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Connections Newsletter: Connecting the People Who Help People
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CDHS Organizational Structure Update
Executive Director Michelle Barnes shared an update to CDHS's organizational structure on Thursday. Read the full email. Key changes are below.
24/7 Staff: Greater SET Representation, Simpler Reporting Structure
- To better meet the needs of direct-care staff and make sure their voices are heard in decision making, the Senior Executive Team (SET) has two new members representing 24/7 facilities.
- New SET members and roles: Leora Joseph is now the Senior Director of Civil and Forensic Mental Health, and Erin Wester is the Senior Director of Residential and Reintegration Services. Their Office Director roles will not be backfilled.
- All 24/7 facilities will be grouped under these new SET members.
Division Shifts
- The Division of Youth Services will move from the Office of Children, Youth and Families (OCYF) to Residential and Reintegration Services, effective Dec. 1.
- Effective Jan. 1:
- The Division of Aging and Adult Protective Services will move from the Office of Adult, Aging and Disability Services to OCYF, which will be renamed to reflect its expanded services.
- Disability Determination Services will move to the Office of Economic Security.
- The Colorado Division for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind, as well as the Colorado Developmental Disabilities Council and Family Voice Council, will move to Community Partnerships.
- There will be no changes to division leadership.
View an illustration of these structural shifts (PDF).
These are major changes, and challenges come with any big shift. If you have questions or concerns, talk with your direct leadership. Thank you for everything you do to empower Coloradans to thrive.
Thanksgiving and Governor's Holidays
 Nov. 27 is the State holiday celebrating Thanksgiving. Gov. Polis has also declared Nov. 28 a Governor's holiday to reward State employees for their efforts to serve Coloradans.
If you are planning to take Nov. 27 and/or 28 off, submit a holiday leave request in Kronos. Do not fill out your timecard as you would for a normal workday if you are taking off the holiday. View instructions for requesting these days off in this email.
Many thanks to our staff members who will be providing critical services during the holidays. Your efforts help make this time special for the patients, youth, veterans and individuals in our 24/7 facilities. We wish all CDHS employees a wonderful holiday full of the things that make you grateful.
Using Comedy and Cartoons to Connect Family Caregivers to Resources
November is National Family Caregivers Month, a time to build awareness of the contributions and sacrifices that millions of Americans make to provide care and medical assistance to parents, children, siblings and other loved ones. In Colorado alone, roughly 1,032,000 people provide care to a family member or friend with complex medical conditions or disabilities, according to the American Association of Retired Persons and the National Alliance for Caregiving.
In April, team members from CDHS, the Colorado Respite Coalition and the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Finance started working on a caregiving campaign to make Colorado family caregivers aware of available resources. With feedback from caregivers throughout the state, the campaign used a new approach: comedy and cartoons. The team collaborated with award-winning local artist Drew Litton, who created a series of cartoons (Google Drive), in English and Spanish, to show the everyday experiences caregivers face.
Resources and Support
“With this campaign, our hope is that caregivers across Colorado will see themselves in the cartoons and learn that there are many resources out there for them,” said Amy Harris, J.D., caregiving, dementia and senior employment specialist at the State Unit on Aging. “Caregiving is tough — we get it and we can help!”
View a list of curated low-cost or free resources available statewide to family members caring for older adults, adults with disabilities and kids with disabilities on the Colorado Respite Coalition website.
Check out the full collection of cartoons (Google Drive).
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CDHS Helps Japanese Child Welfare System Move to Smaller, Family-Focused Care
 Joe Homlar and Nate Bustamante recently participated in a conference in Japan. Check out some of the highlights!
Joe Homlar, director of the Division of Child Welfare for the Office of Children, Youth and Families, and Nate Bustamante, a member of CDHS’s Child Welfare Family Advisory Council who has lived experience, recently participated on a panel at the Japanese Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect's 31st National Conference. The Nippon Foundation funded the trip.
Joe and Nate shared Colorado's experiences, lessons and best practices in child welfare. They also learned about Japan's system, which is moving from large residential institutions to smaller, family-like care and preventative approaches. We are confident Joe and Nate represented our state well and showed why Colorado is an internationally recognized leader in innovative, supportive child welfare services.
Check out their journey on CO4Kids' Instagram stories or in these videos (Google Drive).
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Stay Healthy This Winter
As we head into the holiday season, protect yourself and others from respiratory viruses, including flu, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)!
2025-26 Colorado flu vaccine recommendations
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Children
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Pregnancy
- All who are pregnant, planning pregnancy, postpartum or lactating
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All adults, especially those at higher risk of serious complications, including those who:
- Are aged 65 years and older;
- Have certain chronic medical conditions like asthma, diabetes and heart disease;
- Are pregnant; or
- Are younger than 5 years old.
Get vaccine recommendations for COVID-19 and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) on the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment website.
Recommended vaccines and immunizations can reduce the risk of serious illness, including hospitalization and death. The sooner you get them, the sooner you will be protected! Find a vaccine provider near you, including low-cost and free vaccines.
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Learning to create digitally accessible materials — including documents, emails, reports, presentations and websites— that everyone can use is a process.
We are here to help!
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People can support Native American communities by gaining deeper knowledge of Tribal sovereignty and also of treaties. The essence of Tribal sovereignty is the ability to govern, protect and enhance the health, safety and welfare of Tribal citizens within Tribal territory. It ensures that any decisions about the Tribes with regard to property and citizens are made with their participation and consent. This week consider ways you can practice allyship:
- Contact US government leadership to raise awareness on key issues.
- Educate yourself or others on Native histories, traditions or cultures.
- Lend your support to an organization that represents Tribes at the local, state or national level.
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Co-worker Kudos
Jason Madrano, Clinical Informatics Team Manager, Business Innovation, Technology and Security
Thank you to Jason for his hard work and knowledge in helping us navigate the technical complexities of the coding world. We appreciate you!
—Office of Children, Youth and Families Medical Team
Connections Canvas: Poll Results and a New Poll
Thanks to everyone who participated in our last poll! When it comes to your favorite social media platform, Instagram is your top pick. Facebook was a close second, with TikTok and none tying for third.
What's your favorite social media site?
New: What are you most thankful for this year?
Use the Connections Canvas Poll Form (Google Form) to share what you're most thankful for this year:
- Family and friends
- Good health and well-being
- Job that contributes to Coloradans
- Supportive co-workers
- Home and basic comforts
- Daily pleasures (music, laughter, nature, etc.)
- Other
"I have three little boys (4 years old, 1 year old and 3 months old), but Caliber is my firstborn.  Got Caliber when he was 6 weeks old, and he’s going to be 11 in June. He’s the absolute love of my life!" says Talia Moore, Office of Civil and Forensic Mental Health.
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Office of Adult, Aging and Disability Services
Fredrick Ezeani, Amber Hall, Shanda Smith, John Snider
Office of Children, Youth and Families
Aysha Buckley-Hawkins, Madisyn Johnson, Jean Manirambona, Christina Martinez
Office of Civil and Forensic Mental Health
Natasha Cornish, Susan Laverty, Miriam Monserrate, Luz Margarita Nunez Madrigal
Office of Economic Security
Christine Bauer, Zachery Porter
Operations and Strategy
Patrick Campbell, Rachana Muskula
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