Colorado

Colorado’s primary focus was the development of a practice protocol for screening, assessment, engagement, and retention. Given the autonomy of the county-administered service delivery system, the team recognized that County-level involvement would be essential to achieving change in practice. Several strategies were included in the work plan to address this.

The major product goals and levels of accomplishment were:

• The Colorado In-Depth Technical Assistance Project – Project Overview (PDF - 30 KB) – provides an overview of the overall program
• Needs Assessment Survey (PDF - 620 KB) – Over 300 surveys were completed online by frontline staff and program managers in each system providing input for developing the practice protocol.
• Regional meetings– Ten half-day meetings were held across Colorado with multiple system representation in each. Meetings promoted collaboration, using the project as a catalyst, and facilitated dialogue about values, challenges, and promising practices. 
• Colorado’s Protocol Improving Services to Families: Strategies for Substance Abuse Treatment, Child Welfare, and Dependency Court A Guide for Counties, Service Providers and Judicial Districts in Colorado (PDF - 741 KB) – A protocol was developed to include recommendations for screening, assessment, engagement, and retention. 
• Roll-out of pilot sites–Four Counties were selected to receive technical assistance from IDTA consultants and Core Team members. Each site selected sections of the protocol to implement, based on their need and sense of readiness. 
• Overarching Statements of Values and Principles about Families and Colleagues - Statement of Values and Principles (PDF - 84 KB)
• Substance Abuse Training for Child Welfare Workers (PDF - 30 KB) – Proposed regulations to add services to CW clients as licensing category
  

In addition to the outcomes listed above, the IDTA led Colorado to establish a licensing category for substance abuse treatment professionals who want to specialize in working with families involved in the child welfare system.