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Presented to the Joint Health Committee at its January 6, 2017, meeting.

Joint Presentation to the Senate Health & Human Services Committee, House Health, Insurance, & Environment Committee, and House Public Health Care & Human Services Committee on January 9, 2017.

Presented to the Joint Health Committees on January 9, 2017.

Presented to the Joint Health Committee on January 9, 2017, as part of the SMART Act Presentation.

Presented to the Joint Health Committee.

Presented to the Joint Health Committee.

Presented to the Joint Health Committee.

Presented to the Joint Health Committee.

Colorado was tied for the fifth highest suicide rate in the nation in 2014, the most recent year of nationally available data.  In 2015, there were 1,093 suicides among Colorado residents, which is the highest number of suicides in the state’s history.  This issue brief outlines legislative actions taken in recent years to address Colorado’s high suicide rate and resources for those in need of assistance and support.

Colorado currently administers 11 Home-and Community-Based Services Medicaid (HCBS) Waivers. This issue brief discusses the six waivers available to adults. An issue brief entitled Medicaid Waiver Programs Part I – Home- and  Community-Based Services Medicaid Waivers for Children discusses the five waivers available to children.

Colorado's Adult Protective Services (APS) system, first established in 1983, protects at-risk adults who, because of mental or physical ability, are unable to obtain services or otherwise protect their own health, safety, and welfare. In response to greater awareness of at-risk populations, between 2013 and 2016, legislation expanded the scope of the system by implementing mandatory reporting for certain groups and establishing protections for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

Respite care provides temporary relief to a caregiver from the physical and emotional impacts of caring for a person with special needs who is unable or needs assistance to care for himself or herself. It can be provided for a few hours, overnight, or on an extended basis by a friend, family member, volunteer, paid service provider, or in a community-based care setting. This issue brief provides a brief overview of state-funded respite care services and information about the Respite Care Task Force, which met during the 2015 interim.

The Public Benefits and Services Resource Manual is intended to serve as a reference guide for information on some of the state’s programs that provide direct benefits or services to members of the public. The manual is divided into four sections to make it easier for the reader to access information. The first section provides information on how to apply for certain public benefits using the Colorado PEAK website and county offices of human or social services.

This issue brief provides information about Community-Centered Boards (CCBs) and recent legislation enacted to promote CCB transparency.

This memorandum provides information regarding state laws penalizing those who misrepresent pets or other animals as service animals. Nine states have laws prohibiting the misrepresentation of pets, and nine states have laws prohibiting people from misrepresenting themselves as disabled in order to gain the use of service animals. Colorado prohibits impersonating an individual with disabilities, without specifying the use of a service animal.

This document provides a summary of legislation pertaining to human services considered by the General Assembly during the 2014 legislative session.

Juvenile justice systems were created in the late 19th century under the philosophy that juveniles are different than adults and may have different rehabilitation needs. Colorado has two separate systems for the detention or commitment of juveniles convicted of crimes. One system exists within the Department of Human Services (DHS), a department with the responsibility of addressing child welfare, while the other exists within the Department of Corrections (DOC), where adult offenders are sentenced.