About Us

The Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) serves Colorado’s most vulnerable populations. Our commitment is being “people who help people.”

CDHS assists struggling Colorado families who need food, cash, and energy assistance; families in need of safe and affordable child care; children at risk of abuse or neglect; families who provide care for their adult children with developmental disabilities; youth who have violated the law; Coloradoans who need effective treatment for mental illness or substance abuse issues; and families who need resources to care for their elderly parents or nursing home care for their veteran parents. CDHS staff are committed to providing the right services to the right people in the right setting and at the right time.

CDHS does not do this work alone. The department partners with human/social services county departments. CDHS works with 20 Community Centered Boards in providing services to persons with developmental disabilities. CDHS partners with the state’s 17 mental health centers to ensure the provision of effective mental health treatment.

CDHS oversees the state’s 64 county departments of social/human services in their administration of public assistance and child welfare programs; the state’s public mental health system including the operation of the State’s two mental health institutes at Fort Logan and Pueblo, as well as licensing of mental health treatment programs; Colorado’s system for people with developmental disabilities, including the operation of the State’s three regional centers and the oversight of community centered boards; the state’s juvenile corrections system, including the operations of state facilities, the supervision of privately operated programs and all Senate Bill 94 programs; and the operation of all state veterans nursing homes. In addition, CDHS is the state agency designated for vocational rehabilitation programs and senior services.

For more information, please click on the How Do I button on the CDHS home page.