Welcome to Our Back Office
Aging Caregivers and Families: A Growing Crisis
In Colorado, 71% of individuals with intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) live with family caregivers. Of these caregivers, 21% are over 60, and 35% are aged 41-59*.
As caregivers age, they face increasing challenges in meeting the needs of their loved ones, especially those with significant disabilities.
*https://stateofthestates.ku.edu/sites/stateofthestates/files/2023-11/Colorado-6pg%20revised.pdf
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Introducing Our Back Office
Our Back Office is a concept designed to support aging caregivers, particularly those who have established Family-led PASAs (Program Approved Service Agencies).
Families created PASAs to provide personalized, high-quality care for their loved ones—care that traditional systems failed to deliver. However, running a PASA comes with substantial financial and administrative challenges.
Our Proposed Solution
Our Back Office aims to ease these burdens by offering tailored support and ensuring the continuity of care and services long after families can no longer manage their PASAs.
Family-led PASA providers developed this innovative approach, and it has been refined over six years. In January 2024, we proposed a pilot project to the Colorado Disability Funding Committee to evaluate the effectiveness of this model.
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The good news is that we were awarded a $50,000 grant to make this determination!! So, we are very excited to move forward in this capacity.
We need your help and input! Please register for our informational webinars below.
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Our Back Office. Next Steps.
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We Need Your Voice
Our goal is to connect with Family-led PASAs across Colorado to share the vision of Our Back Office and explore how it can support you and your family. We want to hear directly from you—your challenges, your needs, and how this concept resonates with your unique journey.
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Join us for our upcoming Zoom webinars, where we’ll provide detailed information about Our Back Office and gather real-time feedback through discussion and interactive surveys. Your input is crucial to shaping a solution that works for all Family-led PASAs statewide.
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Together, we can build a stronger future for our families and loved ones.
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Sign up now! Each session will be identical.
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Please register for one of our focus groups below!
​ January 27th @ 2:00 pm
​ February 4th @ 6:00 pm​
February 12th@ 9:00 am
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About Us
Anne Patton
Christy Blakely
Katherine Carol
Anne Patton, a Denver-based disability advocate, fosters inclusion and empowers individuals with disabilities through advocacy, education, and community initiatives. Anne is spearheading the Back Office efforts. Currently, Anne manages her son Chris's PASA.
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Christy Blakley is a Colorado-based disability advocate and the Executive Director of Family Voices Colorado. She is dedicated to empowering families of children with disabilities, ensuring access to resources, and promoting inclusive policies that support their needs. Christy manages her daughter Lauren's PASA and several other people with disabilities.
Katherine Carol is a Colorado-based disability advocate dedicated to fostering inclusion, accessibility, and empowerment for individuals with disabilities. She actively supports the Colorado Employment First initiative, promoting meaningful employment opportunities for all. She co-hosts The Shining Beautiful Series Podcast.
