We at Illuminate Colorado are grateful to our partners for their collaboration, leadership, and dedication to advocating for legislation that strengthens families and prevents child maltreatment.

Highlights from the 2023 session included:

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• Colorado banned use of corporal punishment in licensed child care settings, public schools, and group facilities. As one of Prevent Child Abuse America’s 2023 state policy priorities, eliminating the use of corporal punishment in schools, such as spanking and paddling, is an important step to shifting culture surrounding discipline and promoting positive responses and discipline strategies for children. HB23-1191 seeks to promote healthy child development and positive, evidence-based discipline approaches by eliminating use of corporal punishment in child care settings, public schools, and group facilities.

• Legislators in Colorado focused on building sustainable funding and increasing access to vital healthcare for youth, pregnant people, and new parents who receive Medicaid through SB23-002, SB23-174, SB23-288, and HB23-1300. These bills will increase access to community health services, doulas during pregnancy and postpartum periods, and youth behavioral health services without a diagnosis, and will establish continuous eligibility for children ages 0-3. These bills aim to utilize evidence-based measures to reduce gaps in care and increase equity in the healthcare system for underserved communities that experience increased health risks due to social determinants of health, including racism and poverty.

• Several bills sought to increase economic supports for families through Colorado’s tax code, including HB23-1006, HB23-1112, and HB23-1311. These bills will result in additional income for low-income families through increased awareness of vital tax credits, increased access to larger amounts in tax credits, and a ballot measure that, if passed, would result in a flat TABOR rebate for all Coloradans who file taxes.

• Legislators also addressed concerns within the child welfare system, and passed several bills that clarify and enhance processes to increase kin placement and reduce family separation. HB23-1024 and HB23-1043 are two bills that will increase relative and kin involvement when a child is removed from home. In response to concerns that the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) may be overturned later this year by the U.S. Supreme Court in a judgment on Haaland v. Brackeen, legislators developed SB23-211, which further implements ICWA and its related federal regulations into Colorado statute, in partnership with the Southern Ute Indian Tribe.

In doing so, these bills aim to increase participation of tenants in these processes and create additional opportunities for families to remain housed.

• In addition to addressing child welfare through legislation, the Legislative Council approved a request to form the Child Welfare System Interim Study Committee. The committee is tasked with studying various topics, including prevention services, intervention services, system processes, social determinants of child welfare system involvement, and more. The committee will consist of 11 members of the legislature and may introduce 5 bills in the 2024 legislative session to address issues studied. We at Illuminate Colorado were grateful to be included in the list of agencies that may provide assistance and information to the Committee and are excited to lend our expertise to this process.

What’s next?

• Advocate for family strengthening and policies that build protective factors to prevent child maltreatment through policy implementation activities.
• Provide support and expertise to the newly formed Child Welfare System Interim Study Committee.
• Provide support and expertise to the Opioid and Other Substance Use Disorders Study Committee.
• Continue to identify family strengthening policy needs and challenges through the coalitions Illuminate convenes. Join us! 
• Advocate for federal legislation that promotes and invests in programs that strengthen families, including advocating for the reintroduction and advancement of the FASD Respect Act.
• Advocate for ballot measures that strengthen families, including Proposition EE resulting from HB23-1290, which would retain funding for Universal Pre-K.
• Advocate for legislation that did not pass this legislative session, including policy that promotes economic security and substance free spaces.
• Continue to collaborate with our partners in prevention and the Colorado General Assembly to advocate for future state legislation that promotes Illuminate Colorado’s policy priorities and mission to strengthen families, organizations and communities to prevent child maltreatment.

Visit the full 2023 Legislative Session Recap to learn more about all the bills impacting family well-being that passed this session and what is next for Illuminate’s policy work.

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Two of Illuminate’s priority bills have already been signed by Governor Polis.

HB23-1006 will require employers to notify employees of the availability of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC) to increase awareness of these crucial economic supports. In addition, Illuminate was invited to witness the Governor’s signing of HB23-1191, which prohibits corporal punishment in public schools, licensed child care settings, and group facilities.

Left to right: Illuminate Deputy Director Jillian Fabricius, Representative Regina English, and Illuminate Policy Manager Lex Loutzenhiser.

Many bills that Illuminate supports have passed the House and Senate and are awaiting the Governor’s signature.

HB23-1187 would expand access to alternative sentencing options for pregnant and postpartum people, increasing access to medical and behavioral healthcare and reducing family separation. 

SB23-002 would enable Colorado Medicaid to reimburse community health workers services, which are integral to enhancing equity and access to healthcare. 

SB23-211 would adopt the Indian Child Welfare Act and related federal regulations into Colorado state law, strengthening tribal engagement in the child welfare system when indigenous children are removed from their home due to abuse or neglect.

HB23-1091 would continue the Child Care Contribution Tax Credit, which incentivizes individual investment in early childhood care and education.

HB23-1300 would require Colorado to seek federal approval to offer continuous eligibility for Colorado children ages 0-3 without annual redeterminations if they are initially eligible for Medicaid, reducing administrative burdens and gaps in coverage for young children.

We’re still watching several bills that are scheduled or waiting to be scheduled in committees or on the floor this week.

HB23-1112 would increase the amount families can receive through the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC), enhancing families’ financial wellbeing. 

HB23-1120 would require landlords to engage in mandatory mediation before filing an eviction against a tenant who receives cash assistance, including Colorado Works (TANF) program participants, increasing equitability and accessibility in eviction processes for low-income families.

SB23-288 would strengthen the process for Colorado to begin reimbursing doula services through Medicaid to expand access to these supportive and culturally responsive services for pregnant people and postpartum parents.

