Family First, Core and Program Area 3
Family First News
- The Colorado Evaluation and Action Lab (Colorado Lab) serves as the Family First Evidence Building Hub on behalf of the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS). In this role, the Colorado Lab provides strategic guidance to meet the evidence-based aspects of Family First, coordinates rigorous evaluation efforts, and ensures strategic investments in evidence building. They are pleased to share the new SFY25 Family First Annual Evidence-Building Strategy Report, which highlights 7 primary recommendations as Colorado continues to seek opportunities to build prevention options in the state.
- Please welcome Noelle Smith as the newly hired Family First Prevention Services Specialist at CDHS. She is joining Amy Sciangula’s team (Child Protection and Prevention) and her first day is January 21. We will share Noelle’s contact information as soon as she has it.
- What will this position do?
- Learn about the use of prevention services in each county, specifically those services that are rated as evidence-based, supported, well-supported or in development by the FFPSA Clearinghouse standards. Monitor the FFPSA Clearinghouse for well-supported, supported, and promising programs that may exist in Colorado and may be added to Colorado’s Plan.
- Provide technical assistance to counties implementing evidence-based services listed in the Colorado Prevention Plan, as well as guidance on use of services that are supported, well-supported, or in development on the Title IV-E Clearinghouse. This includes assistance with TRAILS entry to ensure all reimbursement opportunities are identified.
- Work closely with the Program Intermediaries and state partners (e.g. Behavioral Health, Department of Health Care Policy and Finance) to promote expansion and sustainability efforts, analyze data to inform future decisions and impact points, and coordinate efforts to ensure accurate data reporting, oversight of program locations, and best practices.
- Did you hear? The Community Pathways for SafeCare® Colorado Has Been Approved! This opens the door for us to learn how Colorado can capture data about the use of evidence-based services WITHOUT child welfare involvement. That means increased reimbursement opportunities for the state to build upon what has been received since 2021. The Colorado Child abuse Prevention Trust Fund oversees the reimbursements to date and has started conversations about what reinvestments may look like in the near future.
- The Child Welfare Prevention Task Group (CWPTG) will kick off the 2025 meeting schedule on February 14, 2025 from 1:30 to 3:00 (FYI-invite coming soon). 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.
Core News
- Check out the Core Quick List 2025 for resources, reminders, and links for the 2025 Calendar year. You can access Core Quarterly meetings, Core Services Office Hours, and the Core Services Handbook. Please share the Core Quick List with anyone who may be interested in connecting with Core Services.
- At this time, Core Services Reports are available through Trails Legacy. The Core Services Utilization Report is the only report completed with a separate link. These reports are useful for developing Core Services Plans, viewing Core Services expenditures, reviewing Core Services contracts, and funds available for your county. The Utilization Report is populated daily with information entered into Trails by county staff. As a reminder, Regional County Contracts will not display the information for individual counties, it will be included under the host county details.
- The Core Coordinators Quarterly will meet on January 27th in Morgan County (Fort Morgan, CO) from 2:00 – 3:30. This is a hybrid meeting so if you can join us in person, the address is 800 E. Beaver Avenue at the Morgan County Department of Human Services. Video call link: https://meet.google.com/wrp-odgp-cnq or dial: (US) +1 413-338-4792 and enter Pin# 199 234 695# when prompted. The invite for 2025 meetings has been sent so please let Yerson Padilla know if you haven’t received it or need to be added to the invitation list. If you are not able to attend, the meeting is recorded and you can ask a colleague to attend in your absence.
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.
- Prevention is defined in various ways and may look different depending on who you are speaking to or where you are. This is glaringly obvious when you talk about how prevention intersects with child welfare and Program Area 3. What we do know is in order to implement and enhance efforts in the state, there is a need to have consistent data points. Volume 7 (7.200.1) defines Program Area 3 broadly and there are no plans at this time to open rules and add specifications. There has been interest in building a group of county staff to assist in crafting a best guidance document for counties using PA3. We plan to discuss the formation of this group at the Core Quarterly on January 27th from 2:00 -3:30 (Video call link: https://meet.google.com/wrp-odgp-cnq or dial: (US) +1 413-338-4792 and enter Pin# 199 234 695# when prompted). Please plan to attend if you have interest in the group or email Amy Sciangula your interest if you are unable to attend.
Memo Spotlight
County Space
 County Space – Email Amy Sciangula or Yerson Padilla your news, ideas, or questions.
County Question: What does Volume 7 say about providing Domestic Violence (DV) and evaluations/treatment? Our county attorney is asking for this due to a reasonable efforts argument regarding a case that is headed toward termination where the perpetrator was criminally convicted for the domestic incident.
