D603614AAF1A128C872589DB00686F11 Hearing Summary CLICS/CLICS2023A/commsumm.nsf PUBLICBILL SUMMARY For OVERVIEW BY THE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES OF ITS ROLE IN THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEMINTERIM COMMITTEE COLORADO'S CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM INTERIM STUDY COMMITTEEDate Jun 27, 2023 Location Old State Library Overview by the County Department of Human Services of its Role in the Child Welfare System - Committee Discussion Only Attachment Tag File Name Attachment D http://www2.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLICS2023A/commsumm.nsf/0/004B063C676A...$File/Attachment D.pdf?OpenElement Attachment D.pdf Attachment E http://www2.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLICS2023A/commsumm.nsf/0/796F96F02893...$File/Attachment E.pdf?OpenElement Attachment E.pdf Attachment F http://www2.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLICS2023A/commsumm.nsf/0/969DB2A77472...$File/Attachment F.pdf?OpenElement Attachment F.pdf Attachment G http://www2.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLICS2023A/commsumm.nsf/0/0602652B8646...$File/Attachment G.pdf?OpenElement Attachment G.pdf Attachment H http://www2.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLICS2023A/commsumm.nsf/0/271D7AEE4216...$File/Attachment H.pdf?OpenElement Attachment H.pdf Attachment I http://www2.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLICS2023A/commsumm.nsf/0/30213C98DF41...$File/Attachment I.pdf?OpenElement Attachment I.pdf 01:00:44 PM The committee came back to order. 01:01:06 PM Commissioner Carrie Warren-Gully, Arapahoe County, began the presentation on behalf of the county departments of human services about their roles and responsibilities. The presentations and additional material were provided to the committee (Attachments D tthrough I). She discussed the role of case workers and the complex nature of child welfare cases. Commissioner Warren-Gully highlighted the role schools and educators have in child welfare reporting and connecting families with resources. 01:11:16 PM Mary Berg, Executive Director, Jefferson County Department of Human Services and President of the Colorado Human Services Directors Association, continued the presentation. She discussed the impacts on the health of children who experience abuse and neglect throughout their lives. She discussed the balance of needs that county departments must address. Ms. Berg discussed aspects of child abuse reports and the impact that involving the child welfare system can have on a family. A video about a family involved in the child welfare system was played for the committee. 01:20:31 PM Carol Friedrich, Director, Ouray/San Miguel County Departments of Human Services, provided information about prevention efforts by counties. She discussed the the federal Family First Prevention Services Act, including the ability to use funds on prevention. Ms. Friedrich discussed the different kinds of placements that can occur under Family First. She reviewed evidence-based services eligible for federal funding under Family First. 01:33:53 PM Ms. Friedrich discussed collaborative management programs (CMPs). She discussed how the system was siloed before the CMPs were created and how the CMPs have streamlined the system. She stated that CMPs are voluntary and individualized to each county. Ms. Friedrich shared information about Ouray/San Miguel counties, and the challenges that child welfare workers can face in rural and frontier counties. 01:40:21 PM Mollie Warren, Director of Family and Children Services, Boulder County Department of Housing and Human Services, discussed changes in approach and values that have occurred in the field of child welfare. She highlighted an emphasis safety, constructive engagement, collaborative engagement, family and community inclusion, assessment of risk and protective capacity, and transparency. Ms. Warren explained that a differential response is a system that establishes multiple pathways to respond to child maltreatment reports. She stated that by the end of 2024 all counties will have implemented differential response programs. She stated with differential response programs children are safe, workers report better job satisfaction, and costs are reduced. 01:48:19 PM Ms. Warren discussed Review, Evaluate, and Direct (RED) Teams. She reviewed the questions that RED teams address in the process. She discussed kinship care and stated that Colorado is a leader in this area. 01:54:13 PM Andrea Woods, Intake Supervisor, Child and Adult Protection Services, Arapahoe County Department of Human Services, discussed the ways caseworkers involve parents and other family members to create safe environments for children. She discussed Arapahoe County's differential response approach, enhanced screenings, and the RED team process. She discussed some of the successes that have come from the involvement of the child welfare system in certain situations. 02:05:20 PM Christine Johnson, Core Caseworker, Morgan County Department of Human Services, discussed her experience as a teacher, flight attendant, and caseworker. She discussed the need for education about the child welfare system, reducing trauma, and involving families in the process. Ms. Johnson highlighted the lack of mental health resources and the wait times for services. She discussed the impact of trauma on families and the need for transparency in the child welfare system. 02:13:05 PM Chase Hagen, Social Caseworker III and Family Engagement Facilitator, Mesa County Department of Human Services, discussed her experience as a caseworker and family engagement facilitator. She also discussed her experience as a former foster care youth. 02:19:04 PM Dan Makelky, Director, Douglas County Department of Human Services, discussed Colorado's out-of-home continuum crisis. He reviewed the lack of placement options for certain youth. He shared information about federal Department of Justice investigations in other states. 02:23:04 PM Jamie Ulrich, Director, Weld County Department of Human Services, shared the story of one youth's inability to access appropriate behavioral health services, her experience with out-of-state placement, and how she is continuing to access treatment as an adult. Ms. Ulrich reviewed themes the Colorado Human Services Directors Association found for youth entering child welfare to access services and placements. She discussed looking at child welfare through a race equity lens. Ms. Ulrich discussed needing a comprehensive system of behavioral health care for youth and families, fully funding community-based prevention and early intervention services, addressing issued raised in House Bil 23-1160 about child welfare reports, addressing workforce issues, and addressing issues with the Trails system. 02:32:28 PM The panelists responded to questions from the committee about the Trails system and discussed the current two-system process for entering child welfare data. Ms. Ulrich stated that all but 15 counties are in CMPs in response to questions from the committee. The panelists responded to questions about potentially reducing paperwork and establishing in-patient treatment options for substance abuse for youth. 02:42:20 PM The panelists who are caseworkers and family engagement specialists responded to questions about caseload, training, and barriers to their work. The panelists discussed the need for provider education about the child welfare process and the differences of core caseworkers, which address the more intense cases. 02:48:56 PM Ms. Ulrich responded to questions from the committee about county priorities and discussed systems of care to provide access to care throughout the state and coordination of care models. Ms. Berg discussed fully funding the new funding model and establishing stable funding streams for child welfare and prevention. She discussed the Family Connects Program that is being piloted in Colorado. Mr. Makelky discussed caseload issues. 02:54:32 PM The panelists responded to questions about addressing inequities in the child welfare system and how the General Assembly can help to address that issue. The committee recessed.