Larimer County proclaims April 2026 Child Abuse Prevention Month; officials cite thousands of referrals and push kinship placements

Larimer County on April 7 proclaimed April 2026 Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month and heard a detailed presentation from the Department of Human Services about local child‑welfare work and prevention programs.

Thad Paul, division manager for Children, Youth and Family, told the board that over the last year Larimer County received about 7,000 referrals involving roughly 5,500 unique children, and that about 2,000 children required a formal assessment. Paul framed most referrals as related to neglect and resource limitations, and said prevention programs often keep families out of crisis.

Paul gave examples to illustrate prevention: an 87‑year‑old great‑grandmother supported through community navigators so a 13‑month‑old could access services; a 16‑year‑old refugee helped via an unaccompanied minor program; and a mother who avoided eviction through early‑childhood navigation and housing partners. Paul said the county emphasizes kinship placements when removal is necessary and noted statewide legislation and county efforts to expand kinship and foster‑care capacity.

Commissioners asked whether referrals or acuity were increasing. Paul said assessment numbers have been fairly flat despite population growth but that families present with higher acuity due to dwindling resources and behavioral‑health needs. He and commissioners also discussed adoption, relative guardianship assistance programs (RGAP) and the county’s efforts to recruit more local foster homes.

Commissioner Kristen Stevens moved to approve the proclamation; commissioners praised child‑welfare staff and community partners and the board approved the proclamation (vote recorded 2–0). Officials encouraged community volunteering and foster‑home recruitment and pointed to online county resources for more information.

The county conveyed a prevention‑focused message: "families are stronger when they have access to the resources, support and opportunities they need before a crisis occurs," and urged residents to consider volunteering or supporting local nonprofits that help families.