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Policy Advisory Committee

The Policy Advisory Committee (PAC) was created by CDHS to provide a formal forum for counties and the state to work together to make recommendations to the CDHS executive director about policy changes that improve service delivery for children, families, and adults throughout Colorado. The PAC discusses and votes on policy changes and submits those recommendations to the CDHS executive director. The PAC values collaboration, cooperation and communication.

PAC membership is intended to be multi-disciplinary to encourage broad policy analysis across many complex programs. There are three PAC co-chairs who represent CDHS, the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, and counties. In addition to the co-chairs, membership includes seven CDHS representatives and seven county representatives — one from each of the six regions in Colorado and an at-large member.

Five subcommittees, called Sub-PACs, specializing in specific program areas report to the PAC. These Sub-PACs have similar membership composed of state and county representatives.

 

Meetings

PAC meetings are held the first Thursday of the month after the first Wednesday from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Please note: Due to the ongoing concerns related to COVID-19, all PAC meetings will be held virtually until further notice.

There are two ways to join the meeting:

  • Using the dial-in number and PIN to join by phone.
  • Clicking on the meeting link to join using your computer's audio and video.

Meeting link: meet.google.com/ozp-mqcv-dqs

Dial-in number: (617) 675-4444

PIN: 625 197 331 0674#

Members
Name Representation
Anne-Marie Braga Co-chair, Colorado Department of Human Services
Tom Massey Co-chair, Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing
Matthew Dodson Co-chair, CHSDA, Archuleta County
Dan Makelky Metro Region
Kara Hoover Northeast Region
Megan Burch Northwest Region
Donna Rohde San Luis Valley
Tim Hart Southeast Region
Tracey Garchar Southwest Region
Julie Krow Member-at-Large
PAC Voting Members
Name Representation
Anne-Marie Braga Co-chair, Colorado Department of Human Services
Tom Massey Co-chair, Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing
Matthew Dodson Co-chair, CHSDA, Archuleta County
Dan Makelky Metro Region
Kara Hoover Northeast Region
Megan Burch Northwest Region
Donna Rohde San Luis Valley
Tim Hart Southeast Region
Tracey Garchar Southwest Region
Julie Krow Member-at-Large
Andrea Eurich Office of Administrative Solutions
Yolanda Webb Office of Adult, Aging and Disability Services
Robert Werthwein Office of Behavioral Health
Minna Castillo Cohen Office of Children, Youth and Families
Mary Alice Cohen Office of Early Childhood
Ki'i Powell Office of Economic Security
Valerie Cassano Division of Performance and Strategic Outcomes
Agendas and Minutes

Resources

Sub-PAC

There are five Sub-PACs that generate policy and practice recommendations about a specific program area and submit those recommendations to the PAC. Each Sub-PAC has a county co-chair and a state co-chair, and membership of the Sub-PACs includes both state and regional county representatives.
 

PAC and Sub-PAC organizational chart
PAC and Sub-PAC organizational chart

Adult and Aging Sub-PAC

Meetings

The Adult and Aging Sub-PAC meets monthly on the first Thursday of the month after the first Wednesday at the Arapahoe County Department of Human Services, 14980 E. Alameda Drive, Aurora, CO, 80012. Details on date, time, and location of these meetings can be found on the public meetings calendar (list above) and are included in the agendas posted below.

Agendas and Minutes
Membership
Name Agency Representing
Lori Metz Larimer County Metro Region
Whitney Nettleton Denver County Metro Region
Jessica Williamsen Arapahoe County Metro Region
Lori Lundgren Phillips County NE Region
Patricia Phillips Lincoln County NE Region Rep
Karen Crabb Grand County NE Region
Nan Sundeen Pitkin County NE Region
Andrew Bunn El Paso County SE Region
Russ Guerrero Pueblo County SE Region
Michael Aragon Las Animas County SLV Region
Donna Rohde Otero County SLV Region
Matt Dodson Archuleta County SW Region
Vacant   SW Region
Hayley Gleason HCPF Aging Policy Advisor
Kara Harvey CDHS Aging and Adult Services
Crickett Phelps CDHS OES
Peg Rogers CDHS APS Program
Chellie Voss CDHS OBH
Yolanda Webb CDHS OAADS
Sheannette Worden O'Dell CDHS ARD

* This group includes a variety of stakeholders, but the membership list above includes only voting members.

Task Groups

Adult Protective Services Task Group

Child Welfare Sub-PAC

Meetings

The Child Welfare Sub-PAC meets monthly on the first Thursday of the month after the first Wednesday at the Arapahoe County Department of Human Services, 14980 E. Alameda Drive, Aurora, CO, 80012.Details on date, time, and location of these meetings can be found on the public meetings calendar (list above)and are included in the agendas posted below.

Agendas and Minutes

Membership

Click here to download a membership list.

Task Groups

Early Childhood Sub-PAC

Meetings

The Early Childhood Sub-PAC meets monthly on the first Thursday of the month after the first Wednesday at the Arapahoe County Department of Human Services, 14980 E. Alameda Drive, Aurora, CO, 80012.Details on date, time, and location of these meetings can be found on the public meetings calendar (list above)and are included in the agendas posted below.

Agendas and Minutes

Membership
Name Representative
Erin Mewhinney CDHS
Mary Martin CDHS
Heather Craiglow CDHS
Mary Alice Cohen CDHS, Chair
Elizabeth Freudenthal HCFP, Chair
Andie Garnand Denver Human Services, Metro
Keith Bainer Larimer County Human Services, Metro
Melissa Ingalls Douglas County Human Services, Metro
Rogelio Segura Morgan County, Northeast
Donna Marx Logan County Human Services, Northeast
Kelly Kissling Pitkin County Human Services, Northwest
Tami Havener Family Development Center, Northwest
Sherri Valdez Early Childhood Council of the San Luis Valley
Julie Krow El Paso County Human Services, Southeast, Chair
Jeff Kuhr Mesa County Health Department, Southwest
Holly Jacobson Mesa County Partnership for Children and Families, Southwest
Task Groups
  • The Rule Re-write Task Group

Economic Security Sub-PAC

Meetings

The Economic Security Sub-PAC meets monthly on the first Thursday of the month after the first Wednesday at the Arapahoe County Department of Human Services, 14980 E. Alameda Drive, Aurora, CO, 80012. Details on date, time, and location of these meetings can be found on the public meetings calendar (list above)and are included in the agendas posted below.

Agendas and Minutes

Membership

For a list of members, please click here.

Task Groups

Financial Management Sub-PAC

Meetings

The Financial Management Sub-PAC meets monthly on the first Thursday of the month after the first Wednesday at the Arapahoe County Department of Human Services, 14980 E. Alameda Drive, Aurora, CO, 80012.Details on date, time, and location of these meetings can be found on the public meetings calendar (list above)and are included in the agendas posted below.

Agendas and Minutes
Membership

For a list of members, please click here.

Task Groups
  • Adult Protective Services Task Group
  • Colorado Child Care Assistance Program Task Group
  • County Administration Task Group