Weld County Human Services (Formerly Social Services)

Human Services programs are administered under the supervision of the State and the County Commissioners. Most regulations governing the programs are made by the federal and state governments who in turn interpret the legislation of Congress and the State Legislature in writing program rules.

A staff of approximately 160 caseworkers, technicians, and support personnel provides services and determines eligibility for programs. Financial need is the main factor measured for the Income Maintenance programs. Other needs, such as the need to protect a child from abuse or neglect, determine whether services are provided in other programs.

Program costs are shared by Federal, State and County and vary by category.

The Department of Social Services is responsible for administering three types of programs for the citizens of Weld County. "Protective or Social Services" programs provide direct or intervention services for families, children and adults. "Assistance Payments" programs provide for basic survival needs - food, shelter, clothing, medical, and job preparation. "Child Support" program provides assistance in obtaining financial and medical support from non-custodial parents.

SOCIAL SERVICES DIVISION

Protective Services to Children:

Ongoing and Intake Units: Program area for the protection of battered, abused, neglected and dependent children. Primary responsibility of this service is the protection of children who are battered and abused, severely neglected and/or dependent. Age limits within this program area are generally birth to 18 years of age. All cases that meet this definition will be the responsibility of this program area and personnel assigned to it.

Adult Services: Primary objective of this program is to provide protective services to adults, age 18 and over, who are being exploited, abused, neglected, or are incompetent and need supervision. This unit also provides services to the aged and disabled in assisting them with Home Care Allowance.

Youth in Conflict: Program area for youth ages 12 to 18. This unit serves children who are experiencing difficulty with the community or parents and require intervention by this Department, usually through court order. Many youth have been adjudicated as status offenders by the court, i.e., dependent or neglected or juvenile delinquents. The goal of this unit is to assist the youth in making the best possible social adjustment with parents and society.

Resource Services: This unit provides resource/support services to other units previously described. Support services in this area are Family Preservation/Family Support programs, adoption and relinquishment services, and foster care certifications.

Adoption Services: Services for the subject child(ren) of Dependency/Neglect action who has been legally freed for adoption. Services extend to pre and post finalized adoptive parents including application process, home studies, and supportive services.

Foster Care Certification: Services include recruitment, application processing, orientation, certification, support, monitoring, and ongoing training of County foster homes.

ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS DIVISION

Assistance Payments assists the elderly, the disabled, children and their caretakers. The Food Stamp program assists those who are also employed but do not earn enough to support their families.

Any request for financial help or income maintenance assistance requires that certain criteria of eligibility, or need, must be met. Once eligibility is established, redetermination of continuing eligibility is made periodically or whenever a client's personal situations change. Generally, an applicant is determined eligible or "needy" if their resources and income fall below established standards.

Assistance may be granted to the elderly under the Old Age Pension program, to the disabled under the Aid to the Needy Disabled program, to the Blind under the Aid to the Blind program, to children under the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program. The Weld County General Assistance Fund may assist persons in emergency situations whose needs are not met by these Assistance Payments Programs.

Adult Categories: For more information about any of the Adult Programs, please contact Rachelle Oldright, Adult Programs Supervisor at 970-352-1551, extension 6330 or e-mail at oldrigrm@co.weld.co.us.