Senate Approves Pair of Bills to Support Colorado Kids

Legislation would require more inclusive reporting in the child welfare system, streamline child support processes for children in foster care

DENVER, CO – Today the Senate advanced a pair of bills to support Colorado kids by requiring more inclusive reporting in the child welfare system, and streamlining child support processes for children in foster care.

SB24-200, sponsored by Senator Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City, and Senate President Pro Tem James Coleman, D-Denver, would address diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) disparities in Colorado's child welfare system by requiring the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) to make updates to reporting and training.

“Colorado’s child welfare system currently has a blindspot when it comes to incorporating diversity and equity principles into its services,” said Michaelson Jenet. “Improved data collection and thoughtful attention to inclusivity will result in better outcomes for Colorado’s kids. By better incorporating DEI practices into reporting and training, we can minimize unintended harm and better serve Colorado’s youth.”

“Colorado’s child welfare system provides critical services to families and youth, but it can be improved by integrating diversity, equity, and inclusivity into training and reporting,” Coleman said. “Incorporating DEI principles will help ensure everyone involved in the welfare system is well-equipped to support Colorado’s youth through challenging circumstances. In partnership with counties, we can reduce disparities in the welfare system to ensure we’re adequately meeting our youth’s unique needs and supporting their overall well-being.”

Under the bill, CDHS would work with counties to update their annual reporting on DEI to: utilize state and national child welfare data, identify additional demographic data not currently collected, make recommendations based on data collection, and report on the state’s progress around data collection.

Additionally, CDHS would be required to improve staff training on DEI, provide training recommendations for county staff, and evaluate local counties’ DEI policies and trainings in child welfare.

The second bill, sponsored by Senator Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora, would make updates to create a more streamlined child support process for children in foster care. Currently, when a child receiving child support is placed in foster care, a court order requires the child’s parent to pay a fee that covers the costs of a guardian ad litem – usually an attorney – and residential care. SB24-202 would remove the requirement for a court order and would instead allow CDHS to manage the child support process for children in foster care.

“Children in the foster care system face incredible difficulties and we must do everything we can to support them,” said Fields. “Right now in the foster care system, the process to get child support where it needs to go is overly complicated and burdensome. With this bill, we’re streamlining the process to ensure children in foster care get the support and care they need in a timely manner.”

Both bills now head to the House for further consideration. Track SB24-200’s progress HERE and SB24-202’s progress HERE.