The Colorado Works Program is designed to support the following federal and state purposes as specified in statute at Section 26-2-705, C.R.S:

• Assist participants to terminate their dependence on government benefits by promoting job preparation, work, and marriage;
• Provide assistance to needy families so that children may be cared for in their homes or in the homes of family members;
• Prevent and reduce the incidence of out-of-wedlock pregnancies and to establish annual numerical goals for preventing and reducing the incidences of these pregnancies;
• Encourage the formation and maintenance of two-parent families;
• Develop strategies and policies that focus on ensuring that participants are in work activities as soon as possible so that the state is able to meet or exceed work participation rates specified in the federal law; and
• Allow the counties increased responsibility for the administration of the works program.