Guided Reference in Dependency (GRID)
Aboutthe GRID
The Guided Reference in Dependency (G.R.I.D.) is Colorado’s comprehensive guide to the legal landscape governing dependency and neglect cases and offers best practices for child welfare attorneys. The GRID covers the important stages of a dependency and neglect case by providing the relevant black-letter law, statutes, seminal cases, checklists of activities, and considerations for each hearing type. It also contains detailed fact sheets highlighting substantive issues arising in dependency and neglect cases.
As a complete reference guide for guardians ad litem (GALs), counsel for youth (CFY), and respondent parent counsel (RPC), the GRID is intended to be a practical resource for new and experienced practitioners appearing in dependency and neglect cases in Colorado. The GRID can be used in preparation for all stages of a dependency and neglect case, as well 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
THIRD EDITION - JANUARY 2026
The First Edition of the GRID was published in 2012 due to the efforts of many contributing authors and a statewide advisory committee. In 2018, OCR and the Office of Respondent Parents’ Counsel (ORPC) collaborated to issue the Second Edition of the GRID. Between 2012 and 2024, OCR and ORPC also periodically issued supplemental materials and online updates to the GRID to ensure it remained a useful tool for practitioners. In 2024, OCR and ORPC, with the assistance of contributing authors, editors, and subject matter experts, undertook an extensive update and revision to the GRID to reflect the significant legal changes that occurred in the field of dependency and neglect law in the preceding five years. The Third Edition of the GRID was published in January 2025.
In 2026, OCR and ORPC issued a revised version of the Third Edition of the GRID, incorporating new, relevant legislation, such as SB 25-1204 (Colorado’s Comprehensive ICWA) and HB 25-1097 (Placement Transition Plans), as well as changes in federal law and policy impacting the field. The Third Edition of the GRID, now updated, is a vital 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.
