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Division of Community Programs
The Division of Community Programs (DCP) brings together the public-facing units of the Office of Children, Aging, and Community Services (OCACS) so they can share knowledge, learn from each other, and improve how they serve Coloradans. These units include the:
- Collaborative Management Program,
- Colorado Sexual Health Initiative,
- Cradle to Career Program,
- Domestic Violence Program,
- Juvenile Parole Board,
- MINDSOURCE Brain Injury Network and the
- Tony Grampsas Youth Services Program.
DCP builds and maintains robust relationships between OCACS and its partners. These partners include OCACS grantees, tribes, county departments of human and social services, and other organizations. Together, they work on community outreach, technical assistance, grant distribution, contracts and budgeting, board and commission recruitment, and bringing family and youth voices into the policymaking process.
DCP strives to implement, serve and nurture partnerships and family/youth engagement through our community-facing funding and programming.
Collaborative Management Program
Colorado’s commitment to improving social service delivery systems gave rise to the Collaborative Management Program, administered by the Division of Community Programs. Partners include public agencies such as county departments of human and social services, local judicial districts, health departments and school districts. DCP also works with community mental health centers, behavioral health organizations, parent and family advocacy groups.
Colorado Sexual Health Initiative
The Colorado Sexual Health Initiative is funded by a Personal Responsibility Education Program grant. CoSHI offers age-appropriate, medically accurate and evidence-based strategies proven to curb the risk of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. At the same time, CDHS funds other agencies to bring comprehensive sexual health education and programming to young people across Colorado. These agencies also offer training for trusted adults who want to feel more confident answering questions about sensitive topics.
Cradle to Career Program
The Colorado Cradle to Career Grant Program, a product of Senate Bill 26-080, provides funding to local communities to foster long-term economic mobility. This initiative aims to break the cycle of poverty by supporting children and youth at every stage of their young lives. Resources range from early childhood development and academic enrichment to workforce readiness and family stability.
Domestic Violence Program
Colorado's Domestic Violence Program awards about $3 million annually to community-based advocacy programs that work to prevent domestic violence and support survivors. DVP’s mission is to work with communities to promote the safety and well-being of survivors and prevent domestic violence through good stewardship of funding resources and the advancement of quality programming. The vision is to promote and sustain a culture free of domestic violence for all Coloradans.
Juvenile Parole Board
The Colorado Juvenile Parole Board promotes public safety by applying state law to decide when and how young people return to their communities, weighing the best interests of both the youth and their victims. The board includes nine members appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state Senate for a four-year term. The board has four representatives from agencies that include the Department of Education, Human Services, Labor and Employment, and Public Safety, and five public members not employed by the state.
MINDSOURCE Brain Injury Network
The MINDSOURCE Brain Injury Network strives to enhance the quality of life for everyone in Colorado living with, or affected by brain injury, and their communities and supports individuals with brain injury in three core ways:
- Free services available to anyone of any age in Colorado, with no income or insurance eligibility requirement;
- Grants for community projects about brain injury; and
- Grants for research projects about brain injury.
Tony Grampsas Youth Services Program
The Tony Grampsas Youth Services Program gives funding to local organizations that serve children, youth, and families. These organizations run programs that help prevent youth crime and violence, substance use, child abuse and neglect, and dropping out of school. TGYS receives funding from the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement, the State of Colorado General Fund and the Marijuana Tax Cash Fund.