About Denver Human Services

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 vision framework to guide our work over the next three years. Called Human Together, the framework outlines five strategic goals:

1. Increasing equity and access
2. Ensuring safety and wellness
3. Improving connectivity
4. Encouraging economic resilience
5. Supporting our workforce

We invite you to review Human Together and partner with us in building well-being and resiliency for every child, adult, and senior in Denver.

Denver Human Services is our city’s investment in the potential of its people. We serve our community through the following programs and divisions:

• The Administration Division is responsible for the overall management of the department and includes the offices of the executive director and deputy managers.
• Child Support Services is responsible for ensuring quality and timely child support services and resources.
• Child Welfare is responsible for providing child protection services, adoption, and foster care resources, and advocacy for Denver youth and children.
• Adult Protective Services provides protection services, resource, and advocacy for seniors.
  
• The Community Outreach and Resource Engagement Division works with community partners to bring increased access to assistance, benefits, nutrition, and other wellness services to the neighborhoods that need it most. 
• The Family and Adult Assistance Division is responsible for providing food, cash, and medical benefits assistance, as well as other help to Denver residents.
• The Financial Services Division is responsible for providing timely and accurate financial services, contracting services, and fiscal management.
• The Performance Improvement and Accountability Division oversees fraud investigations, internal audits, and Peak Performance improvement initiatives.
  

Jennifer Yeaw

Jennifer Yeaw is a proven national human services leader, recognized for her work engaging with communities to help address some of their most pressing issues. Jennifer joined Denver Human Services as Chief of Staff in December 2018 and supervises the day-to-day operations of the department and its executive management team. She leads the department in implementing Human Together, our strategic vision for a healthy community where each person is connected, supported, safe, and well. Before moving to Denver, Jennifer served the City of New York for over a decade, leading efforts to increase economic opportunity for millions of people and transform service delivery to improve client and staff experience. She served most recently as Chief of Staff of the NYC Department of Social Services, the nation’s largest public social services agency, as well as Executive Officer for Medical Insurance and Community Services at the NYC Human Resource Administration, Director of Government Relations at the NYC Department of Homeless Services, and as a Special Advisor in Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s City Hall. Jennifer is a graduate of Hunter College and earned a Master of Public Policy from the University of Chicago. 

Bettina Schneider

Bettina has more than 25 years of management, budgeting, and financial and policy analysis experience for state and local governments. She is skilled in both quantitative and qualitative analysis and is a Black Belt in Lean and Six Sigma process improvement methodologies. As Deputy Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer for Denver Human Services, Bettina oversees the finance and administration of the department, including the financial services, process improvement and accountability, and facility, safety, and security support divisions and wellness program. In addition, she provides the Executive Director and Chief of Staff with an operating budget to ensure programmatic success through cost-analysis support and compliance with contractual and programmatic requirements. Bettina holds both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s of public administration from the University of Montana.

Joe Homlar

As Deputy Executive Director, Prevention and Protection, for Denver Human Services, Joe oversees the Child Welfare, Adult Protection, and Child Support Services divisions, as well as Denver’s program to support residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Prior to his current role, he served for three years as Director of the Denver Human Services Child Welfare Division. Over the past several years, he and his team have led collective efforts to integrate child welfare and child support services, increase family involvement and engagement, and reduce institutional and foster care placements. Joe has also spearheaded cross-agency collaboration to enhance safety for Denver’s children and youth. A graduate of Carleton College and the University of Wisconsin at Madison, Joe is a licensed clinical social worker with a master’s in social work.

Todd Jorgensen

Todd is a Denver native with 25 years of experience working in public management and policy development. Todd has held leadership roles in human services, housing, transportation, and energy in both the executive and legislative branches at the municipal, county, and state levels. His began his human services career 15 years ago at the Colorado Department of Human Services’ Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF) program. Today, Todd serves as Deputy Executive Director, Assistance, at Denver Human Services. In this role, he oversees the family and adult assistance and community outreach and resource engagement divisions, which provide essential services, including food, cash, and medical assistance, to Denver residents. A graduate of the University of Colorado at Boulder, Todd earned a master’s in public administration from the University of Colorado at Denver.

Katie Smith

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.

Kat Barker

Kat joined the Denver Human Services management team in 2016. In her role, she provides strategic HR counsel on employee engagement and leads key initiatives in collaboration with the Office of Human Resources for the City and County of Denver. A proven leader in her field, Kat brings in-depth experience in all aspects of human resources, including leadership capability, organizational development, compensation administration, recruiting and retention, international HR, succession planning and preparing for demanding organizational situations. She has more than 20 years of progressive HR experience in a broad range of industries, including high-tech manufacturing, education, technology, telecom and semi-conductor. She holds a master’s in organizational management from the University of Phoenix, as well as her Senior Human Resources Professional certification.

Amy Fidelis

With over 10 years of experience in community relations, marketing, and public relations, Amy is accomplished at engaging diverse audiences and creating award-winning community education programs. In her current role, Amy leads communications and marketing strategies across multiple platforms to increase access, reduce stigma, and support staff. She began her career as a high school teacher with Denver Public Schools. Since then, she has held bilingual community outreach, marketing, and communications roles supporting nonprofit, financial services, and government agencies. A graduate of the University of Colorado at Denver, Amy also has a black belt in process improvement from the City and County of Denver's Peak Academy.