Children's Justice Act Task Force

The Children's Justice Act (CJA) was originally enacted in 1984 as part of the Victims of Crime Act to encourage States to improve the handling of child abuse cases and, in particular, child sexual abuse cases. Most recently, CJA was reauthorized through the 2010 Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA, P.L. 111-320). Section 107(c) of CAPTA requires States to create a multidisciplinary CJA Task Force composed of professionals and individuals with knowledge and experience relating to the criminal justice system and issues of child physical abuse, child neglect, child sexual abuse and exploitation, and child maltreatment related fatalities.

The CJA Task Force:

1. Reviews and evaluates State investigative, administrative and both civil and criminal judicial handling of cases of child abuse and neglect, including child sexual abuse and exploitation, as well as cases involving suspected child maltreatment related fatalities and cases involving a potential combination of jurisdictions, such as intrastate, interstate, Federal-State and State-Tribal
2. Makes policy and training recommendations

Meetings

Agendas and Minutes

Members

Name	Title	Task Force designation
Meghan Baker	Facilities Attorney, Disability Law Colorado	Individual experienced in working with children with disabilities
Maureen “Mo” Basenberg	Executive Director, Safe Passage	Child Advocate
Jaramillo Burgar	Managing Chief Deputy District Attorney in the 18th Judicial District	Managing Chief Deputy District Attorney in the 18th Judicial District
Matthew DeHerrea-Lopez	Permanency Specialist	Parent and Representatives of Parent Groups
Antonia Chiesa	Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Kempe Child Protection Team, The Children's Hospital Colorado	Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Kempe Child Protection Team, The Children's Hospital Colorado
Matt Holtman	CAPTA and Federal Funding Administrator, Division of Child Welfare, Office of Children, Youth & Families, Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS)	Child Protective Services CJA Task Force Co-Chair
April Jenkins	Children, Youth and Family Services Manager, El Paso County Department of Human Services	Child Protective Service Agencies
Michelle Jensen	Office of the Child’s Representative (OCR)	Attorney for Children
Megan Kearsley	CIP Coordinator	Court Improvement Program Coordinator
Andi Leopoldus	Statewide Coordinator, Colorado Children's Alliance	Children's Advocacy Center Representative
Johnathan Mullineaux	Detective	Law Enforcement
Morgan Rhoades	Lived Experience	Parent with Lived Experience
Jennifer Richardson	Jennifer Richardson	Mental Health Professional
Judge Valerie J. Robison	Civil/Criminal Court Judge, 21st Judicial District	Civil/Criminal Judge CJA Task Force Co-Chair
Gretchen Russo	Judicial and Legislative Administrator, Office of Children, Youth & Families, Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS)	Child Protective Services
Tori Shuler	Director, Fostering Great Ideas	Adult former victim of child abuse and or neglect
Ben Simonds	Case Coordinator	CASA
Kara Smith	Deputy Public Defender	Defense attorney
Magistrate Kellie Starritt	District Court Magistrate for the 7th Judicial District	Civil/Criminal Judge
Anne Tapp	Executive Director, Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence (SPAN)	Individual experienced in working with homeless children and youth
Christy Van Gaasbeek	Office of the Respondent Parents’ Counsel (ORPC)	Individual experienced in working with children with disabilities
Becky Wiggins	Senior Assistant County Attorney in Adams County	Prosecuting attorney

Reports & Publications

The Colorado CJA Task Force submits a report annually to the Administration on Children, Youth and Families. To review CJA Task Force reports visit Child Welfare Reports & Publications.