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For 30 years, the Colorado Children's Alliance has collaborated with local communities and their experts to strengthen responses to child abuse and neglect. We are a statewide 501(c)3 non-profit agency that fights to end all forms of child abuse through professional intervention, high-quality and evidence-based prevention, and medical and mental health care.


WE PUT IN THE WORK

We highlight local expertise to create equity in access to services across urban, suburban, and rural Colorado communities. With member centers across the state, we are in a unique position to make a statewide impact in public education, community awareness, policy, and service provision.


OUR MISSION
At the Colorado Children’s Alliance, we support the missions of the child advocacy centers in our state to help children and their families heal from abuse and neglect. Through training, technical assistance, collaboration, and strategic partnerships, we strengthen our statewide efforts to fight all forms of child abuse.

Decorative graphic. Three overlapping outlines of the state of Colorado, one in navy blue, one in burgundy, and one in light blue.

WHO WE ARE

Decorative graphic. Three overlapping outlines of the state of Colorado, one in navy blue, one in burgundy, and one in light blue.

OUR HISTORY
In 1993, the Executive Directors of existing Colorado CACs created the Colorado Children's Alliance to provide an informal network of colleagues for their work. In 2006, the Chapter contracted with its first chapter coordinator, and first became accredited with the National Children's Alliance in 2008. We were one of the first five chapters recognized as such in the country. We have remained an accredited state Chapter ever since, most recently going through re-accreditation in 2020.

Notable accomplishments include obtaining and modifying a statewide forensic interviewing protocol, creating a victim advocacy foundational training program, passing a CAC-specific statute through the State legislature and into law,
developing advanced trainings, and expanding statewide peer reviews. We have grown to two full-time staff positions, with a developing internship program. When our very first CAC opened in 1986, it was one of six in the country. Now, we have 19 throughout Colorado alone. Of those 19, 16 are fully accredited members of NCA. Our 19 CACs cover 60 counties yearly, with a growth plan in plan to expand our services to all 64 counties. In 2023, the Chapter started working on creating a statewide tele-mental health network and hosted its first Directors' Summit for all 19 of its CAC directors.

Board Members

Matt Holtman, President

CAPTA and Federal Funding Administrator

Colorado Office of Children, Youth & Families

Deborah Crawford, M.D., Secretary

Pediatrician

Salud Family Health

Diana Goldberg

Executive Director

SungateKids

Karen Meyer

Retired Vice President of Consumer Relations

98point6

Kelly Kissling, Vice President

Director

Routt County Department of Human Services

Mo Basenberg
Executive Director

Safe Passage

Jan Isaacs Henry

Executive Director

Kidpower Colorado

Becky Miller Updike

Executive Director

CO Association of Family and Children’s Agencies

Gina EarlesTreasurer

Executive Director

Blue Sky Bridge

Paula Bragg

Executive Director

SARA House

Lori Jenkins

Executive Director

Kindred Kids Child Advocacy Center

Ashley Jellison

Executive Director

ajellison@coloradochildrensalliance.org

Christina McGhghy

Training Coordinator

cmcghghy@coloradochildrensalliance.org

Staff

Photo of a woman in a grey turtleneck and black leather jacket. She has curled brown hair and smiles.
Photo of a woman in a dark grey shirt and grey cardigan. She has short brown hair, wears glasses, and smiles.
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