Colorado’s WIC (Women, Infants and Children) program helps moms, babies, and young children access healthy foods and helpful resources on nutrition, breastfeeding, and health. The program is open to income-eligible families which can include pregnant women and women with children under 5 years old. Members of the program receive a WIC card which can be […]
Tag: human services
Time Machine Tuesday: The Colorado Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home
In 1889 the State of Colorado established a home for aging Civil War veterans and their wives at Monte Vista, Colorado. The home would care for “honorably discharged soldiers, sailors and marines who served in the Union Army between the twelfth day of April, 1861, and the ninth day of April, 1865, and those dependent […]
April is Stress Awareness Month
Perhaps appropriately, given the times we find ourselves in, the month of April is recognized as Stress Awareness Month. It’s actually not new — Stress Awareness Month has been commemorated each April since 1992. Work and school, finances, relationships, parenting, caregiving, concerns for safety, life changes, finding one’s purpose, and even the weather can be […]
Home Modifications for People with Disabilities and the Elderly
A recent addition to our library collection is the Colorado Division of Housing’s Home Modification Look Book. This publication provides helpful guidance on making accessibility modifications to the homes of people with disabilities and/or the elderly. Wheelchair ramps, stair lifts, and bathroom modifications such as grab bars and walk-in/roll-in tubs and showers are among the […]
Opioid Addiction Resources
The State of Colorado offers many resources to assist people who are struggling with opioid addiction and abuse. OpiRescue. This app, funded by the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS), provides a quick and easy way to connect with emergency services, recognize an overdose, find treatment, and more. Lift the Label. Also a project of […]
“A Walk Through the System” – A Resource for Victims
One of the most frequently accessed resources in our library collection is A Walk Through The System: A Guide for Victims and Survivors. This guidebook was put together by victims’ services staff at the Colorado Department of Corrections. Victims may understandably be anxious or curious about what will happen to the person who committed the […]
Colorado Shines – A Resource for Finding Early Childhood Programs
Children’s brains develop faster during their first five years than at any other times during their lifetimes. That’s why early learning is so important, whether it take place at home, at preschool, or in other types of early learning programs. Parents and families have many choices as to how your children learn and grow in […]
National Foster Care Month
The month of May has been designated National Foster Care Month, shining the spotlight on foster kids and their caregivers, as well as those who work and volunteer with foster children. “Each day in Colorado, approximately 12 children and teens enter foster care. There are currently 4,621 children and teens in an out-of-home placement such […]
Protecting Colorado’s At-Risk Adults
The Colorado Adult Protective Services (APS) Program is a state program that can intervene on behalf of at-risk adults “to correct or alleviate situations in which actual or imminent danger of abuse, caretaker neglect, or exploitation (termed ‘mistreatment’), or self-neglect exist.” Adults age 18 and over are considered “at-risk” if they are unable to care […]
Government Shutdown Resources
If you or a family member are affected by the recent government shutdown, the State of Colorado is stepping in to help. Furloughed workers are currently permitted to file for unemployment benefits. See Governor Polis’s press release for an overview, and visit the Colorado Department of Labor & Employment’s unemployment website for more details and […]
New Report on Youth Suicide Prevention
The Colorado Attorney General’s Office just released a new report, Community Conversations to Inform Youth Suicide Prevention: A Study of Youth Suicide in Four Colorado Counties, which is now available to view online from our library. The report examines the growing rates of youth suicide in El Paso, La Plata, Mesa, and Pueblo counties, which […]
Fort Lyon Supportive Residential Community
A recent news story discussed a new state audit report assessing the Fort Lyon residential facility – but the news report failed to actually link to the report. You can view the report here. The report provides a cost-benefit analysis of the facility and an assessment of success rates. Fort Lyon, in Bent County, served […]
Mindsource Brain Injury Network
If you’re looking for resources and information on brain injuries, the Colorado Department of Human Services has a new website that may be of help. The MINDSOURCE Brain Injury Network, mindsourcecolorado.org, is a site for Coloradans with brain injury and their families and caregivers. “MINDSOURCE manages the Colorado Traumatic Brain Injury Trust Fund, provides training […]
Video Resources from the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind
The Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind (CSDB) not only provides services to students enrolled at the school, but also provides “outreach programs [that] serve students, staff, and families in communities throughout Colorado.” One of the ways CSDB reaches out to the community is through the many video resources they offer. Some of […]
Job Hunting for People with Disabilities
Many Colorado businesses offer opportunities for persons with disabilities to become employed, a situation which can greatly enhance the person’s life. If you or someone you know is disabled and looking for employment in Colorado, be sure to view A Job-Hunting Guide for Colorado Citizens with Disabilities, produced by the Colorado Career Web of the […]
Mental Health and Crisis Services
The State of Colorado has many resources for those who are in crisis, and those who serve them. If you are a Coloradan experiencing a mental health, substance abuse, or emotional crisis, you can dial the 24-hour Colorado Crisis Services Hotline, 1-844-493-TALK(8255). The hotline provides immediate, confidential support from a licensed counselor or other mental […]
Adoption Resources
November has been declared National Adoption Month, to bring awareness to the thousands of children awaiting adoption, as well as to recognize and celebrate those families that have brought adopted children into their home. If you are considering becoming an adoptive parent, it can be difficult to know where and how to begin the process. […]
Child Care Provider Resources
If you are involved in child care in Colorado, there are many laws and regulations you must be aware of. Here in our library we have a number of publications that can help child care providers navigate the many safety and health requirements for child care facilities and operations. Child Care Assistance and Regulation in […]
Suicide in Colorado
Colorado’s suicide rate is climbing. Since 2009 the suicide death rate has increased each year. To put things in perspective, according to the Office of Suicide Prevention Annual Report 2014-15, the number of suicide deaths in 2014 exceeded the number of deaths from homicide (172), motor vehicle crash (486), breast cancer (553), influenza and pneumonia […]
Time Machine Tuesday: Colorado Industries for the Blind
During the 1950s the State of Colorado sponsored a program, run by a five-member board, that provided jobs for blind persons. Colorado Industries for the Blind, or C.I.B., was modeled after a federal program and supported by state sales taxes. It focused on four areas: manufacturing, vending stands, rehabilitation, and home industries. Employees on the […]