Larimer County proclaims April 2025 Child Abuse Prevention Month; county workers present data and success stories

The Larimer County Board of County Commissioners voted 2-0 on April 1, 2025, to proclaim April 2025 as Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month following remarks from Larimer County Department of Human Services staff and three child‑welfare caseworkers.

The proclamation recognizes the county’s commitment to preventing child maltreatment and to supporting family‑centered, trauma‑informed services. Angela Mee, deputy division manager with Child, Youth and Family Services, presented national and state data and introduced three caseworkers who described the role of community supports and a Family Treatment Court program in helping parents regain stability.

Mee told the board that in federal fiscal year 2023 more than 3,000,000 children nationally underwent child welfare assessments or alternative response, with more than 546,000 identified as victims of abuse or neglect and roughly 2,000 child fatalities attributed to maltreatment. She said Colorado recorded 11,305 substantiated findings of child abuse and neglect in the same reporting period, and 117 cases were classified by the state review team as fatal, near‑fatal or egregious harm.

Caseworkers described the department’s “kin‑first, trauma‑informed” approach and the importance of community supports. Larissa Luters, an intake caseworker, said that “people need people” and that building a support network is central to reducing trauma and helping families sustain gains after the department’s involvement. Kristen Caperman, an intake caseworker and parent, described searching for protective factors within families and partnering with community service providers so families can remain together whenever safely possible.

Jessica Slate, an ongoing caseworker who works with Family Treatment Court, described measuring protective factors for parents recovering from substance use disorders. Slate recounted a client who scored 2.84 on a five‑point protective‑factors survey in November 2024 and 3.32 before graduating the program about a year later, a 16.9% increase that staff cited as evidence of measurable improvement tied to treatment and supports.

Commissioner Kefalas moved to approve the proclamation; Chair Kristen Stevens voted in favor, making the vote 2‑0. The proclamation text calls on community members and organizations to support prevention through advocacy, education, volunteering and services.

The county asked staff and community partners to continue efforts to address systemic barriers and to coordinate services that can prevent adverse childhood experiences and foster positive outcomes for children.

Additional details: the department cited NCANDS (National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System) as the source for the federal figures Mee presented. The board paused after the vote for a group photograph with department staff and caseworkers.