Governor Polis Announces Human Services Executive Director Michelle Barnes’s Departure From the State, Thanks Her For Years of Service

DENVER - Today, Governor Polis announced that Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) Michelle Barnes resigned from her position with the Polis Administration. Michelle has served as the Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Human Services since February 2019.

"I thank Michelle for her years of dedicated service to the State of Colorado. As Executive Director of the Department of Human Services, Michelle has supported Coloradans in need at all stages of life, including during the pandemic. During her tenure, CDHS has focused on helping Coloradans facing substance abuse, ensuring young Coloradans have safe and loving homes, supporting older adults and those with disabilities, providing families with access to healthy foods and more. I am grateful for Michelle's compassion and service to our state and her commitment to some of our most vulnerable Coloradans," said Governor Polis.

"It has been an honor to be part of this administration. I leave with tremendous confidence in the CDHS leadership team and their ability to continue the important work of providing bold and innovative health and human services to the people of this state. I have been honored to work alongside so many dedicated and talented public servants, and I am deeply grateful for all they do every day on behalf of Coloradans," commented Michelle Barnes.

Under Michelle Barnes's leadership, CDHS helped hundreds of thousands of vulnerable kids and families get access to the benefits and services needed to thrive. Barnes also oversaw the Department during the COVID-19 pandemic, adapting critical services for those in need and protecting populations in CDHS's care. CDHS has achieved various Wildly Important Goals (WIGs), including improving operations at Colorado's two state mental health hospitals and reducing the number of youth in out-of-home placements. In recent years, Michelle and the CDHS team have made dramatic operational improvements in the SNAP program, including partnering with counties and local governments to achieve their WIG and increase the timeliness of processing of SNAP applications from 75% to more than 95%. Barnes has also overseen the expansion of the services the State provides to Coloradans in need of psychiatric care. From 2023 to 2024, Barnes also served as the interim Commissioner of the Behavioral Health Administration, helping to set up a new agency and improve access to behavioral healthcare for all Coloradans.

Minna Castillo, CDHS's Deputy Executive Director for Community Partnerships, will step in to lead CDHS on a short-term basis. Further updates will be communicated soon regarding CDHS leadership through the remainder of the Polis Administration.

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