Answer: This is a LONG reply, but necessary to answer the question. There isn’t a specific citation in Rule that discusses domestic violence evaluations and treatment payment when there has been a conviction. Depending on the service delivered, it can be viewed as falling under your Mental Health or County Designed Service (if you have one specific to this service). Guidance regarding the use of Core for evaluations and treatment in DV situations has typically been, “Non-Criminal assessments may be accessed through Core Services. Core can be used for DVOMB Evaluations, cannot be used for offender treatment sessions, can be used for Caring Dads classes. Core cannot be used for court-ordered services. For survivors, all services not covered through Medicaid, private insurance, victims compensation, or other options can be paid with Core funds.” We had a discussion with our partners at the Colorado Department of Domestic Violence to get a better understanding where the guidance came from and if it may be tied to DVOMB standards. Their thought as to why this differentiation exists regarding Core being used in different DV situations has been linked to the focus or goal of treatment. With someone that has been criminally charged and convicted, the treatment is seen by some as a service for the offender rather than a service benefiting the survivors / children. In reality, we know that offenders most often continue to have ongoing relationships with their own children and with subsequent partners’ children. That fact has led some, including those at the Department of Domestic Violence, to question if there are situations where the use of Core is appropriate to ensure the offender receives treatment. The bottom line is there is no citation in Rule that calls out convicted versus not when it comes to any service provision. What the county needs to determine for both scenarios is:
- Does the situation fit the criteria outlined in Rule for the use of Core (7.303.11 & 7.303.13)?
- Has the person receiving offender treatment spoken with his treatment team regarding funding options?
- Will the department maintain open involvement to pay for the service?
- Will treatment extend past the time limit of 18-months (additional 6-month extensions with internal county department administration review and documentation of approval in TRAILS, 7.303.15)?
- Is there a plan for reunification or contact with the offending parent, in which payment of offender treatment via Core is necessary to protect the child, unite the child with their permanent family, prevent out-of-home placement of the child, or to return the child to their home?
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Resources
- 2025 Core Services Office Hours are held every 3rd week of each month, beginning in February, from 2pm-3pm. This is an open space for counties to discuss, share, and learn about Core Services. There is no set agenda, so bring any questions you have.
2025 Core Services Office Hours:
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- February 18
- March 17
- April 21
- May 19
- June 16
- July 21
- August 18
- September 15
- October 20
- November 17
- December 15
- The 2025 Colorado legislative session has begun. Find CDHS-related legislative news, including upcoming bills and who from CDHS is testifying. Sign up for the Weekly Capitol Update. You can also visit the Capital updates intranet page to see updates throughout the week.
- The Behavioral Health Administration has released the Colorado Children and Youth Behavioral Health Implementation Plan. This plan lays out the pathway to access care for children and youth in Colorado. Children and youth have unique needs, experience unique challenges, and require unique supports and interventions; mental health and substance use services for children and youth cannot be a mirror of adult services. View a summary of the plan, as well as a presentation about the plan’s priorities. For more information, contact Matt Holtman at matt.holtman@state.co.us.
- The Colorado Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) wants to hear from you! On January 29th, 2024, 10:30am – 12:00pm a 3rd virtual community listening session will take place. This is an opportunity for providers, parents, loved ones, and other community members to hear directly from BHA leaders about the progress they are making to create a continuum of care for all children and youth in Colorado! Even more importantly, it is an opportunity for you to share your thoughts with BHA and help to inform the next phase of their work. Virtual on Zoom, please register here (*please note there will be live interpretation services available). BHA strives to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. To request an accommodation, please contact their Regional Engagement Manager, Judith Tieku, at 720-618-1909 or Judith.tieku@state.co.us.
Training, Funding, and Job Opportunities
Training Opportunities
- The Belonging Project Presents: “Layers of Native Identity in America: Native and Indigenous Perspectives & Experiences.” Thursday, January 30th 12-1:30 pm. Registration Link
- Recognizing and Responding to Human Trafficking – Web-based, self-paced, free training.
- Community Conversations Webinar Series: Teen Depression. February 19, 12:00–1:00 p.m. ET. Depression can affect teenagers and adults differently. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is funding and conducting research to learn more about depression in teens, how it affects the brain, and how to treat it effectively. This webinar is designed for parents, caregivers, and educators who want to understand more about and address the needs of teens with depression.
Funding Opportunities
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
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Happy January! Some see this month as a fresh start with new routines and aspirations. Others bury themselves in thick blankets and clothing, counting down the days until flip-flop weather returns. Whether you are a member of team “sweater weather” or “polar bear plunge” we can all agree that Colorado offers scenic landscapes and breathtaking winter wildlife. Yerson took this photo while skiing recently, capturing a moment in the high county where you can almost feel the air on your face and hear the fresh snow under your feet as you look at the picture.
