DENVER (March 31, 2025) — In the decade since Colorado launched its Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline in April 2015, Coloradans have placed more than 1 million calls to report concerns related to child safety. More than 350,000 of those calls required further assessment, which means there was an allegation of known or suspected child abuse or neglect according to Colorado law.
These numbers underscore the importance of strengthening families to prevent child abuse and neglect from ever happening. As such, CDHS recognizes April as Child Abuse Prevention Month and urges all Coloradans to work together and be a positive support system that families can rely on during difficult times.
“Every child deserves to grow up in a safe, supportive and loving environment,” said Michelle Barnes, executive director of CDHS. “By strengthening families before they reach a crisis, we can reduce the rates of child abuse and neglect and create a brighter future for Colorado’s children and youth.”
Research has shown we can strengthen families by focusing on five protective factors that can reduce the likelihood of child abuse and can build brighter futures:
- Parental resilience;
- Social connections;
- Concrete support in times of need;
- Knowledge of parenting and child development; and
- Children's social-emotional competence
“CDHS works tirelessly to support families in need by providing benefits such as food and energy assistance and employment programs,” said Minna Castillo, deputy executive director of Community Partnerships. “Additionally, we collaborate with individuals who have lived experience to develop actionable solutions through initiatives like Reimagining Colorado’s Child Welfare System.”
As part of our commitment to prevention, CDHS’s Office of Children, Youth and Families partnered with the Colorado Department of Early Childhood and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to host the 2025 CO4Kids Resource Fair on April 27 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance. The event is free for the first 400 attendees and offers families a fun and interactive way to spend time together while connecting with valuable resources.
“Raising children, while rewarding, can also be challenging," said Office of Children, Youth and Families Director Debbie Oldenettel. “When children, youth and families have the skills, support and resources they need, our communities are stronger. This is why we are collaborating with our community to host this resource fair.”
Take action: How you can prevent child abuse and neglect
Child abuse prevention is the responsibility of every Coloradan. Here’s how you can help:
- Invite families, friends and neighbors to the 2025 CO4Kids Resource Fair.
- Be a source of encouragement and support. There are more than 50 ways to help strengthen families, which include things as simple as checking in on a family or volunteering with local organizations.
- Share the 2024 CO4Kids Partner Organization List with families and friends who need resources to overcome challenges.
- Educate yourself and others about the signs of abuse and neglect.
- Be their voice. If you suspect child abuse or neglect, call 844-CO-4-KIDS (844-264-5437).
For more information on child abuse prevention, visit the CO4Kids website or follow CO4Kids on Instagram and Facebook.
CO4Kids is the Colorado Department of Human Services’ statewide initiative to provide awareness about Colorado’s child welfare system. It focuses on educating the public about the signs of child abuse and neglect, while raising awareness about the Colorado Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline (844-264-5437) to report concerns related to a child or youth. CO4Kids also strives to strengthen families as a means of preventing abuse and neglect from happening in the first place, helping all Colorado kids have a safe environment. Finally, the campaign is committed to recruiting and retaining foster and adoptive parents, so that when an out of home placement is unavoidable, a child has a safe place to thrive.
Media contact:
Julie Popp, OCYF Communications Manager
720-788-1301
julie.popp@state.co.us