Information on Decertified Child Welfare Workers in Colorado

Beginning October 31, 2025, the Colorado Division of Child Welfare (DCW), within the Office of Children, Youth and Families, will make information available about child welfare workers who have been decertified. This initiative follows Rule 7.603.3 Decertification Review Process, added to the Code of Colorado Regulations, Volume VII.

Improving Accountability and Transparency

The new rule applies to five child welfare roles:

Hotline worker
Hotline staff supervisor
Social caseworker trainee
Social caseworker
Social casework supervisor

Falsifying information in Trails, the state’s child welfare system, is a criminal offense. These actions directly harm families and damage public trust in the child welfare system.

By establishing a clear decertification process and making the information public, the state reinforces transparency and accountability.

How Child Welfare Certification Works in Colorado

DCW is responsible for certifying child welfare workers in the state. To earn certification, individuals must complete required training through the Colorado Child Welfare Training System and activities outlined in Volume VII – 7.603.1.

Under the new rule, DCW can provide information about a worker’s certification status, including certification dates, roles they are qualified for and one of the following designations:

Certified: Completed training requirements and holds an active certification.
Expired: Did not complete recertification training.
Temporarily suspended: Certification is under review as part of a decertification process.
Decertified: Certification has been revoked.
Never certified: Did not complete the certification process.

Requesting Certification Information

Any person, organization, county, agency or state can request information about a worker’s certification status.

Requests can be submitted by email to CDHS_CW_Decertification_Inquiries@state.co.us. The state will respond within five business days to requests from county departments of human services and within ten business days to requests from any other agency, organization or the general public.

Understanding the Decertification Process

Concerns about falsification may come to a county’s attention in various ways, such as through a complaint or grievance from a family, or a concern raised by a coworker or supervisor. When this happens, the county department of human services must begin an investigation.

If the investigation confirms that falsification has occurred, the county is required to notify the state, and the decertification process begins.

“We want to ensure that individuals who have been confirmed of falsification have their rights protected in the decertification process and have an opportunity for a hearing,” said Joe Homlar, director of the Division of Child Welfare. “During this process, the individual’s certification is suspended, and access to Trails is revoked and they must discontinue serving children, youth and families.”

During the hearing, the worker has an opportunity to present evidence, bring legal representation and call witnesses. A review panel determines whether the person is decertified.

“This update to the Code of Colorado Regulations, Volume VII, is positive because it provides due process for individuals under review while creating a path to decertify someone who has broken the public’s trust by falsifying information,” said Yolanda Arredondo, Co-Deputy Director at DCW. “Having an email to inquire about certification or decertification status gives agencies and county departments of human and social services a way to verify caseworker credentials and promotes transparency in our child welfare system.”

Strengthening Colorado’s Child Welfare System

This process reflects Colorado’s commitment to protecting children, supporting families and improving the child welfare system. By making certification information more accessible, the state aims to promote accountability and strengthen trust in the professionals who serve Colorado’s children and families.