in the household. This will be achieved by building capacity to enhance collaboration between state, local, or tribal child welfare agencies, domestic violence agencies, and other partners. Closes March 21, 2025.
- National Human Trafficking Hotline (NHTH). Assist counties and other agencies in administering NHTH. Closes May 2, 2025.
- The Office for Victims Programs (OVP) announces the estimated availability of approximately $29.8 million for 1 year in Crime Victim Services (CVS) Grant Funds. CVS Funds are comprised of 3 funding sources*:
- Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) – $26 million
- T.O.P. Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) – $2.9 million
- Sexual Assault Services Program (SASP) – $900,000
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: All applications must be received by 11:59 p.m., March 17, 2025, in ZoomGrants. For a specific list of eligibility guidelines and allowable activities by funding source, see the Application Instructions. Please send any additional eligibility questions to the Grants Team at cvsgrants@state.co.us.
Employment Opportunities
As Seen Around Colorado
We have an employee newsletter at CDHS and there is a fun section where staff can submit a photo and description of their pet (A Moment to Paws). Starting this month, we are adding a similar section that will showcase pictures FROM YOU of moments in Colorado. Skiing, Trader Joe’s finds, camping, kids, pets, work celebrations, sunsets/sunrises .. you name it, we want to share it. Send your photo and a description to Amy Sciangula or Yerson Padilla for consideration in an upcoming newsletter. This month, we are highlighting one of the happiest days and places in Colorado every February since 2019 … Goldens in Golden. This fur-filled event happens in the heart of Downtown Golden and offers bone-a-fide fun. The sea of wagging tails took place this year on February 8 and was estimated to have over 1,000 golden retrievers in attendance.
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