Colorado § 26.5-3-103 - Program created.

§ 26.5-3-103. Program created.

(1) (a) There is established in the department a family resource center program. The purposes of the program are to provide grants to community applicants for the creation of family resource centers or to provide grants to family resource centers for the continued operation of the centers through which services for vulnerable families, individuals, children, and youth who live in communities or in at-risk neighborhoods are accessible and coordinated through a single point of entry.

(b) The department shall operate the family resource center program in accordance with the provisions of this part 1. In addition, the department may establish any other procedures necessary to implement the program, including establishing the procedure for submitting grant applications by community applicants seeking to establish a family resource center or by a family resource center applying for a grant for continued operation of a family resource center.

(c) (I) The family resource center program may receive direct appropriations from the state general fund.

(II) Any money family resource centers receive pursuant to the temporary assistance for needy families block grant or from the family issues cash fund created in section 26-5.3-106 must be from funds directly disbursed by a county at the discretion of the county.

(III) The department may seek, accept, and expend any grants from any public or private source for the purpose of making grants to community applicants for the establishment or continued operation of family resource centers and for the purpose of evaluating the effectiveness of the family resource center program. This part 1 does not prohibit a family resource center from seeking, accepting, and expending funds received through an authorized contract, grants, or donations from public or private sources.

(2) (a) Services that a family resource center provides must be coordinated, and services should reflect the needs of the community and the resources available to support such programs and services. Services may be delivered directly to a family at the center by center staff or by providers who contract with or have provider agreements with the center. Any family resource center that provides direct services shall comply with applicable state and federal laws and regulations regarding the delivery of such services, unless required waivers or exemptions have been granted by the appropriate governing body.

(b) Each family resource center shall provide case management by a family advocate who screens and assesses a family's needs and strengths. The family advocate shall then assist the family with setting its own goals and, together with the family, develop a written plan to pursue the family's goals in working toward a greater level of self-reliance or in attaining self-sufficiency. The plan must provide for the following:

(I) A negotiated agreement that includes reciprocal responsibilities of the individual or family members and the personnel of each human service agency providing services to the family;

(II) A commitment of resources as available and necessary to meet the family's plan;

(III) The delivery of applicable services to the individual or family, if feasible, or referral to an appropriate service provider;

(IV) The coordination of services;

(V) The monitoring of the progress of the family toward greater self-reliance or self-sufficiency and an evaluation of services provided; and

(VI) Assistance to the individual or family in applying for the children's basic health plan, medical assistance benefits, or other benefits.

(c) In addition to services required by subsection (2)(b) of this section, the family resource center may provide for the direct delivery of or referral to a provider of the following six services:

(I) Early childhood care and education, including programs that contribute to school readiness;

(II) Family support and parent education;

(III) Well-child checkups and basic health services;

(IV) Early intervention for identifying infants, toddlers, and preschoolers who are developmentally disabled in order to provide necessary services to such children;

(V) Before and after school care; and

(VI) Programs for children and youth.

(d) A family resource center may also provide services, including, but not limited to, the following:

(I) Additional educational programs, such as mentoring programs for students in elementary, junior, and senior high schools; adult education and family literacy programs; and educational programs that link families with local schools and alternative educational programs, including links with boards of cooperative services;

(II) Job skills training and self-sufficiency programs for adults and youth;

(III) Social, health, mental health, and child welfare services and housing, homeless, food and nutrition, domestic violence support, recreation, and substance abuse services;

(IV) Outreach, education, and support programs, including programs aimed at preventing teen pregnancies and school dropouts and programs providing parent support and advocacy; and

(V) Transportation services to obtain other services provided pursuant to this subsection (2).

Source: L. 2022: Entire article added with relocations, (HB 22-1295), ch. 123, p. 602, § 3, effective July 1. L. 2023: (1)(c)(III) amended, (HB 23-1235), ch. 434, p. 2543, § 3, effective June 7.

Editor's note: This section is similar to former § 26-18-104 as it existed prior to 2022.