Directory of Trails at DHS
Trails Index for Child Abuse and Neglect – State Level Fair Hearing Attorney in Douglas County, Arapahoe County, and Denver
When the Department of Human Services (Social Services) suspects that you have been involved in an act of Child Abuse or Child Neglect, they will conclude that you have a “Founded” or “Confirmed” allegation, allowing them to include your name in their Trails database. Being listed on the Trails database can promptly disqualify you from most organizations working with children. Colorado law permits you to request a State Level Fair Hearing as part of the Trails appeals procedure.
Users of the Trails Database System in Jefferson County and Their Reasons
Trails serves as the primary resource to verify if an applicant seeking employment in the child care sector across Colorado has a record. This encompasses daycare agencies, child service organizations like the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, church child care programs (Sunday School), school parent volunteers, and civic organizations like the Boys’ Club. Although it is no longer designated the Child Abuse Registry, it functions similarly to how the registry did.
How Names are Submitted to Trails (Child Abuse Registry) in Douglas County
In Douglas County, Colorado, there exists its own DHS (Department of Human Services or Social Services) office. Local organizations like this receive notifications from concerned (and curious) individuals who wish to report potential child endangerment. This notification triggers an investigation by DHS, and the allegations are either Founded, also known as Confirmed, or Unfounded at the county level. All counties in Colorado have these DHS offices, and they all operate in a similar fashion under the guidance of the statewide administrative DHS. If the allegations are Founded or Confirmed, the county will forward the findings to the statewide DHS for inclusion in Trails.
Founded or Unfounded Child Abuse Allegations in Adams County: State Level Fair Hearing
Similar to the Adams County Department of Social Services (or Human Services), caseworkers will probe into the allegations. Typically, this involves interviewing the adults and children involved, and if a child reports an incident, it is considered true. Quite literally. There are instances where adults and their adult witnesses assert that something couldn’t have happened, but if a child claims it did, “The Department” will ascertain it did and record a finding that the allegations are Confirmed or Founded. Individuals who wish to prevent you from being a part of a child’s life (such as parents who lost custody due to neglect, violence, or drug use) may instruct the children on what to disclose to DHS. This is frequently observed during or after a divorce. DHS workers are unaware of this reality, which is apparent to anyone else. All Founded/Confirmed reports are then sent to the state-level DHS office for inclusion in the Trails database. To prevent your name from being listed in the registry, you must promptly request a State Level Fair Hearing appeal.
Challenging a Trails Listing of Child Abuse or Neglect in Colorado
Fortunately, you have an opportunity to challenge this Confirmed/Founded report that lists your name on Trails. There is a possibility to prevent your name from being listed. Within strict deadlines, you can lodge an appeal to have the record concerning the Trails listing reviewed by someone at the DHS state Trails appeals office, and if that doesn’t favor you, by an administrative law judge. This process is known as a State Level Fair Hearing request/appeal. There are specialized procedures that a DHS Trails listing defense attorney can employ to attempt to prevent your name from being included in the Trails listing. However, it’s essential to act swiftly and engage a lawyer upon receiving a notice from the Department of Human Services to avoid missing a deadline.
Reach out to our Child Abuse attorney, Marc Patoile, at 303-688-3045. Mr. Patoile is a former prosecutor, former judge and has over 27 years of experience litigating child abuse matters. We possess the expertise to advocate for mothers and fathers facing child abuse charges throughout Colorado. Together, we can safeguard your family’s future.