Guided Reference in Dependency (GRID)
Aboutthe GRID
The Guided Reference in Dependency (G.R.I.D.) is Colorado’s comprehensive guide to the legal standards governing dependency and neglect cases and best practices for child welfare attorneys. The GRID covers the stages of a dependency and neglect case and details black-letter law, statutes, seminal cases, checklists of activities, and considerations for each hearing type. It also contains detailed fact sheets highlighting unique issues arising in dependency law.
As a complete reference guide for guardians ad litem, counsel for youth, and respondent parent counsel, the GRID is intended to be a comprehensive resource on dependency and neglect law in Colorado. The GRID can be used in preparation for all stages of a dependency and neglect case and as an in-court resource. In addition to the Table of Contents, practitioners can use the CTRL+F function to conduct a word search of the GRID’s contents.
INTERESTED IN ORDERING A COPY?
If you would like to buy your own printed copy of the GRID, an organization that would like to order copies for your office, or you are an OCR contractor who missed the January ordering window or would like to purchase more, please email grid@minutemanpressdenver.com with an estimate of how many books you would like to request during the GRID’s next print run. Pricing will vary based on quantity.
Historyand Updates
2025 REVISED GRID
The original 2012 GRID was a collaborative effort among many contributing authors and a statewide advisory committee. The OCR and the Office of Respondent Parents’ Counsel (ORPC) collaborated on later updates of the GRID in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2022. Beginning in 2024, OCR and ORPC undertook an extensive revision to the GRID — incorporating recent legislative changes including HB24-1017 (Foster Youth Bill of Rights), HB 23-1024 (Relative and Kinship Placement), SB 23-039 (Incarcerated Parents), and HB 22-1038 (Counsel for Youth), and many more! It also contains the following NEW fact sheets: Attorney Roles; Congregate Care; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI); and Evidence. This 2025 edition is a critical resource for practitioners and judges involved in dependency and neglect cases.
The OCR and ORPC would like to thank the many individuals who have served as contributing authors and editors for the GRID over the years.
