Colorado Launches ‘Warm Line’ Pilot in Support of Families

The Division of Child Welfare at the Colorado Department of Human Services has partnered with 211 Colorado to launch a new pilot program called the Warm Line.

211 Colorado is a confidential and multilingual helpline that connects people across the state with local services. These services include housing and shelter, food assistance, health services, mental health and substance use support, pregnancy and parenting resources, services for children and youth with special needs and financial assistance and employment services.

The partnership was possible through a collaboration among people with lived experience from Reimagining Colorado’ s Child Welfare System initiative, the Kempe Center and the departments of human services of Boulder, Gilpin and Pueblo counties. Since early 2024, the group has worked together to develop the pilot, addressing technical challenges, testing processes and refining ideas to bring the Warm Line to life.

The Warm Line gives callers to the Colorado Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline another option. Callers can choose to connect with 211 Colorado, where trained navigators provide information about services and community resources that may help a family facing challenges. The caller can then provide those resources to the family so they can get support and work through challenges.

“The Warm Line is reshaping how people understand the difference between poverty and child abuse or neglect,” said Wade Treichler, chief operations officer at Mile High United Way and chair of 211 Colorado Collaborative. “Poverty is not Neglect. Our 211 navigators listen compassionately to callers’ concerns and provide information about appropriate resources that may help a family in need. This approach also allows county departments of human services to focus on cases where abuse and neglect may truly be occuring.”

The Warm Line pilot launched in December 2025 and will run through at least summer 2026. During this period the team will continue refining the program and make recommendations about state-wide expansion based on the data and experiences collected during the pilot.

“Help and support are often closer than people realize,” said Joe Homlar, director for the Division of Child Welfare. ”The Warm Line connects people to resources in a way that meets them where they are.”

The Warm Line can be accessed by calling the Colorado Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline at 844-CO-4-Kids. Callers who mention one of the participating pilot counties can select option 1 to be connected to 211 Colorado. The partnership encourages parents, caregivers, community members, mandatory reporters to call and connect families with resources.

“The Warm Line creates a safe space to ask questions, find guidance, and reach someone who cares,” said Heather Hanson, a live-expert from Reimagining Colorado’s Child Welfare System initiative.

When families have the support and resources they need, communities grow stronger and the likelihood of child welfare involvement decreases. The Warm Line reflects Colorado’s commitment to supporting families and connecting them with help early.

For more information about how to support families, visit co4kids.org/child-abuse-prevention/ to know about the services available through 211 Colorado, visit 211colorado.org/.