Public Awareness Communications Specialist

Posting number: IHA 05674 08/7/2026

Department: Colorado Department of Human Services

Division: OCYF (Office of Children, Youth & Families)

Job classification: Marketing & Communications Specialist III

Posting type: Open & Promotional

Categories: Marketing

Summary

Please note: This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

This position is open to current Colorado residents only.

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Examples of duties

About this Unit:
The Office of Children, Aging and Community Services (OCACS) Communications and Outreach unit exists to manage the communications and outreach efforts of the OCACS related to internal programs and divisions as well as external activities including, but not limited to, the supervision of 64 counties’ social/human services for compliance with Federal and State statutes and regulations, recruitment and retention of foster and adoptive families, and the promotion of the Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline 844-CO-4-Kids, as well as child abuse prevention strategie


About this Position:
In 2015, the Colorado Department of Human Services launched an ongoing public awareness campaign to engage all Coloradans in the prevention of child abuse and promote the new Colorado Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline 844-CO-4-Kids. The public awareness campaign, called CO4Kids, has grown to include the various ways Coloradans can get involved, including fostering, adopting, and reporting child abuse and neglect. Under the direction of the OCACS communications manager, this communications specialist is responsible for ongoing implementation of the hotline and child abuse prevention components of the CO4Kids public awareness campaign.

This position serves as a communications specialist, coordinating with other communications staff within CDHS as well as with staff in OCACS.

This position reports to the OCACS communication manager, who is responsible for leading and finalizing the OCACS communications strategy. This position works with the communications manager, who ensures that the position’s work and the work of contracted vendors is accurate, consistent, and aligned with the communications strategy.

This position is also an active member of the OCACS communications team, responsible for collaborating with team members in brainstorming and problem-solving. 

This position promotes a positive image of the CO4Kids campaign and OCACS by supporting media relations, marketing campaigns, and special events. This position develops content for a variety of communication channels, including but not limited to social media, websites, newsletters, and events.

Summary of Duties:

• Project coordinator for the Hotline and child abuse prevention portion of the CO4Kids campaign. Responsible for contributing to the overall team’s (OCACS communication team and contracted vendor) brainstorming and implementation of ideas. Facilitates communication between OCACS communications and vendors, coordinates logistics such as scheduling. Works directly with Colorado families and outside vendor(s) to share their stories through awareness videos as well as online narratives.
• Primary staff point of contact for the CO4Kids website. Responsibilities include responding to website inquiries, approving submitted events, and creating user accounts. Responsible for posting blog updates on the website and updates to Hotline and prevention information on the website. 
• Write and update messaging and content for various audiences, including but not limited to the general public and mandatory reporters of child abuse and neglect, for a variety of purposes including but not limited to newsletters, brochures, websites, toolkits, talking points and social media. Writes first drafts of press