About

Photo of Human Services Staff

Partnering with the community to protect those in harm's way and help all people in need. 


One in three people in Denver turn to us for support at all stages of life. Our employees help children, older adults, families, and individuals navigate social and economic pressures by connecting them to services and experts who support their overall well-being. Every day, our caring, trained professionals work with our community to protect those in harm’s way and help all people in need.

At Denver Human Services, we envision a healthy community where people are connected, supported, safe and well. In collaboration with our community, clients, and workforce, we developed a strategic plan to guide our work over the next three years. 

Our Leadership

Jay Morein, Executive Director

emt_jaymorein_500x600.jpgJay Morein serves as the executive director at Denver Human Services, where one in three Denver residents receive support. Morein is revitalizing the vision of DHS by focusing on building a healthy community where everyone is connected, supported, safe and well.

Prior to serving in the executive director role, Morein was the chief of operations at the department where he supported and advised the day-to-day workings of Denver Human Services, which included direct oversight of the assistance, protection and prevention, and support services sections, and ensured alignment of operations with strategic goals. He also served as the department's chief of staff from 2015 to 2019.

Morein started his human services career in 1981 as the chief accountant for Denver Human Services. His role quickly expanded to include budget development and management, and later, he was appointed as the agency's deputy executive director. In 2009, Morein assumed the role of director of finance and administration for the Boulder County Department of Housing and Human Services and in 2011, he was tapped by the Colorado Department of Human Services to serve as director of the Office of Performance and Strategic Outcomes. In that position, Morein oversaw the $2.1 billion state human services budget, the audit division, the child welfare and food assistance quality assurance activities, and was instrumental in developing and implementing the statewide performance management system. Morein was deeply involved in the negotiation with the Administration for Children and Families for Colorado's Title IV-E Waiver. On retiring from the State of Colorado, Morein was tapped by Casey Family Programs to consult with other states and tribes in their pursuit of Title IV-E waivers.

A Denver native, Morein and his wife June live in the Denver suburb of Parker and have four children—Rachel, LeAnne, Sarah, and Alex.

Mimi Scheuermann, Chief Operating Officer

emt_mimischeuermann.jpgMimi Scheuermann is the chief operating officer of Denver Human Services.

Scheuermann joined Denver Human Services in 2017 after serving for nearly 10 years with the Colorado Department of Human Services. As the state's child welfare training manager, she was responsible for trainings offered to caseworkers, supervisors and foster parents. Prior to that, she served as the ongoing child protective services administrator and provided direct, continuous, and as-needed support to all 64 county human services departments in Colorado. She was also responsible for training the Colorado state judicial staff on general casework practice, decision-making, and safety and risk assessments.

Most recently, Scheuermann served as the deputy executive director of protection and prevention for Denver Human Services, leading the protection and prevention programs for vulnerable children, youth, families, and at-risk adults. She holds both master's and bachelor's degrees in social work from the University of Wisconsin at Madison.

Judé Liguori-Oliver, Deputy Executive Director of Assistance

emt_judeligourioliver.jpg Judé Liguori-Oliver brings more than 30 years of experience serving Denver children and families to her work. As deputy executive director of assistance, she is responsible for overseeing both the Child Support Services and Family and Adult Assistance divisions. 

Previously, she served as director of the Child Support Services division, where she developed an engagement model for all levels of staff. Under her leadership, the division employed inclusive decision-making to expand outreach and education for non-custodial parents to help them meet their financial obligations, participate in their children’s lives and contribute to their well- being. 

Prior to that, she served as a child welfare administrator over the Child Protection Section and the BETA Section-integrated paired teams. In her leadership roles and as a prior trainer, she developed and supervised programs that increased collaboration with families and communities to achieve child safety, well-being and permanency. 

Liguori-Oliver has been invited to speak throughout Colorado and at national conferences on multiple issues affecting child welfare and community collaboration, as well as on innovative ways to change agency cultures. She holds both a master’s in administration with a concentration in social work and a bachelor’s in social work from West Chester University in Pennsylvania.

Kaye Templeton, Deputy Executive Director of Operations

Kaye Templeton photo Kaye Templeton is Denver Human Services' deputy executive director of Operations, managing Financial Services Division (FSD), Performance Improvement and Accountability Division (PIAD), and Facilities, Safety and Security (FSS). Kaye works to ensure the department’s operations provide quality and timely services with integrity, kindness and respect.

Prior to joining DHS, Kaye worked in human services as an administrative support supervisor at Morgan County Social Services, transitioning on to Adams County, and then joining the City and County of Denver in 2000. She has been at the department for 21 years. Kaye’s commitment to DHS’ mission of partnering with our community to protect those in harm’s way and help all people in need has been central to her work.

At DHS, she has served as a Child Support Services (CSS) legal technician, administrative process action establishment supervisor and CSS deputy director. Kaye has also collaborated on initiatives with the CSS Parenthood Program and expanded CSS education in Denver neighborhoods. Most recently, she led as the division director of PIAD, overseeing document management, program integrity, privacy and records and continuous improvement sections.

When she’s not at work, Kaye likes spending time with her family and friends. She also enjoys raising geese, chickens and dogs on her farm near Bennett, Colorado.

Josie Berry, Deputy Executive Director of Prevention and Protection

Josie Berry Josie Berry is Denver Human Services' deputy executive director of Prevention and Protection. She manages Child Welfare (CW) and Adult Protective Services (APS), and Resource Engagement and Prevention (REP), ensuring the department’s operations provide quality and timely services with integrity, kindness and respect.

Josie began her career in child welfare in Arapahoe County as an intern in 1997 and, following graduation, worked as an intake caseworker, child and adult protection hotline supervisor, and intake supervisor before joining the City and County of Denver in 2015 as a deputy division director. Most recently, she has served as the division director for CW and APS.

Josie is passionate about strengthening families through positive community collaborations and enhancing child welfare practice in the areas of family engagement, father engagement, and with families who have experienced domestic violence.

In her free time, Josie enjoys the outdoors, listening to podcasts and music, and being with loved ones.

Katie Smith, City Attorney, Director of Denver Human Services Legal Team

katie smith photo

With a career that began in public service, Katie’s experience includes advocating for homeless families, defending juveniles and adults in criminal proceedings, and representing the best interests of children as a guardian ad litem. For the past 18 years, Katie has provided legal counsel and representation to Denver Human Services. She served for 14 years as an attorney and supervisor in the child welfare legal unit, before being promoted in 2015 to Division Director of the Denver Human Services legal section. A graduate of the University of Colorado, Katie earned her juris doctor degree from the University of Denver, Sturm College of Law. Outside of the office, Katie enjoys time with her family and spending time in the great outdoors.

Tammy Davis, Director of Human Resources

Tammy Davis Tammy Davis serves as the director of the Office of Human Resources (OHR) at DHS. She is also the agency's senior human resources business partner.

Tammy has been with the City and County of Denver (CCD) since July 2015 and has a combination of government and private industry experience. This has provided her with a foundation to adapt to challenging environments, and the aptitude to work with diverse, multicultural workforces. She is an accomplished human resource professional with 20 years of extensive experience in high growth, fast-paced environments.

Tammy began her career in human resources in the United States Air Force culminating a 23-year career as the combat support superintendent, where she advised directors and senior management on matters influencing readiness, training, employee morale, retention and effective utilization of over 100,000 military, civilians and dependents.

Before joining CCD, Tammy worked in the banking industry where her strong interpersonal and team building skills allowed her to lead on associate engagement, and implementation of operational efficiency and effectiveness. Tammy has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership.