We provide information and resources for families of children and youth with special health care needs. HCP does not provide emergency care.
How will my family benefit from HCP?
Families turn to HCP for information, resources, and referrals to valuable community support in their area. HCP promotes communication between families, providers and community resources by connecting children and youth to the care they need. Families may also gain a greater understanding of their child’s medical condition and coordinate their child’s health care. This can lead to a more successful and fulfilling experience at home, at school and in the community.
211 Colorado
211 Colorado provides access to comprehensive community information and resources by searching the online database.
- 211 Colorado. (211 Colorado website)
Colorado Department of Early Childhood PLAYbook
The Colorado Department of Early Childhood PLAYbook describes a child’s learning and development from birth to 5 years old and provides practical tips and fun activities that anyone can use to support young children’s healthy development
- Colorado Department of Early Childhood PLAYbook. (Colorado Office of Early Childhood website)
Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind
Visit the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind website or call 710-578-2100 to get information on the Colorado Home Intervention Program, an early education program for children who are deaf or hard of hearing.
- Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind. (Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind website)
Community Centered Boards
Case Management Services assist a person in accessing necessary services and supports to meet his or her needs. Services include intake, eligibility determination, service plan development, arrangement for services, delivery of services, service and support coordination, monitoring, any safeguards necessary to prevent conflict of interest between case management and direct service provision, and termination and discharge from services.
- Case Management Services. (Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing)
CU School of Medicine Outreach Clinics
The CU School of Medicine Outreach Clinics' list of specialty care outreach clinics is maintained by the CU School of Medicine. Clinics are located throughout the region and may help families reduce the number of trips to Denver for specialty care.
- List of specialty care outreach clinics. (Children's Hospital Colorado website)
Early Intervention Colorado
Colorado’s Early Intervention program provides support and services to children with developmental delays or disabilities and their families from birth until the child’s third birthday. Early Intervention Colorado can help families learn ways to support and promote their child’s development within their everyday routines and activities. Visit the Early Intervention Colorado website (English and Spanish) or call 1-833-733-3734.
- Early Intervention Colorado website (English). (Early Intervention Colorado website)
- Early Intervention Colorado website (Spanish). (Early Intervention Colorado website)
- Call 1-833-733-3734
A list of Facebook pages for families and providers
- *Please Note: CDPHE is not responsible for nor do we endorse the content on these pages.
- Facebook page list. (PDF)
Family Voices Colorado
Family Voices Colorado (external website) is a grassroots organization run by parents of children with special healthcare needs. The support you receive is from someone who understands the many challenges of having a child with special health care needs in their life.
- Family Voices Colorado. (Family Voices Colorado website)
Meeting the Needs of ALL Families
Meeting the Needs of ALL Families is a PDF resource guide that was compiled by the Family-Run Executive Director Leadership Association (FREDLA) to highlight the rich diversity and unique needs of today’s families.
Parent to Parent of Colorado
Parent to Parent of Colorado supports families, parents, and caregivers by connecting them to emotional and informational resources. Where Do I Start? The Resource Storeroom (external website) helps parents connect in communities around the state through an Online Parent Support Group (Listserv), Individual Parent Matching, and our website resources.
- Parent to Parent of Colorado. (Ability Connection Colorado website)
- Where Do I Start? The Resource Storeroom. (Ability Connection Colorado website)
Respite Navigation Guide
The Colorado Respite Coalition created a free guide, Navigating Respite Care In Colorado: A Guide For Families And Professionals to help families and professionals navigate the respite system and caregiver support in Colorado.
- Navigating Respite Care In Colorado: A Guide For Families And Professionals. (Colorado respite Coalition website)
Respite Camp Guide
A year-round respite guide created by Developmental Pathways is updated seasonally and includes resources for fall, winter, and spring breaks as well as summer camps.
- Respite guide. (Developmental Pathways website)
Thrive Center
- The Thrive Center helps parents, caregivers, and families with training, advocacy, and resource navigation.
- Thrive Center. (Thrive Center website)
Telehealth
When a child has special health care needs, health care can be a team effort — teamwork between you, your child, and health care providers. Telehealth can help deliver family-centered care.
- Patient Resource: Telehealth for Children with Special Health Care Needs (Telehealth website)
Find resources to prepare your student for adult life.
Got Transition
- Got Transition/Center for Health Care Transition (external website) is a cooperative agreement between the Maternal and Child Health Bureau and The National Alliance to Advance Adolescent Health. They aim to improve the transition from pediatric to adult health care through the use of new and innovative strategies for health professionals and youth and families.
- Got Transition/Center for Health Care Transition. (Got Transition website)
Technical Assistance Adult and Community Agencies
- Many agencies serve youth and adults with disabilities. Some offer vocational and residential services, others provide personal support or financial assistance. State agencies have services available in most local communities throughout the state, however, it is important to identify locally what is available in your community.
- Agency List for Families of Students with Disabilities. (Colorado Department of Education website)
What is Medical Genetics?
- What is Medical Genetics? (external website) provides resources for families in English and Spanish.
- What is Medical Genetics? (Mountain States Regional Genetics website)
- Resources in English. (Mountain States Regional Genetics website)
- Resources in Spanish. (Mountain States Regional Genetics website)
- What is Medical Genetics? (Mountain States Regional Genetics website)
Colorado Programs for Children
Colorado Programs for Children includes information on eligibility criteria, benefits and services, and how to apply for:
- Medicaid
- Medicaid Buy-In
- CHP+, waivers
- services for physical
- Intellectual/developmental disabilities
- behavioral health services
- Colorado Programs for Children. (Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing website)
- Choosing an HCBS Waiver for Children. (Health Care First, PDF)
- Learn about Long-Term Services & Supports. (Department of Health Care Policy & Financing website, English/Spanish)
Community Centered Boards
- The Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing's Case Management Services assists a person in accessing necessary services and supports to meet his or her needs. Services include intake, eligibility determination, service plan development, arrangement for services, delivery of services, service and support coordination, monitoring, any safeguards necessary to prevent conflict of interest between case management and direct service provision, and termination and discharge from services.
- Case Management Services. (Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing website)
Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT)
- The Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) benefit provides comprehensive and preventive health care services for Health First Colorado (Colorado's Medicaid Program) members aged 20 and under along with pregnant adults.
- Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) benefit. (Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing website)
- Fact sheet. (Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, PDF)
- Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) benefit. (Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing website)
Healthy Communities Program
- The Healthy Communities Program Outreach Program is performed by Regional Accountable Entities (RAEs). They will answer Health First Colorado member questions concerning providers and benefits.
- Healthy Communities Program Outreach Program. (Health First Colorado website)
Medicaid Pediatric Behavioral Therapies Benefit
- Behavioral therapy is a treatment that helps change nonadaptive behaviors. Professionals use this type of therapy to replace bad habits with good ones.
- Behavioral therapy. (Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing website)
Parent as CNA
- Learn more about being a Certified Nursing Aide (CNA) for your child.
- Certified Nursing Aide (CNA). (webpage)
Single Entry Points
- The Case Management Agency Directory provides case management, care planning, and makes referrals to other resources for clients with the following qualifying needs: elderly, blind and disabled, mental health, persons living with AIDS, brain injury, spinal cord injury, children with a life-limiting illness, children with a physical disability.
- Case Management Agency Directory. (Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing website)
This project was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number B04MC28087 Maternal, and Child Health Services. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government.