Press Release

Construction begins on Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo expansion

DENVER (Sept.10, 2019) — The Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo (CMHIP) began construction last month on a unit that will add 24 beds to the state’s forensic hospital. Adding beds to the state hospital in Pueblo is part of a coordinated strategy to ensure patients are able to access competency services in a timely manner.

The 24 beds will be within CMHIP’s High Security Forensic Institute building and are expected to open in November 2020. The project budget is $7 million.

Colorado's refugee resettlement program ranks among nation's best

DENVER (Aug. 22, 2019) — The latest annual report from the Administration for Children & Families revealed that Colorado ranks among the top in the nation for refugee resettlement programs in terms of overall performance using 2018 Federal Fiscal Year outcomes.

Colorado Behavioral Health Task Force seeking public testimony

The Colorado Department of Human Services and Executive Director Michelle Barnes have announced public testimony days for the Behavioral Health Task Force (BHTF).

CDHS renews 2Generation Opportunities grants for four groups

The Colorado Department of Human Services has announced the four communities that will receive continuation funding for their work on the 2Generation Opportunities (2GO) innovation project.

August is Child Support Awareness Month

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis has proclaimed August as Child Support Awareness Month, and the Division of Child Support Services (DCSS) within the Colorado Department of Human Services and local county offices plan to celebrate with a series of events throughout the month.

Colorado Division of Child Welfare recognized for LGBTQ+ inclusion efforts

DENVER (July 8, 2019) — The Colorado Department of Human Services proudly announces that the Office of Children, Youth and Families Division of Child Welfare (DCW) has earned the Innovator Seal from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation for its ongoing work to develop policies and practices that affirm LGBTQ+ youth in foster care and encourage members of the LGBTQ+ community to become foster and adoptive parents.

Five Colorado foster families honored by Gov. Jared Polis and CDHS

DENVER (May 11, 2019) — On Saturday, Gov. Jared Polis and Minna Castillo Cohen, director of the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) Office of Children, Youth and Families (OCYF), recognized five foster families from across Colorado for their dedication to Colorado’s children and teens in foster care. In addition to playing a critical role by providing safe, stable homes for Colorado’s children, each family is sharing their story to inspire others to help address the statewide need for foster families.