Our Strategic Roadmap

Overview

Our Strategic Roadmap 2025-2027 | Denver Human Services #HumanTogether

Our Strategic Roadmap 2025-2027 lays out our vision and strategic priorities for the next three years, aiming to enhance the impact of our services for the people of Denver and make Denver Human Services (DHS) an even better place to work. While it draws on best practices in our field, its foundation is the invaluable input from over 500 DHS customers, 400 DHS team members, senior leaders with a collective 200 years of experience, and our many partner organizations. It aligns with and reinforces the ambitious citywide goals developed by Mayor Mike Johnston, whose leadership continues to provide inspiration and essential support for DHS’ efforts.

Read the Roadmap

We have a number of ways you can read through Our Strategic Roadmap digitally:

Available Soon: Strategic Roadmap in Vietnamese

Vietnamese language versions of “Our Strategic Roadmap” will be available soon. If you need spoken or written assistance in the meantime, please email dhsadasupport@denvergov.org. These services will be provided to you free of charge.

Phiên bản tiếng Tây Ban Nha và Tiếng Việt của “Lộ Trình Chiến Lược Của Chúng Tôi” sẽ ra mắt vào tháng Tư 2025. Trong thời gian này, nếu quý vị cần trợ giúp thông dịch bằng lời nói hoặc văn bản, xin vui lòng gửi email đến dhsadasupport@denvergov.org. Những dịch vụ này sẽ được cung cấp miễn phí.

Our Range of Services

Denver Human Services (DHS) offers a wide range of services to Denver residents.

Range of Services (Updated April 28, 2025)

The four categories describe the services’ primary focus, but there is also overlap. For example, Assistance and Protection services also build Engagement and Prevention, and involve Partnership with the community.

Assistance

Providing food, medical, cash, employment skills, and other benefits to eligible people.

 Many services have specific eligibility requirements.

Adult Financial Assistance

Cash benefits for people 60 and older, and those with disabilities.

Burial Assistance

Payments to providers for burial and cremation services.

Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+)

Eligibility determination for low-cost health insurance for children and pregnant women.

Child Support Services

Together with parents and caretakers, establishing parentage, financial and medical support, and enforcing child support orders when children do not live with both parents.

Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP)

Child care services for low-income families with children from birth to age 13.

Denver County is currently on an enrollment freeze. Visit the Denver Child Care Assistance Program page for more information.

Colorado Works (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families)

Help with a monthly cash payment for families, schooling, training, jobs, and connections to community resources.

Emergency Energy Assistance

Help with Xcel Energy bills.

Emergency Housing Assistance

Assistance with evictions, rental, first month’s rent and deposit.

GIVE Center

Emergency goods and services available to Denver residents every 60 days.

Long-Term Care

Eligibility determination for long-term services and supports for older adults and people with disabilities.

Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP)

Assistance with a portion of winter home heating and water costs.

Medicaid (Health First Colorado)

Eligibility determination for physical, dental and behavioral health services.

RTD LiVE

Discount on fares (such as bus, rail, Access-a-Ride) throughout the Regional Transportation District service area.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Cash assistance to help buy or grow food.

SNAP to Success

Employment and job training assistance for people receiving (or applying for) SNAP.

Thrive Program

Supports for families who no longer qualify for Colorado Works (TANF) benefits.

Veterans Program

Supporting veterans and their families, regardless of service time or discharge status.

Partnership & Community

Working with partners and managing community-wide initiatives.

Outreach

Staffing community events to increase awareness and access to all DHS resources and services.

Community Services Block Grant (CSBG)

Managing the federal funding for partner projects that reduce poverty, revitalize low-income communities, and empower people with low incomes.

Human Together Community Grants

Funding to support community-based navigation of benefits and local resources.

Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Equitable Access to Services (IDDEAS)

Managing local taxpayer dollars dedicated to funding services and supports for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Engagement & Prevention

Building individual and family strengths, and increasing access to resources and supports that prevent crises and improve outcomes.

Resource Navigation

Increasing access to resources and services available from DHS and in the community.

Parenthood Program

Supports parents in meeting financial responsibilities and strengthening parent/child relationships.

Prevention Services

Strengthening individuals and families known to child welfare through interventions that aim to prevent maltreatment and further system involvement.

Fatherhood Program

Supports fathers to increase healthy relationships, economic security, and parenting competence.

Denver Parent Advocates Lending Support (DPALS)

Parent partners provide peer support to child welfare involved parents to help them overcome obstacles and reunify their family.

Complex Care

Case management, resource navigation, and peer support for adults with intersecting complex challenges.

Protection

Addressing suspected maltreatment or exploitation of children, youth or at-risk adults.

Adult Protection

Receives reports of suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation, and self-neglect of at-risk adults, investigates these allegations, and seeks to implement services in an effort to reduce and prevent further mistreatment

Child Welfare

Receives and assesses reports of suspected maltreatment or exploitation of children and youth from the community, and provides interventions and services to stabilize family situations and strengthen the family’s capacity to protect and care for their children.

Chafee and Foster Youth in Transition Services

Helping youth and young adults successfully transition from foster care to adulthood.

Unaccompanied Refugee Minor

Providing foster care and independent living placements for these minors.

 

Download a printable list at the links below:

Denver Human Services Index (Neighborhood Characteristics)

We use data to better understand our community and direct support where it’s needed most. In support of our vision, we launched the Denver Human Services Index (Neighborhood Characteristics), which aggregates key indicators by neighborhood into one summary map. This can be used by DHS decision makers and community partners to inform programs, practices, services, and investments across the Denver community.

View the Storymap (opens in new window)

Video: Hope Starts Here

#HumanTogether. At Denver Human Services, we use this phrase because it celebrates the strength and interconnectedness of our staff and community. In developing Our Strategic Roadmap, we benefited from the insights and generosity of our team, customers and partners. The perspectives they shared informed the strategies outlined in this roadmap—and will inspire us to carry out our mission with even greater empathy, efficiency and effectiveness each day. Together, we’ve got this!

We invite you to watch a video featuring our teammates sharing why they serve at Denver Human Services: