C.R.S. Section 19-1-102
Legislative declaration

(1)

The general assembly declares that the purposes of this title are:

(a)

To secure for each child subject to these provisions such care and guidance, preferably in his own home, as will best serve his welfare and the interests of society;

(b)

To preserve and strengthen family ties whenever possible, including improvement of home environment;

(c)

To remove a child from the custody of his parents only when his welfare and safety or the protection of the public would otherwise be endangered and, in either instance, for the courts to proceed with all possible speed to a legal determination that will serve the best interests of the child; and

(d)

To secure for any child removed from the custody of his parents the necessary care, guidance, and discipline to assist him in becoming a responsible and productive member of society.

(1.5)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

The general assembly declares that it is in the best interests of the child who has been removed from his own home to have the following guarantees:

(I)

To be placed in a secure and stable environment;

(II)

To not be indiscriminately moved from foster home to foster home; and

(III)

To have assurance of long-term permanency planning.
(b)(Deleted by amendment, L. 92, p. 220, § 1, effective July 1, 1992.)(1.6) The general assembly recognizes the numerous studies establishing that children undergo a critical bonding and attachment process prior to the time they reach six years of age. Such studies further disclose that a child who has not bonded with a primary adult during this critical stage will suffer significant emotional damage which frequently leads to chronic psychological problems and antisocial behavior when the child reaches adolescence and adulthood. Accordingly, the general assembly finds and declares that it is appropriate to provide for an expedited placement procedure to ensure that children under the age of six years who have been removed from their homes are placed in permanent homes as expeditiously as possible.

(1.7)

The general assembly further declares that it is the intent of the general assembly to have the media and the courts refrain from causing undue hardship, discomfort, and distress to any juvenile victims of sexual assault, child abuse, incest, or any offenses listed in wrongs to children pursuant to part 4 of article 6 of title 18, C.R.S., by not disseminating or publishing the names of such victims.

(1.9)

The federal “Family First Prevention Services Act” was enacted on February 9, 2018. In order to comply with the provisions of the federal “Family First Prevention Services Act”, the general assembly finds that it is necessary to update current statutes to enable Colorado to provide enhanced support to children, juveniles, or youth, and their families in order to prevent foster care placements. The state department of human services shall implement the updated provisions in this title 19 utilizing prevention services and qualified residential treatment programs when the federal government approves Colorado’s five-year Title IV-E prevention plan, and subject to available general fund appropriations or federal funding.

(2)

To carry out these purposes, the provisions of this title shall be liberally construed to serve the welfare of children and the best interests of society.

Source: Section 19-1-102 — Legislative declaration, https://leg.­colorado.­gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2023-title-19.­pdf (accessed Oct. 20, 2023).

19‑1‑101
Short title 19‑1‑102
Legislative declaration 19‑1‑103
Definitions 19‑1‑104
Jurisdiction 19‑1‑105
Right to counsel and jury trial 19‑1‑106
Hearings - procedure - record 19‑1‑107
Social study and other reports 19‑1‑108
Magistrates - qualifications - duties 19‑1‑109
Appeals - child welfare appeals workgroup - created - reports 19‑1‑110
Previous orders and decrees - force and effect 19‑1‑111
Appointment of guardian ad litem 19‑1‑111.5
Court-appointed special advocate 19‑1‑112
Search warrants for the protection of children 19‑1‑113
Emergency protection orders 19‑1‑114
Order of protection 19‑1‑115
Legal custody - guardianship - placement out of the home - petition for review for need of placement 19‑1‑115.3
Missing children and youth from out-of-home placement - required reporting to law enforcement 19‑1‑115.5
Placement of children out of home - legislative declaration 19‑1‑115.7
Foster care prevention services - provision of services - rights and remedies - exchange of information 19‑1‑116
Funding - alternatives to placement out of the home - services to prevent continued involvement in child welfare system 19‑1‑117.7
Requests for placement - legal custody by grandparents 19‑1‑123
Expedited procedures for permanent placement - children under the age of six years - designated counties 19‑1‑124
Providers of children’s services using federal or state moneys - use of state accounting standards 19‑1‑125
Family stabilization services 19‑1‑126
Compliance with the federal “Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978” 19‑1‑127
Responsibility for placement and care 19‑1‑129
Department - research authorized - prenatal substance exposure - newborn and family outcomes - report 19‑1‑130
Access to services related to out-of-home placement - definitions 19‑1‑131
Children of parents who are incarcerated - rules 19‑1‑201
Legislative intent 19‑1‑202
Creation of CASA programs 19‑1‑203
Program director 19‑1‑204
Training requirements 19‑1‑205
Selection of CASA volunteers 19‑1‑206
Appointment of CASA volunteers 19‑1‑207
Restrictions 19‑1‑208
Duties of CASA volunteer 19‑1‑209
Role and responsibilities of guardians ad litem - other parties 19‑1‑210
Access to information 19‑1‑211
Confidentiality 19‑1‑212
Liability 19‑1‑213
State CASA entity - duties - state court administrator duties - state court-appointed special advocate fund - definitions 19‑1‑301
Short title 19‑1‑302
Legislative declaration 19‑1‑303
General provisions - delinquency and dependency and neglect cases - exchange of information - civil penalty - rules - definitions 19‑1‑304
Juvenile delinquency records - division of youth services critical incident information - definitions 19‑1‑305
Operation of juvenile facilities 19‑1‑306
Expungement of juvenile delinquent records - definition 19‑1‑307
Dependency and neglect records and information - access - fee - records and reports fund - misuse of information - penalty - adult protective services data system check - rules 19‑1‑308
Parentage information 19‑1‑309
Relinquishments and adoption information 19‑1‑309.3
Exchange of information for child support purposes - process 19‑1‑309.5
Adoptive family resource registry
Green check means up to date. Up to date

Current through Fall 2024

§ 19-1-102’s source at colorado​.gov