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Draft:Morgan County Department of Human Services

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Morgan County Department of Human Services
TypeCounty Agency
HeadquartersMorgan County
Location
  • Fort Morgan, CO
Executive Director
Jacque Frenier
Deputy Director
Rogelio Segura
Websitehttps://morgancounty.colorado.gov/human-services

The Morgan County Department of Human Services (MCDHS) is located in Fort Morgan, Colorado. It provides social support services to Morgan County residents, under the oversight of county commissioners and the State of Colorado's Department of Human Services. Among the programs administered by them include SNAP, TANF, Head Start and various programs benefitting children and elderly residents [1]. During the 2023-2024 fiscal cycle, the Department oversaw a budget of $68 million dollars [2].

Leadership

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Executive Director

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  • Jacque Frenier

Deputy Director

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  • Rogelio Segura

Program-Specific Leadership

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  • Susanne Brown - Intake-Child Protection
  • Angela Sneddon - Ongoing-Child Protection
  • Shantel Nelson - Core-Child Protection
  • David Bute - Attorney for Department
  • Jason Summers - IT Liaison for Department

Controversies

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Sexual Exploitation of Parents in Child Welfare Cases

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In 2019, the Fort Morgan Times News reported the arrest of Mario E. Martha-Pro, at the time, an employee of the Morgan County Department of Human Services [3] . He was arrested and charged with felony sexual assault charges. According to the article, Martha who was a social caseworker, had pressured women into performing sexual acts against their will in order for them to reunite with their children. The Department fired Martha shortly afterwards. The victim, Sarah Tafoya, filed a lawsuit later that year [4]. During the legal proceedings, it was discovered that Martha had made unwanted sexual advances towards his co-workers and that the Director had failed to act. Tafoya later died in 2023, under suspicious circumstances [5].

Hiring of Former Washington County Executive Director, Grant Smith

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In 2022, the Department hired former Washington County Department of Human Services Director Grant Smith after he resigned in lieu of being terminated. According to Colorado 9News, Smith in his previous role, had made sexualized comments about parents and refused to return an infant to the care of his parents, despite them being fit parents [6]. An investigation by the Colorado Child Welfare Ombudsman's Office uncovered numerous issues with how Smith oversaw child welfare services in Washington County. In partnership with the State of Colorado, an audit was commenced reviewing child welfare cases during his tenure.

Awards

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In 2023, the Department successfully completed a State Improvement Plan [7] .

  1. ^ "State Board of Human Services". CDHS. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  2. ^ "Morgan County 2023 Budget" (PDF). Morgan County Colorado. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  3. ^ "Fort Morgan Man Arrested on Sexual Assault Charges". The Fort Morgan Times. 2019-12-04. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  4. ^ Bradbury, Shelly (2021-11-16). "Caseworker pressured Colorado woman into sex by promising to help regain custody of daughter, lawsuit alleges". The Denver Post. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  5. ^ Irizarry, Jaleesa (2023-07-27). "Fort Morgan man accused of killing Sterling woman". 9News. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  6. ^ Hewson, Anna (2023-07-27). "State calls for review of years worth of child welfare cases in Washington County". 9News. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  7. ^ Reyez, Zant (2023-10-19). "Morgan County DHS Child Welfare Division Celebrated for Completing State Improvement Plan". The Fort Morgan Times. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
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