Child welfare experts are hoping Coloradans will step up as champions for children and their families this summer.
In 2024, the 24/7 Colorado Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline received more than 118,000 calls, over 70% of which came from professionals who are mandated by law to report concerns for a child’s welfare. During the 2024 summer break from mid-May to early August, the hotline saw a 25% decrease in calls.
In Greeley, Life Stories Child & Family Advocacy’s Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program also experiences a decrease in dependency and neglect case filings during the summer months, according to CASA Program Manager Kodie Rosten.
The CASA program offers “court-appointed volunteer advocacy for children and youth who have experienced abuse or neglect,” according to the Life Stories website. The trained volunteers visit with children weekly and gather information about the people involved in their lives.
A drop in calls and local case filings doesn’t correlate to a decrease in child abuse and neglect, according to Joe Homlar, director of the Child Welfare Division in the Office of Children, Youth and Families. Homlar attributes the annual summer decline to students not attending school, where they would normally have daily contact with mandatory reporters, such as their teachers, counselors or administrators.
“That could mean some children or youth experiencing abuse or neglect aren’t being seen or heard,” said Julie Popp, communications manager for the Office of Children, Youth and Families.
Other professions required to serve as mandatory reporters include law enforcement, dentists, health professionals and more. However, the responsibility of reporting suspected child abuse and neglect falls on any Coloradan, not just those who are mandated to by law.
The Colorado Department of Human Services reminds residents to be a champion, or “a caring and trustworthy adult who steps in, speaks up and helps families get the support they need before problems arise,” according to a community blog on the CO4Kids website. Because, “If not you, then who?”
How to help
Summer can add pressure to parents and caregivers, who may face additional challenges like finding affordable child care or providing extra meals. This can increase the risk of abuse and neglect.
In these instances, the Colorado Department of Human Services encourages friends, family members or neighbors who have concerns like basic needs being met or a lack of supervision to reach out to the parents and guardians first. Ask them what’s going on or offer to lend a hand.
As long as things change and go back on track after the conversation, a call to the hotline isn’t always necessary.
“We believe that parents and caregivers are responsible for the safety and well-being of their children in care, but we also know parents can’t do it all,” Holmar said. “It’s OK to ask for help. All parents struggle from time to time.”
Addressing the parents isn’t always an option. That’s why Coloradans must know the signs and symptoms of neglect and abuse if they need to place a call to the hotline.
Homlar reported signs of physical abuse include youth being frightened of their parents or their caregivers, reporting an injury by a parent or an adult caregiver or having unexplained, visible injuries.
Neglect signs include any kind of disregard for a child’s safety or welfare, like denying health care, food or appropriate clothes for the weather, he added. The summer sees an increase in parents leaving children unsupervised for long periods of time without making appropriate arrangements for care.
There are different types of abuse and neglect. To view the full list, go to co4kids.org/child-abuse-neglect.
“There’s not a one-size-fits-all description,” Homlar said. “We would want anyone with concerns about child abuse or child neglect to call the hotline.”
All reports will remain confidential, and the conversation with a trained hotline operator usually takes between 30-45 minutes.
Callers may not know all the details, but they should provide information like the name of the child, the home address and any suspicions about why abuse or neglect may be happening.
Child welfare professionals with a county Department of Human Services agency screen and analyze the reports, according to Homlar.
If they identify concerns, caseworkers will evaluate the situation with a home visit and connect the family to resources. In some cases, caseworkers will place children in a foster home while parents or caregivers resolve the safety concerns, according to the community blog. However, in 96% of child welfare assessments, kids will remain at home during the process.
Human services can also conduct prevention services in certain counties, even if evaluations conclude that no abuse or neglect, by law, occurs in the household, Homlar said. This can include voluntary outreach to the family or providing resources to the reporting party.
Child and family advocates also encourage local community members to step up and serve as CASA volunteers.
During this time of year’s plunge in case filings, the Life Stories team focuses on recruiting volunteers for the program to ensure plenty are available when case loads increase, Rosten said.
CASA volunteers, who must be 21 and older, will complete an application, attend an interview and pass a background check. Additional requirements include:
No felony convictions or history of crimes against children No misdemeanor convictions involving violence, drugs or theft within the past 10 years No past or present dependency and neglect cases against youResources
The Colorado Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline receives more than 110,000 calls per year, according to Homlar. To report a situation, call 844-264-5437, also known as 844-CO-4-Kids.
For additional information and resources on child welfare, go to co4kids.org.
To learn more about CASA and Life Stories, go to lifestoriesweld.org/programs/casa.
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