Use the Illuminate Colorado Bill Tracker to stay up to date on the progression of bills that we are tracking through May 9th, the final day of Colorado’s legislative session.

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SNAP and Food Assistance Strengthens Families

In Colorado, 1 in 11 residents receive SNAP benefits and 64% of those receiving SNAP are families with children.¹ SNAP and other programs that provide cash benefits and groceries strengthen families by serving as concrete supports in times of need, a research-informed protective factor in preventing child maltreatment.² Continuous food insecurity can result in chronic stress for parents, caregivers, and their children. Children experiencing food insecurity encounter impacts on psychosocial development, behavior, and school outcomes. In addition, food insecurity impacts parental wellbeing by increasing rates of stress, anxiety, and depression.³

When families have access to concrete food and nutrition support, the whole family experiences better emotional and physical wellbeing. Many communities and changemakers are considering avenues to enhance food security for families who are impacted by the expiration of SNAP COVID-19 emergency allotments.

Expanding Access to Food and Nutrition Support through SB23-027

SB23-027 would strengthen families, organizations, and communities by ensuring food pantries have the financial resources needed to provide families with concrete food and nutrition support, reducing chronic stress, enhancing family wellbeing, and preventing child maltreatment. This bill passed through the Senate Committee on Health & Human Services and is waiting to be heard in Appropriations. As this bill moves to the House, Illuminate Colorado will submit testimony to share why SB23-027 continues to build a foundation for strong families and communities.

Identifying Additional Strategies for Promoting Financial Wellbeing and Food Security

CPTF hosts a Family Financial Well-Being Work Group, which has been engaging in community conversations to learn from Colorado families about financial wellbeing, identify existing efforts that positively impact families, and identify future efforts to impact family financial wellbeing. Through this process of information gathering and planning, the Work Group will identify potential intersections of financial well-being and food security, and how additional state and local efforts can strengthen families. 

For more information on participating in the Colorado Partnership for Thriving Families Coalition and the Family Financial Well-being Work Group, contact Hattie Landry at hlandry@illuminatecolorado.org.

Get Food and Nutrition Resources

Has your family been affected by reduced SNAP allotments? Visit Hunger Free Colorado’s Food Finder page to get local resources!

Do you receive SNAP?

Login to your Colorado PEAK account to view your redetermination date and complete needed steps to avoid gaps in coverage.

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How are lawmakers addressing economic security this legislative session?

Legislators have introduced three bills that would enhance economic security, promote awareness of supportive tax credits, and ensure families have the concrete support they need during times of need.

• • • HB23-1112 Earned Income And Child Tax Credits – In Colorado, working families who are low and middle income can participate in earned income tax credits (EITC) and child tax credits (CTC). If passed, this bill would increase the amount families can receive through state tax credits and broaden the CTC’s definition of an eligible child to include children 17 and under, matching the age of eligibility for the federal credit. 

• • • HB23-1006 Employer Notice Of Income Tax Credits – Although many families are eligible for the EITC, only 76.1% of eligible families in Colorado participate and receive these tax credits. (1) If passed, this bill would require employers to notify employees annually of availability of the state and federal EITC and CTC.

• • • HB23-1078 Unemployment Compensation Dependent Allowance – When unemployed, Coloradans have the opportunity to claim unemployment insurance benefits to meet basic needs while seeking new employment opportunities. This bill would enable eligible Coloradans to collect an additional $35/week per child or adult dependent.

How does promoting economic security strengthen families, organizations and communities to prevent child maltreatment?

Economic supports promote protective factors that reduce instances of child maltreatment.

Investing in concrete support in times of need for families is one of five crucial research-informed protective factors for preventing child maltreatment. (2) Chronic stress spurring from financial hardship can result in toxic stress, increasing the risk of child maltreatment. Building concrete economic supports to enhance financial well-being can reduce stress and increase positive interactions. Research has shown states that increased the EITC, CTC, and unemployment benefits saw a reduction in substantiated reports of neglect and hospital admissions for injuries resulting from abuse. (3) 

Increasing the EITC and CTC promotes financial well-being, providing families with a tool to maintain a healthy environment.

When parents have access to economic support, they can build and maintain environments that promote healthy parent and child development. Families use the EITC and CTC to pay for everyday necessities, such as rent, mortgage, groceries, and to pay off debt. (4) In addition, families with school-aged children commonly use these credits to pay for school supplies, while families with children under 5 commonly use credits to pay for child care. Increasing the EITC, CTC, and unemployment benefits promotes healthy parent and child development by providing families with tools to build and maintain a healthy environment.

How can I get involved?

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In 2023 and 2024, Illuminate will be focusing our advocacy efforts on:

• Increasing economic support for all families to thrive, by: 
  • Promoting the coordination of prevention efforts.
  • Increasing prevention funding to optimize resources dedicated to primary prevention.
  • Delinking poverty from neglect. 

• Prioritizing and protecting funding for child sexual abuse prevention in Colorado.

• Optimizing resources dedicated to addressing substance use disorders in families.

• Establishing and connecting long-term funding pathways to sustain and scale Illuminate programs, including but not limited to Family Connects Colorado and Healthy Families America.

What are the five protective factors?

• • • • Parental Resilience
      • Social Connections
      • Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development
      • Concrete Support in Times of Need
      • Social and Emotional Competence of Children

Investing in programs and policies that support families to overcome and bounce back from life’s challenges enables children to achieve their potential.

These kinds of programs help Coloradans to raise children to be good neighbors and productive community members. It is essential for elected officials and policy makers to understand how to prevent child maltreatment and to listen to parents in every community.

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