Child and Adult Mistreatment Dispute Review Section

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About the Child and Adult Mistreatment Dispute Review Section (CAMDRS)

Under Colorado Law, a person found responsible for child abuse or neglect, or the mistreatment of an at-risk adult, can appeal the finding. These findings are made by a county department of human or social services. CAMDRS is the state-level unit that reviews appeals.

County notice: A person found responsible for child abuse or neglect will be sent a notice from the county. This notice is called a “Notice of Founded Finding.” A person found responsible for the mistreatment of an at-risk adult will be sent a notice from the county. This notice is called a “Notice of Substantiated Finding.” The notice will include information about the finding, the appeal process, ways to appeal, and a hard copy appeal request form. A copy of this notice must be turned in with the appeal request, or the appeal may not be accepted.

Appeal time frames and considerations

A person has 90 calendar days from the date of the county notice to request an appeal. Both the date of the notice and the due date are located on the first page of the county notice. If the appeal is not received by the due date, the appeal may not be accepted and the opportunity to appeal may be lost.

When an appeal has been accepted, CAMDRS will send the person (appellant) an acknowledgement letter via the appellant’s preferred method of contact (mail or email). This letter will include more information about the appeal process and the contact information for the CAMDRS representative assigned to the appeal. The appellant and CAMDRS have up to 120 calendar days to resolve the appeal. The 120 days is from the date CAMDRS receives the appeal. If both the appellant and CAMDRS agree, the time frame may be extended. This will only occur if it is likely extra time will result in a fully executed settlement agreement or resolution of the appeal.

If the appellant and CAMDRS are unable to reach an agreement, the case may be heard by an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). An appellant can also request to go straight to a hearing before an ALJ. Doing so would bypass any initial settlement discussions with CAMDRS, but does not prohibit settlement in lieu of a hearing. An appellant can also withdraw their appeal, in writing, at any time.

CAMDRS may put an appeal on hold pending a court or criminal proceeding, if CAMDRS determines it would be in the best interest of the parties. This is called putting an appeal in abeyance. An appellant may also request to put the appeal in abeyance pending the outcome of a court or criminal proceeding. If an appellant objects to putting an appeal in abeyance, the appeal will remain in abeyance, but will not exceed 180 calendar days without the appellant having the chance to seek a review of the continuance by an ALJ.

An appeal is a civil administrative proceeding and not a criminal charge. An appellant can choose to hire an attorney to represent them for the appeal, but it is not required.

Appellant and attorney information

The appellant will provide their contact information in their initial appeal request form. The appellant must update CAMDRS with any change of contact information. This includes, but is not limited to, phone number, mailing address and email address. If CAMDRS is unable to reach an appellant within the 120-day time frame, the appeal will be abandoned. The appeal will be closed and the appellant will lose further right to appeal that finding.

If the appellant has listed an attorney on their appeal request form, CAMDRS will only reach out to the attorney. It is important that, if an attorney is listed, the attorney’s services have actually been obtained. If CAMDRS is unable to reach the attorney within the 120-day time frame, the appeal will be abandoned. The appeal will be closed and the appellant will lose further right to appeal that finding.

How to appeal

A person can appeal a finding by sending in the hard copy request form (included in the county notice) to:

Child and Adult Mistreatment Dispute Review Section
3550 W. Oxford Ave.
Denver, CO 80236

Or submit an appeal request using the online form. Please choose the appropriate form:

Child Welfare appeal request form

Adult Protective Services appeal request form

In order for an appeal request to be complete, the appeal request must include the following:

The contact information for the appellant
A statement detailing the basis for the appeal; and,
The county department Notice of Founded/Substantiated Finding

The appeal request forms will ask for this required information. If sending in a hard copy form, a copy of the Notice of Founded/Substantiated Finding must be included. If using the online form, a copy of the Notice of Founded/Substantiated Finding must be uploaded as an attachment.

Forms and information