Issue Briefs
Community-Centered Boards (2016)
This issue brief provides information about Community-Centered Boards (CCBs) and recent legislation enacted to promote CCB transparency.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 results
Issue Briefs
Colorado Juvenile Justice Systems (2013)
Juvenile justice systems were created in the late 19th century under the philosophy that juveniles are different than adults and may have different rehabilitation needs. Colorado has two separate systems for the detention or commitment of juveniles convicted of crimes. One system exists within...
09/03/2013
Children & Domestic Matters
Crimes, Corrections, & Enforcement
Human Services
Issue Briefs
Child Welfare (2013)
Colorado's child welfare system provides a range of services to protect children from abuse and neglect and to assist families in caring for their children. This issue brief provides an overview of the child welfare system in Colorado, including administration and funding, reporting and...
Issue Briefs
Respite Care in Colorado (2016)
Respite care provides temporary relief to a caregiver from the physical and emotional impacts of caring for a person with special needs who is unable or needs assistance to care for himself or herself. It can be provided for a few hours, overnight, or on an extended basis by a friend, family...
Issue Briefs
Colorado's Adult Protective System (2016)
Colorado's Adult Protective Services (APS) system, first established in 1983, protects at-risk adults who, because of mental or physical ability, are unable to obtain services or otherwise protect their own health, safety, and welfare. In response to greater awareness of at-risk populations,...
Issue Briefs
Medicaid Waiver Programs Part II - Home-And Community-Based Services Medicaid Waivers for Adults (2016)
Colorado currently administers 11 Home-and Community-Based Services Medicaid (HCBS) Waivers. This issue brief discusses the six waivers available to adults. An issue brief entitled Medicaid Waiver Programs Part I – Home- and Community-Based Services Medicaid Waivers for Children discusses the...
Issue Briefs
Colorado's Efforts to Address Suicide (2016)
Colorado was tied for the fifth highest suicide rate in the nation in 2014, the most recent year of nationally available data. In 2015, there were 1,093 suicides among Colorado residents, which is the highest number of suicides in the state’s history. This issue brief outlines legislative...
Issue Briefs
Persons with Mental Illness in the Criminal Justice System - Colorado's Response
This issue brief outlines Colorado's efforts to address issues associated with persons with mental illness in the criminal justice system.
02/07/2017
Courts & Judicial
Crimes, Corrections, & Enforcement
Human Services
Public Health
Issue Briefs
Laws Addressing Service Animals and Assistance Animals
According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, approximately 10.3 percent of Colorado’s population reported having a disability in 2015. Many of those individuals use a service animal or assistance animal to cope with their disability. This issue brief defines the...
Issue Briefs
State Aid for Low Income Families
This issue brief explains Colorado’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, known as Colorado Works, which provides financial and other assistance. The federally funded program is overseen at the state level by the Department of Human Services and is administered at the county...
Issue Briefs
Colorado’s Child Welfare System (18-14)
Colorado’s child welfare system provides a range of services to protect children from abuse and neglect and to assist families in caring for their children. This issue brief provides an overview of the child welfare system in Colorado, including administration and funding, reporting...
Issue Briefs
Child Care Assistance, Licensing, and Ratings in Colorado (20-07)
The quality of child care and early childhood education (ECE) are key concerns for parents and policymakers alike. Whether daycare, preschool, or another setting, child care and ECE allow parents to remain in the workforce and improve the school readiness of children. This issue brief...
03/06/2020
Children & Domestic Matters
Education & School Finance (Pre & K-12)
Human Services
Issue Briefs
Adult Protective Services in Colorado (20-26)
Colorado's Adult Protective Services (APS) system, first established in 1983, protects at-risk adults who, because of mental or physical ability, are unable to obtain services or otherwise protect their own health, safety, and welfare. This issue brief provides an overview of the APS...
Issue Briefs
Respite Care in Colorado (20-27)
Respite care provides temporary relief to a caregiver from the physical and emotional impacts of caring for a person with special needs who requires assistance to care for themselves. Care can be provided for a few hours, overnight, or on an extended basis by a friend, family member, volunteer...
Issue Briefs
Overview of Behavioral Health Administration (22-06)
The health care system frequently distinguishes between physical and behavioral health. Physical health refers to the condition of the body. Behavioral health refers to the condition of cognitive processing systems. Behavioral health services include, among others: individual and group therapy...
Issue Briefs
Colorado Department of Early Childhood (22-07)
The Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC), Colorado’s newest state department, began operations in July 2022 to provide a range of programs and services that support young children, families, and the professionals that serve them. This issue brief provides an overview of the...
11/10/2022
Children & Domestic Matters
Education & School Finance (Pre & K-12)
Human Services
Issue Briefs
Child Care Assistance, Licensing, and Ratings in Colorado (22-08)
The quality of child care is a key concern for parents and policymakers. Child care allows parents to remain in the workforce and contributes to a child’s development. This issue brief provides an overview of the financial assistance available to families needing child care, briefly...
11/10/2022
Children & Domestic Matters
Education & School Finance (Pre & K-12)
Human Services
Issue Briefs
Food Assistance in Colorado
Federal, state, and local entities work to deliver programs and initiatives to increase food security and accessibility for Coloradans. This issue brief provides an overview of key programs and efforts within the state, including beneficiaries, operations, and funding.
08/24/2023
Children & Domestic Matters
Human Services
Public Health
State Government