Needing Access to Services in Colorado?
Colorado is an amazing state for Medicaid waiver-based services. They also offer other financial based family assistant programs and this can be so helpful for many families. However recently I have noticed a lot of my Medicaid clients have been having trouble accessing these services and they always need my help. I thought I would make a blog post on this just so anybody visiting my website could potentially access these resources themselves for their children are their families if they need them. This information is not a secret and I am so happy to share it.
So, let's start from the top. There are more than 3 community centered boards (CCBs) that can help you access this funding. However, my expertise lies with around 3 of these CCBs; Rocky Mountain Human Services, Developmental Pathways, and Developmental Disability Resource Center. These companies are able to help a variety of families and children with special needs and/or medical complexities. The service age is ranged from early intervention which is the age of 0 to 3 and all the way through adulthood. Sometimes I find after the age of 3 families report to me that their caseworker told them there was no services available after 3. This is just untrue. There are potential services available for children all the way through adulthood. You just have to know the right avenues and meet the qualifications. Each of these CCB's have caseworkers on staff to help you with a variety of needs. However, I have noticed recently that there is high turnover from social work burnout and families are having trouble getting ahold of these companies. My best advice for this is to continue to be the squeaky wheel to get your needs met. Make sure you do follow up calls as well as follow up emails until you get your needs met or until you get a response. Below I wanted to provide the information for each of these community center boards and which one you would fall under depending on which county you are in. There's also a phone number attached to each of those for their intake line.
Rocky Mountain Human Services - When you call make sure to say that you are looking for the intake line. You will also want to mention that you may not know everything that you qualify for but that you would really like to hear about all options. It is hard to figure out all the counties that this agency covers however I know they cover Denver County and City of Denver.
“The Contact Center is staffed from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday (except holidays). After hours, there is a voice message system to leave a request for a call back which will happen during the next day’s business hours.
If you need to contact someone at RMHS please call: Phone: 844-790-RMHS (7647). You can also connect with someone via email: SEPquestions@rmhumanservices.org”
Website: https://www.rmhumanservices.org/
Developmental Pathways - “Developmental Pathways is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency serving individuals with developmental disabilities/delays and their families. We are also one of Colorado’s Community Centered Boards (CCB) connecting people to federal, state, county, and private funding in Arapahoe County, Douglas County, Elbert County and the City of Aurora.
Business Hours for Case Management
Monday-Thursday | 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM (MST)
Main Line
303.360.6600
Intake Contact Info
303.858.2260
Email Intake
To ensure a staff member is able to assist you, please contact the Intake Team to schedule an appointment. We may not be able to accommodate visitors.”
Website: https://www.dpcolo.org/
Developmental Disability Resource Center - When you call make sure to say that you are looking for the intake line. You will also want to mention that you may not know everything that you qualify for but that you would really like to hear about all options. “Developmental Disabilities Resource Center (DDRC), is a 501(c)3 Colorado nonprofit organization, is the designated Community Centered Board for Jefferson, Gilpin, Clear Creek and Summit Counties serving people with developmental disabilities and providing support to their families. DDRC is a resource for determination of a developmental disability and eligibility for funding for services and supports for children and adults with developmental delays or disabilities. Types of services available through various types of funding include case management/resource coordination, service plan development, early intervention therapies, family support, respite, personal care, homemaker services, mentoring, vocational, residential, behavioral intervention, transportation, community connections, supported living and therapeutic recreation.”
Main Admin Office: 303-233-3363
Website: https://ddrcco.com/
I will be making a follow up blog post about this subject as well as the different types of waivers and other funding resources available. But for now, this is a really great way to get started. You could figure out your county and which CCB you fall under. And you can begin the process of being the squeaky wheel by calling and leaving messages for the intake line so that your child and family could see what you qualify for. As always if you have any questions, please email me or submit a form on my website contact us page.
