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Prevention and Core Services Monthly Newsletter
June 2025
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It’s June in Colorado, and that means a few things. This month we see our temperatures soar, with June being the 3rd warmest month (July and August are 1st and 2nd). We also hit the peak of severe weather season, with those pesky afternoon thunderstorms that delight storm chasers but make our pets hide under tables. June is a transitional month, falling between the cool rain of May and the hot, monsoon season. Like June in Colorado, it may feel like everything is in transition lately. It is easy to focus on the negative aspects change and uncertainty bring in our profession. What if we put a positive spin on transition by focusing on the opportunities for growth, development, and a fresh start that transitions offer? Can it be an opportunity to collaborate with new partners and re-invigorate beneficial relationships? Is this our chance to learn new things, develop new skills, and gain new perspectives? Transition / change is what we make of it. If the concert you planned is cancelled due to a thunderstorm, will you fume about it or take that time to read a book you never have time for or play a game with your kiddo? Opportunities come to us when we least expect, and sometimes when we least desire.
Speaking of concerts and storms, the legendary Metallica is “rolling” into Denver for two shows at the end of June. On May 7, 2025, the crowd's energy at the Metallica concert in Lane Stadium generated seismic activity that was detected by the Virginia Tech Seismological Observatory (VTSO), located about a mile away. The observatory recorded ground tremors, particularly during the performance of "Enter Sandman," due to the synchronized jumping and cheering of the approximately 60,000 fans. That is about a 1.0 on the Richter scale. Empower Field at Mile High has the capacity to seat 76,125 fans, which provides an opportunity for Denver to really make some noise. If you are heading to the concert, let us know. There may be a few CDHS and county folks with tickets who would welcome the chance to not talk shop with their peers.
Rock on … Amy, Noelle, and Yerson
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Family First News
- Since May, the Core and Prevention Services Team has met with multiple counties across Colorado to discuss Evidence Based Services (EBS). These meetings lead to fruitful discoveries for our team and others, including the different county processes for entering contracts in Trails and authorization for Service Types. Shout out to Noelle Smith who has worked with the majority of counties as they learn how to add and then select Evidence Based Services (EBS) to contracts. Your ability to accurately select an EBS when entering a service authorization is critical to Colorado’s ability to seek higher rates of reimbursement than we have in the past. Greater reimbursement = more opportunities for those funds to flow back through to Colorado communities.
- Amy Sciangula and Noelle Smith are traveling to Louisville, Kentucky in July to represent Colorado at a convening of Family First Prevention Services. Additional states will be present, which provides an opportunity for each to learn more about EBS included on other plans and return on investment to date. If you have any suggestions on sights they should see or must eat food, let them know.
Core News
- Our team is learning the ins and outs of entering Core Contracts /EBS options alongside many of you. We recently learned from our Rio Blanco partners that the previous year’s Core Contracts CAN BE copied over. Previously, a county had expressed concern that this was not possible and entering a new contract for each provider was time prohibitive. If you are having the same thought or experience, please reach out to Noelle Smith (noelle.smith@state.co.us) for a real time walk through with the contract that should be copied for SFY 25-26.
- The early bird gets the worm, or something like that. The counties in yellow have submitted their State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2025-2026 Core Services Plan (Google Folder) for review. Our team will go through the submitted plans, which include a review of County-Designed Services' scope and goals, Evidence Based Services (EBS), and budget projections.
After reviewing, if we have any questions, you will receive an email requesting additional information. Once plans are approved, your county will receive an Approval Letter confirming the allocation of funds and breakdown of the amount for Mental Health, EBS, Substance Abuse, 80/20, 100%, and Special Economic Assistance. Core Plans are due, fully complete with all signatures, by August 28, 2025. Please submit drafts for feedback prior to that date.
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- A county can amend a Core Services Plan anytime throughout the year, provided the change enforces the intention to prevent or minimize out-of-home placement, to reunite children with their families, and/or to achieve permanency. The amendment to the plan needs to enhance service delivery to meet the changes in local conditions. A Core Services Plan amendment request must be submitted in writing to the Core Services Administrator at CDHS prior to implementing the change. If the addition is a County-Designed Service, you will be asked to submit a Core Services Plan Amendment - County Designed Service (Google Doc) for each addition. In the meantime, please let us know if you have any questions.
- The 25-26 Core Allocations have been approved! On June 2nd, the Child Welfare Allocation Committee (CWAC) reviewed the SFY 25-26 Core Allocation (PDF) for the State. The CWAC voted for the old model, with a 0% reduction limiter. There was a slight increase in the overall allocation because they added additional IV-E in but there was no additional general fund added. There is interest in updating the methodology for the allocation of Core Services and this will be a point of discussion for CWAC this year.
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- The next Core Office Hours are below. Please feel free to attend!
Topics discussed include Core contracts, EBS, and Core 101.
Program Area 3 (PA3) News
- The County Prevention Neighbor Meeting was held on June 17th. This hybrid gathering is a county-founded meeting that centers on sharing information, practice methods, and events surrounding prevention and prevention services. If you would like more information or an invite to the next meeting, please contact Yerson Padilla (yerson.padilla@state.co.us).
