By Jordan Steffen
The tools used to help assess the initial needs of a family, the immediate safety of children and in, some cases, whether a child should be removed or returned to their home are not being applied consistently in Colorado, according to an independent audit released today.
Colorado’s Family Safety Assessment tool and Family Risk Assessment tool are designed to support child welfare caseworkers in making consistent, informed decisions to protect child safety, assess risk, and guide service planning for children and families. These assessments also inform how information is communicated to, understood by, and relied upon by other system actors, including legal professionals, as they make decisions that have profound and lasting impacts on families’ lives.
On March 2, 2026, the Office of the Colorado Child Protection Ombudsman (CPO), released a third-party, independent audit of Colorado’s Family Safety and Risk Assessment tools. This audit was completed in accordance with House Bill 24-1046, which required the CPO to contract with a third-party reviewer to audit the tools based on nine criteria provided in the bill. The CPO selected ICF Incorporated (ICF) to conduct the audit.
Read the full audit by clicking here.
HB 24-1046 originated from the Colorado Child Welfare System Interim Study Committee which convened during the summer of 2023. During the interim committee, the CPO presented concerns about the use of the tools including, failures to communicate the tools’ findings to families and professionals and inconsistent understanding of how to use the tools.
ICF’s year-long audit focused on system-level training, processes and conditions across Colorado. It is not an evaluation of individual caseworkers, supervisors or counties, nor is it intended to assess the appropriateness of decisions in individual cases. ICF conducted a multi-method, holistic audit of the tools. Applying findings from each method, the audit presents several key findings regarding how the tools are administered in Colorado. Key findings include:
- A lack of clarity surrounding key components of the tools allow for the introduction of bias and prevent the tools from fully supporting complex family situations, situations involving domestic violence and/or intimate partner violence or address cultural considerations.
- The tools are not implemented consistently across the state.
- The tools and practices surrounding the tools lack cultural responsiveness and contribute to inequitable outcomes for families, particularly for families of color, tribal communities and marginalized populations.
- Results of the tools are inconsistently shared with families and legal professionals involved in the families’ cases.
- While training on use of the tool is delivered, it does not effectively translate into practice.
- Inconsistent documentation in use of the tools weakens their reliability and leads to uneven decisions and reduced family trust.
ICF issued 50 recommendations to address the issues identified in the audit.
The CPO is hosting four information sessions during the month of March, during which ICF will review the purpose and scope of the audit, summarize the evaluation approach and answer high-level questions about the report.
About the Office of the Colorado Child Protection Ombudsman
The Office of the Colorado Child Protection Ombudsman (CPO) is an independent government agency that ensures the state’s child protection systems consistently, fairly and equitably deliver services to every child, youth and family. The CPO offers free, confidential and neutral services to ensure the highest attainable standards of care and works with people, government agencies and other stakeholders to resolve issues and disputes. More information can be found at: https://coloradocpo.org
Jordan Steffen, J.D. is Deputy Ombudsman, Office of the Colorado Child Protection Ombudsman