Adult and Family Services
Child Welfare and Family Services
Pitkin County Child Welfare Purpose Statement:
Ensure safety, permanency and well-being of children in Pitkin County.
Core Values:
- All individuals and/or families have strengths.
- Children will have the benefit of the least intrusive process to ensure safety, permanency and well-being.
- Children have the right to be safe from abuse, neglect or exploitation.
- Parents/Caretakers have the right to choose what direction they will take.
Colorado Department of Human Services: For more information regarding child welfare services and regulations.
Child Welfare League of America: Together making children and family a National Priority
Adult and Family Services are mandated to state and federal law to receive referrals; investigate and assess child abuse and/or neglect referrals; identify child(ren's) safety concerns; work with the family to create protective plans to address safety concerns;
Adult and Family Services staff utilize a clear, consistent and objective evaluation process to identify Permanency, which means that a child is in the safest place with the most consistent and appropriate caregiver. We always want a child to remain with their family, if possible. If there are safety concerns, we try to identify the supports and strengths within the family system first.
There are services available to strengthen families as they address safety and neglect issues. These "CORE" services include home-based counseling, Family Therapy, Life Skills Coaching, Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment Services. We work with the family to develop a plan to clearly identify any concerns that are related to safety or neglect so that the child may remain in the home, if possible.
At times, their home may not be an option and at that point, we might consider a Kinship or Foster Home Placement.
Family Foster Home Recruitment:
A family foster home provides temporary or long-term care for children who must live outside of their own home and are in need of protection and/or supervision. This may include children with physical handicaps or developmental disabilities (emotional or physical). Foster parents must demonstrate a genuine interest in and knowledge of children as well as concern for their care and well-being.
If you are interested, please contact:
Kim DuBois, Adult and Family Services Manager at (970) 429-2043.
Child Support Enforcement:
For Pitkin County residents, Child Support Enforcement is managed through Garfield County. Custodial parents may apply for child support enforcement services to establish and enforce child support orders for a one-time fee of $20. The fee is waved for custodial parents receiving public assistance. For more info, please visit the Garfield County website or call the Child Support Enforcement Unit at (970) 945-9191 x 7300.
Adult Protection Services:
Pitkin County Adult Protection Services Purpose Statement:
To assist adults in Pitkin County to live safely with maximum personal independence.
Core Values:
- All individuals and/or families have strengths.
- Adults will have the benefit of the least intrusive process to ensure dignity and personal independence.
- Adults have the right to choose what direction they will take.
Adult and Family Services staff will intervene on behalf of at-risk adults to alleviate situations in which actual or imminent danger of abuse, neglect, or exploitation exists. Adult and Family Services staff utilize a clear, consistent and objective evaluation process to identify next steps of prevention/intervention or treatment.
Colorado Department of Human Services: For more information regarding adult protection services and regulations.
Senior Services Care Management Program for Adults 60 and over:
We also provide support services to adults who are 60 and older. Senior Services Care Management Program was created in 2007 to serve Pitkin County's older adults with assessment and services.