PUBLIC NOTICE
Effective November 9 , 2020
Schedule is subject to change
The Conejos County Department of Social Services (CCDSS) will continue to operate under normal business hours but will have the following limitations in place:
- Masks must be worn by all visitors and clients.
- Customers will not be seen in our offices and should phone in to our general number with inquiries about their case. Lobby will remain open for document drop off and EBT replacement only. If you need a staff member to contact you leave a number and we will have someone reach out to you.
- We will be allowing one client in our lobby area to respect social distancing. For everyone's safety please find adequate childcare or if you are unable to then please contact our front desk receptionist so that a phone or virtual meeting can be scheduled.
- Interviews for Public Assistance will be conducted via phone call or virtually please ensure that CCDSS has a good contact number for you.
- We are encouraging that all applications, recertifications, and changes for public assistance and child care should be reported via PEAK. https://coloradopeak.secure.force.com/
- All cases of child/adult neglect should be called in to the Child Abuse Hotline( 1-844-CO-4-KIDS)
- You can e-mail questions to your worker directly.
|
Director |
Nicholas Barela |
Nicholas.barela@state.co.us |
|
Child Welfare Supervisor |
Michelle Ferrera |
Michelle.ferrera@state.co.us |
|
Child Welfare |
Veronica Knecht |
Veronica.knecht@state.co.us |
|
Child Welfare |
Timothy Barton |
Timothy.Barton@state.co.us |
|
Child Welfare |
Armando Manzanares |
Armando.a.manzanares@state.co.us |
|
Child Care/Child Support Supervisor |
Christine Garcia |
Christine.garcia@state.co.us |
|
Child Support |
Rosemarie Ruybal |
Rosemarie.ruybal@state.co.us |
|
Child Support |
Jessica Suazo |
Jessica.suazo@state.co.us |
|
Child Care/Benefit Recovery |
Alejandra Carreon |
Alejandra.carreon@state.co.us |
|
Eligibility Supervisor (Public Assistance) |
Kayte Mora |
Kayte.mora@state.co.us |
|
Case Manager |
Yolanda Deherrera |
Yolanda.deherrera@state.co.us |
|
Case Manager |
Brandi Martinez |
Brandim.martinez@state.co.us |
| Case Manager | Karina Soto | Karina.Soto@state.co.us |
|
Case Manager |
Cindy Silva |
Cindy.silva@state.co.us |
|
Case Manager |
Kristin Mora |
|
|
Case Aide |
Jacob Acosta |
Jacob.acosta@state.co.us |
|
Case Aide |
Nichole Martinez |
Nichole.martinez@state.co.us |
|
General Inquiries |
Annette Martinez |
Annette.martinez25@state.co.us |
|
Accountant |
Jessica Holtcamp |
Jessica.holtcamp@state.co.us |
- Mail any documents to the: Conejos County Department of Social Services, PO BOX 68, Conejos, CO 81129 or drop-off during operating business hours.
- Please take care of your issued EBT cards we may move to issuing by mail which can take 7-10 days.
- Child Support payments are encouraged to be paid online
Click here to download the official Public Notice
Conejos County would like to keep you informed. Click below for more information about COVID-19 Coronavirus.
CONEJOS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
Mission Statement
Conejos County Department of Social Services will strive to educate, motivate, and protect individuals
and families in order to achieve self-sufficiency and secure a stable home environment.
Vision Statement
People are our business. Together we can achieve our goal.
The San Luis Valley Department of Human/Social Services is accepting proposals for an AND Navigator to serve the following counties: Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Rio Grande/Mineral, and Saguache county. This individual should be SOAR certified or commit to becoming certified within a quick timeframe. This is a contracted position whose primary function will be to assist DSS/DHS applicants with the application/appeal of SSI benefits. Please submit letter of interest and proposed outreach strategy that would illustrate how services will be managed in each of these counties to Nicholas Barela, P.O. BOX 68, Conejos, CO 81129 or nicholas.barela@state.co.us. Please direct any questions to Nicholas Barela at (719) 376-5455. Closes 9/24/2021
Child Care
Child Support
The Colorado Child Support Services (CSS) Program oversees the state’s child support system. Individual child support orders are managed by Colorado’s county child support offices.
You can find many helpful services on the CSS website including:
- Applying for child support services
- How to create an online account to view specific information on your child support case
- How and when to request changes to a child support order
- Different ways to make and receive child support payments
- Frequently asked questions about child support in Colorado
Please see information regarding our Parent Program. For questions regarding Eligiblity contact Christine Garcia at our main phone number. 
Public Assistance
Conejos County offers financial, medical, and food assistance. Information for each of these programs can be found on the Colorado Peak website or by contacting Kayte Mora at our main office. We can also assist our community in other ways. This year we were able to help our school aged children by offering Back to School Care Packages.
Non-Discrimination Policy
This institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex and in some cases religion or political beliefs.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture also prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, religious creed, disability, age, political beliefs or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits.
Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through
the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027), found online at: How to File a Complaint, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992.
Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:
(1) mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410
(2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or
(3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.
For any other information dealing with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) issues, persons should either contact the USDA SNAP Hotline Number at (800) 221-5689, which is also in Spanish or call the State Information/Hotline Numbers (click the link for a listing of hotline numbers by State); found online at: SNAP Hotline.
To file a complaint of discrimination regarding a program receiving Federal financial assistance through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), write:
HHS Director, Office for Civil Rights, Room 515-F, 200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201
or call (202) 619-0403 (voice)
or (800) 537-7697 (TTY).
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Mandatory Reporting
http://www.coloradocwts.com/mandated-reporter-training
Adult Protection Services
Adult Protection Services investigates reports of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of at risk adults. APS assists with resources and referrals to improve an at risk adults lifestyle and reduce their risk of neglect, abuse and exploitation. Referrals can be made by contacting 719-376-5455. After hours please contact State Patrol at 719-589-5807 and ask for the on call worker for Conejos County.
Foster Care
Interested in becoming a Foster Parent? Check out the following link.
http://www.cofosterandadopt.org/
Are you interested in becoming a foster care parent in Conejos County?
Please contact any of the following:
Michelle Ferrera, Child Welfare Supervisor (Conejos) @ (719) 376-5455
Matthew Tulley, Foster Care Coordinator ( Alamosa) @ (719) 589-2581
Taylor Martinez, Foster Care (Alamosa) @ (719) 589-2581, Annette Perea, Foster Care Supervisor (Alamosa) @ (719) 589-2581
LEAP
Child Welfare
Child welfare employees work directly with families to strengthen a family’s ability to protect and care for their own children, minimize harm to children and youth, and ensure timely permanency planning. When safety is not possible within the family, services focus on the child’s need for a stable, permanent home as quickly as possible. See the below chart to see the process of how Child Welfare calls are handled.
Contact Us
Department of Social Services
Director:
Nicholas Barela
Child Care/Child Support Supervisor:
Christine Garcia
Child Welfare/Adult Protection Supervisor:
Michelle Ferrera
Eligibility Supervisor:
Kayte Mora
Address:
PO Box 68
12989 County Rd. G.6
Conejos, CO 81129
Phone: 719-376-5455
Fax: 719-376-2389
