“Abuse” or “child abuse or neglect” means an act or omission in one of the following categories that threatens the health or welfare of a child.
Colorado Children’s Code Title 19, 19-1-103
The following definitions were taken from Colorado Children’s Code Title 19, 19-1-103:
- _Any case in which a child exhibits evidence of skin bruising, bleeding, malnutrition, failure to thrive, burns, fracture of any bone, subdural hematoma, soft tissue swelling, or death and either: Such condition or death is not justifiably explained; the history given concerning such condition is at variance with the degree or type of such condition or death; or the circumstances indicate that such condition may not be the product of an accidental occurrence.
- _Any case in which a child is subjected to unlawful sexual behavior as defined in section 16-22-102 (9), C.R.S.
- _Any case in which a child is a child in need of services because the child's parents, legal guardian, or custodian fails to take the same actions to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, medical care, or supervision that a prudent parent would take.
- _Any case in which a child is subjected to emotional abuse. As used in this subparagraph (IV), "emotional abuse" means an identifiable and substantial impairment of the child's intellectual or psychological functioning or development or a substantial risk of impairment of the child's intellectual or psychological functioning or development.
- _ Any case in which a parent, guardian, or legal custodian has abandoned the child or has subjected him or her to mistreatment or abuse or a parent, guardian, or legal custodian has suffered or allowed another to mistreat or abuse the child without taking lawful means to stop such mistreatment or abuse and prevent it from recurring.
- _Any case in which a child lacks proper parental care through the actions or omissions of the parent, guardian, or legal custodian.
- _Any case in which a child's environment is injurious to his or her welfare.
- _Any case in which, in the presence of a child, or on the premises where a child is found, or where a child resides, a controlled substance, as defined in section 18-18-102 (5), C.R.S., is manufactured or attempted to be manufactured.
- _Any case in which a child tests positive at birth for either a schedule I controlled substance, as defined in section 18-18-203, C.R.S., or a schedule II controlled substance, as defined in section 18-18-204, C.R.S., unless the child tests positive for a schedule II controlled substance as a result of the mother's lawful intake of such substance as prescribed.
- _Any case in which a child is subjected to human trafficking of a minor for involuntary servitude, as described in section 18-3-503, C.R.S. or sexual servitude, as described in section 18-3-504, C.R.S.
Signs of Child Abuse and Neglect PDF
Signs of Child Abuse and Neglect.pdf
Decision Making Tree for Child Welfare
Decision Making Tree for Child Welfare.pdf
CDHS Brochure 2020
CDHS Brochure 2020.pdf