1. (1) The department is authorized to operate grant programs to support local providers in delivering high-quality, voluntary, family-strengthening support services using home visiting strategies that are designed to overcome the access barriers often created by traditional delivery strategies. The executive director may promulgate rules as necessary to implement grant programs as authorized in this section.

2. (2) Any grant programs that the department operates pursuant to this section must be designed to award grants to family support services providers that provide a continuum of high-quality, voluntary, family-strengthening support services that:

   1. (a) Serve families at some point during the period that extends from pregnancy through the child's enrollment in early elementary school grades;

   2. (b) Are evidence-based and have demonstrated significant positive outcomes in one or more of the following areas:

      1. (I) Child development and school readiness;
      2. (II) Family economic self-sufficiency;
      3. (III) Maternal and child health;
      4. (IV) Reductions in child maltreatment;
      5. (V) Family linkages and referrals to resources; and
      6. (VI) Positive parenting practices; and
   3. (c) Are delivered using a home visiting strategy to provide family services that is based on a national model for home visiting services or has been otherwise proven effective in overcoming barriers to accessing services.

3. (3) In implementing a family-strengthening grant program pursuant to this section, the department shall contract with an implementation partner. If a grant program is based on a national model for delivering family-strengthening services, the department shall contract with a local public or private entity that is certified, or otherwise authorized, to lead in implementing the national model in the state, to act as the implementation partner. If a grant program is not based on a national model, the department shall issue a request for proposals to select an implementation partner. The public or private entity that the department selects must, at a minimum, have demonstrated experience and expertise with home visiting and the types of family-strengthening services that meet the purpose of the grant program. The duties of an implementation partner may be established by department rule and may vary based on the purpose of a particular grant program, but must, at a minimum, include:

   1. (a) Assisting the department in reviewing applications and selecting grantees; and
   2. (b) Working with applicants to complete a community readiness assessment when needed.
4. (4) This part 9 does not apply to nor affect implementation of the Colorado Nurse Home Visitor Program Act, part 5 of this article 3.

Source: L. 2022: Entire article added, (HB 22-1295), ch. 123, p. 658, § 3, effective July 1.