Foster Care - places at-risk children in caring, supportive foster families and provides resources to foster families to promote successful and positive relationships. Contact Charmaine Summers 970-382-6157 (summerscl@co.laplata.co.us) or Jed Gilden 970-382-6171 (gildenjc@co.laplata.co.us)

Adoption Services and Permanency Planning - seeks to match children with suitable, loving families enabling children to have permanent homes and family stability. Contact Charmaine Summers (summerscl@co.laplata.co.us) or 970-382-6157

Family Preservation - includes family-based and alternative programs to strengthen families. These services include family therapy, life skills, home-based therapy and day treatment for "at risk" youth.

Child Protection - investigates allegations of child abuse and neglect. Provides monitoring and supportive services to at-risk children and their families.

Adult Protection - supports elderly citizens in preserving their health and safety and provide assistance in identifying and accessing resources and services within the community for self-sufficiency.

Child Support Enforcement - assists parents in locating non-custodial parents, establishing paternity, establishing court orders for financial and medical support and support payment collections. In 2003, the Child Support Enforcement Unit collected over $3.0 million in support payments for families in La Plata County.

Public Assistance Unit – to promote family and individual self-sufficiency in a customer service oriented environment. The programs consist of Food Stamps, Low Income Energy Assistance (LEAP), Child Care Assistance, Family/Child Medicaid, Medicaid Transportation and Aid to the Needy and Dependent. These basic programs are provided in an atmosphere of decency and high regard for families and individuals.

• Colorado Works Program - is the new public assistance program enacted in Colorado in 1997 following federal welfare reform legislation. Colorado Works, administered by the Human Services Department, provides assistance to families in the form of temporary income payments, food stamps, grants, job training and child care assistance to help clients find and retain jobs and gain financial independence.

Senior Programs - The office of La Plata County Senior Services is located at the Durango/La Plata Senior Center, 2424 Main Avenue in Durango. The Durango/La Plata Senior Center offers a variety of services including nutritional meals, a home chore program, recreational and social activities, information, referral and outreach. The Home Chore Program provides assistance to seniors for minor safety, heavy cleaning, yard work and snow shoveling. Please call  (970) 382-6445 for more information and coordination of services.

Nutritional meals are served at the Senior Center at 12:00 noon daily. The suggested donation price is $3.00 for adults age 60 and over. Meal reservations are required. Please call (970) 382-6445 by 10:00 daily for meal reservations.

For additional information about senior services please call the Durango/La Plata Senior Center at (970) 382-6445.

National Clearinghouse for Long-Term Care Information: This is a new web site developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to provide information and resources to help you and your family plan for future long-term care (LTC) needs.

Veterans Service Office - provides assistance in accessing veterans benefits and programs. The Colorado Division of Veterans Affairs reported that  La Plata County was home to 4,396 veterans in 2008.  In 2008, this unit provided information and referral services to more than 1,500 veterans with regard to medical assistance, pension awards, home loans, and other benefits.   For additional information, please call Richard Schleeter, Veteran Services Officer at (970) 759-0117 or email (schleeterrs@co.laplata.co.us)

• NEW GI BILL OFFERS VETERANS EXPANDED EDUCATION BENEFITS

For additional information about any of these programs, please call the Human Services Department (970)382-6150.