DENVER (Sept. 23, 2026) — The Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) and Colorado Workers for Innovative and New Solutions (COWINS) officially finalized a new side agreement on Sept. 16, 2026, during a signing ceremony held at the Fort Logan Mental Health Hospital. This milestone concluded four months of collective bargaining, creating a framework to improve staff retention, scheduling predictability and staffing shortages across CDHS divisions.
The finalized agreement represents a proactive shift in labor-management relations, aiming to stabilize the agency’s workforce by reducing administrative redundancies and creating clearer, more sustainable career paths for staff. By clarifying overtime usage and modernizing internal transfer processes, the agreement addresses the operational challenges that have historically impacted retention within the department.
“This side agreement is a reflection of the power of collaborative partnership, and coming together to address our shared opportunities,” CDHS Executive Director Michelle Barnes said. “We didn’t just sit at a table to negotiate. We listened to our CDHS staff. This agreement goes beyond administrative policy. It’s also about committing to the ‘whole employee’ by providing the predictability, consistency and professional support necessary to ensure that public service remains a sustainable and rewarding career for staff.”
The agreement establishes a new foundation for collaboration at the division level, ensuring that frontline staff have a direct voice in identifying and solving operational challenges.
“Our CDHS members have been asking for clearer work rules and a seat at the table to solve staffing shortages,” COWINS Executive Director Hilary Glasgow said. “This agreement delivers on those needs, providing real, worker-driven solutions that make CDHS a better place to work. It ensures that the people who serve Colorado every day are supported by policies that respect their time, their expertise and their well-being.”
CDHS and COWINS are not only stabilizing today’s workforce but also establishing a sustainable precedent for professional support, transparent communication and enduring partnership in public service.
The Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) works with partners to empower Coloradans to thrive. CDHS oversees the state’s 64 county departments of human services, public mental health institutions, and various programs designed to support the safety and well-being of Colorado’s most vulnerable populations.
Media contact:
Julie Popp
Colorado Department of Human Services