Press Release

Gov. Jared Polis has approved $19.7 million in emergency discretionary funding to secure 64 private hospital beds for inpatient competency services as CDHS's Office of Behavioral Health responds to record demand for competency evaluations and restoration services.

In a historic response to the growing youth mental health crisis, today the Colorado Department of Human Services, Office of Behavioral Health (OBH) and partners launched the I Matter program that provides up to three free counseling sessions for Coloradans ages 18 and younger or 21 and younger for those receiving special education services.

Colorado’s Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP), a federally funded program that helps eligible Coloradans pay a portion of their winter home heating costs, opens for the season on Nov. 1 and will accept applications through April 30, 2022.

CDHS's Division of Child Support Services was recently awarded an additional $1 million grant from the federal government to further develop programs to educate youth and young adults about responsible parenting and the impacts of income changes over a lifetime.

Robert Werthwein, director of the Office of Behavioral Health released the following statement regarding 988, the three-digit number to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Colorado is planning for the national launch of 988 on July 16, 2022.

The Colorado Department of Human Services recently distributed more than $13.5 million in cash benefits to families in need through funds provided by the American Rescue Plan Act.

Co-responder programs that pair police officers and behavioral health clinicians are successfully diverting people in crisis from the criminal justice system and connecting them to services, according to a new evaluation.

Today, the State of Colorado released the first draft of a plan to establish the Department of Early Childhood that will align and strengthen the state’s early childhood care and education services and programs, including the voter-approved, voluntary, universal preschool program.

Coloradans participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will see their monthly benefits increase beginning Oct. 1.