- The second gathering of the PA3 group took place on May 19. Those present advocated for the development of a master PA3 / Prevention graphic detailing which counties use PA3, what prevention looks like in each county, and who the contact person is at each location. At the next meeting, scheduled for July 19, the group wants to dive into consistent use of closure reasons for PA3. If you would like to attend, please let Amy Sciangula (amy.sciangula@state.co.us) know.
Memo Spotlight
- Memo number: OM-CW-2025-0014 (PDF) - Information regarding referrals to Griffith Center QRTP beds contracted with CDHS
- Memo number: OM-CW-2025-0015 (PDF) - Detention Stepdown - Brad’s House
County Space
Email Amy Sciangula or Yerson Padilla your news, ideas, or questions for the September edition.
County Question: If a Core provider utilizes several different types of Evidence-Based Services (EBS) in their practice, for example, they may use child centered play in addition to motivational interviewing in the same session, are we expected to enter both of those things as a service detail in the contract? If so, how would we then be expected to enter that as a service authorization under a client in Trails legacy?
Answer: In that situation, since MI is still being explored in terms of how we can claim it, you would just use the play therapy as the service type. MI is one of the EBS that has been added to service type as we explore how to meet the parameters the government has established on how we claim and ensure fidelity to a model being used. If you have a provider that mixes a bunch of different modalities together (e.g., CBT, child centered play therapy, and something else) you would ask if they use any of those techniques to fidelity. Cherry picking a few techniques within a modality typically isn't fidelity, either you provide EMDR or you don't.
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Resources/Information
- For those in the Denver Metro, there will be a resource fair on June 27th, 2025 from 11am - 1pm at the Lindsey-Flanigan Courthouse.
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Denver Pride Fest The Colorado Department of Human Services is sponsoring a foster care recruitment booth at Denver PrideFest on Saturday, June 28 and Sunday, June 29, 2025 in Civic Center Park. Denver PrideFest features a two-day festival at Denver’s Civic Center Park that draws visitors from throughout the state of Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region. PrideFest in Denver is not only a celebration, but it is also a fundraiser for The Center on Colfax, which provides services to the community. Stop by to say hello!
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- Domestic Violence Program Annual Report - Domestic Violence Program is excited to share the FFY24 Annual Report. The annual report shares highlights about DVP projects, acknowledges their deep gratitude for partnerships around the state and summarizes data about services provided by DVP-funded organizations.
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FAQ Document for Transition to BHASOs for FFPSA Assessments (PDF) - To ensure minimal disruption to the Family First IA process, Signal Behavioral Health Network and Rocky Mountain Health Plans have agreed to start facilitating Family First IA requests for their new BHASO regions before the BHASOs formally launched. Click on the link to learn more.
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Accountable Care Collaborative Member Messaging Resource Center - With changes to the Regional Accountable Entities, families you work with may have questions about their Medicaid benefits. Use this guide in helping families navigate this transition.
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You’re Invited: BHA Hosts Community Resource Fair and Community Conversations - BHA is traveling around Colorado to meet with community members and local businesses to share BHA’s progress toward building a robust and reliable behavioral health system across Colorado in urban, rural, and resort-rural communities.
Training Opportunities
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Recruitment, Grooming and Exploitation Webinar - Join the Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking and their panel of speakers for a powerful webinar on grooming and exploitation through social media. This discussion will explore how traffickers use online platforms to target individuals, leading to labor and sex trafficking in rural and urban Colorado communities. The session will cover key indicators, prevention strategies, and real survivor stories from Colorado. Attendees will also have the opportunity to engage in a facilitated Q&A session.
- Tuesday June 24th, 12:00pm - 2:00pm
- The end of the fiscal year is fast approaching (June 30). Here are five easy tips for getting over the finish line.
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JeffCo Human Trafficking Summit (PDF) - FREE!
The Jeffco Connections Human Trafficking Subcommittee is proud to host the 2025 Human Trafficking Summit on July 23–24, 2025, at Mission Hills Church. Thanks to the generous support of donors and grantors in previous years, we’ve been able to offer this powerful and educational event completely free to attendees—empowering professionals, advocates, and community members with the knowledge and tools to combat human trafficking.
Funding Opportunities
Employment Opportunities
As Seen Around Colorado
Following the Core 101 Training in Meeker, Colorado, our team stopped to see the falls at Rifle Falls State Park. Located in Garfield County near Rifle, Colorado this state park offers a stunning loop trail that encircles the 70-foot waterfall, offering a beautiful 360 view of the greenery and water. If you don’t mind small, dark spaces, be sure to check out the different caves tucked in the rock surrounding the falls. |
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The drastic drop in temperature inside the caves may be your motivation as the summer heat has finally arrived. Common animals spotted along the trails include mule deer, elk, coyote, rainbow and brown trout! If you added the Colorado Park Pass to your automobile registration, there is no cost to enter the park - if not, it’s $10 per vehicle. |
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