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D603614AAF1A128C872589DB00686F11 Hearing Summary




PUBLIC
BILL SUMMARY For OVERVIEW BY THE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES OF ITS ROLE IN THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM

INTERIM COMMITTEE  COLORADO'S CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM INTERIM STUDY COMMITTEE
Date 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

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.






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