After a session that put hundreds of millions of dollars into mental health programs, some Colorado lawmakers surged to the front of the class, while others need remedial guidance, according to the state s chief advocacy organization.
Mental Health Colorado celebrated scoring about $132 million for new programs in the legislative session that ended last month.
Based on their votes on bills backed Mental Health Colorado, 39 House and 18 Senate Democrats scored 100.
Sen. Kevin Priola of Henderson was the only Republican in either chamber to get a perfect score.
Only two lawmakers â Reps. Dave Williams of Colorado Springs and Stephanie Luck of Penrose â scored a zero on the five bills.
Older foster youth could return to system for expanded services under new law
Older foster youth will now have an opportunity to re-enter the system to recieve much-needed services such as health care, housing, and job assistance.
and last updated 2021-06-29 07:10:14-04
COLORADO SPRINGS â Older foster youth who leave the system will now have more support and resources after Governor Polis signed a bill into law that aims to support foster youth in transition to adulthood.
HB21-1094 also known as the Foster Youth In Transition Program allows foster youth who meet eligibility criteria to continue receiving certain child welfare services. Returning to foster care would mean access to Medicaid, housing, case management, employment, education, acquisition of driverâs licenses and identification documents, and more.
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Colorado legislators advocate for a foster care transition program Eli Kirshbaum | Mar 16, 2021
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After seeing the lack of support children often encounter after leaving foster care, Reps. Lindsey Daugherty and Tonya Van Beber are sponsoring HB 21-1094 to create a Foster Youth in Transition Program in Colorado. This program will allow individuals age 18 to 21 who have left foster care to return to foster care if they need continued support.
Daugherty spoke in favor of her bill at Tuesday’s House Public and Behavioral Health and Human Services meeting:
“We have too many young people leaving foster care without the skills and social support networks they need to meet their basic needs. An inability to meet basic needs creates a domino effect of problems: food and housing insecurity, crime, cycle of poverty, unhealthy risk-taking, unplanned pregnancy and a lack of advancement in education or employment.”