We help Colorado Springs parents become trained, paid caregivers for their children through programs like Community First Choice (CFC), IHSS, and the Parent CNA Program. Our goal is to provide the training and stability your family needs to continue caring for your child at home.
IHSS + Community First Choice (CFC)
Rate: $18 to $21 per hour.
Pay varies based on service type and level of care authorized.
IHSS allows parents to become trained, paid caregivers for their children at home. No formal certification is required, and most training takes just a few hours. Our team guides you through the entire process.
Your child may qualify if they are enrolled in Health First Colorado (Medicaid) and meet eligibility requirements under Community First Choice (CFC). Children currently receiving services through HCBS waivers are transitioning into CFC through June 30, 2026. Case managers can help determine eligibility.
What IHSS Covers
Health Maintenance
Care that would typically be provided in a clinical or skilled setting, delivered safely at home.
Personal Care
Support with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, mobility, and reminders, with varying levels of hands-on assistance.
Homemaker Services
Non-medical support including cleaning, meal preparation, and household tasks tailored to the individual's needs and age.

When a child faces a serious medical condition or disability, families often step into the caregiver role without hesitation. Parents learn routines, manage appointments, handle daily support needs, and provide constant supervision, all while trying to keep life as normal as possible.
The Little Heroes First Program was created for families already carrying that responsibility. Our goal is to provide structure, training, and professional support so that the care happening at home can become sustainable for the long term.
The hero in this story is your child. They are the one fighting through challenges most people will never fully understand, and they deserve consistent care from someone who knows them best.
Colorado offers several pathways that may allow a parent or family member to serve as a paid caregiver. The right path depends on your child's diagnosis, needs, and eligibility.

Community First Choice is a Medicaid benefit that allows eligible individuals, including children, to receive personal care, homemaker, and health maintenance services at home. CFC supports participant-directed care, meaning your family can choose a parent or family member as the caregiver. Between 2025 and June 30, 2026, individuals who previously received services through HCBS waivers are transitioning into CFC.
IHSS allows families to direct their child's care by selecting and supervising their own caregivers, including parents. An approved agency like Total Care Connections manages payroll, training, and compliance. IHSS continues as a delivery option within CFC and covers personal care, homemaker services, and health maintenance activities.
Formerly the CHCBS and CLLI waivers, the CwCHN waiver serves children under 18 with complex medical conditions or disabilities who require a level of care typically provided in a hospital or nursing facility. As of July 1, 2025, new enrollment is through the CwCHN waiver. This waiver supports in-home care services, including IHSS, so that children can receive skilled and personal care at home. Through CwCHN, parents and family members may be eligible to serve as paid caregivers.
Colorado's Parent CNA Program allows a parent or family member to become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) to care for their child with special medical needs at home. This is one of the most direct pathways for parents who want to provide hands-on skilled care and receive compensation through Medicaid. Our dedicated Parent CNA Program page explains the full process, eligibility requirements, and training details.
You Don't Have to Do This Alone
Many families come to us feeling frustrated, confused, or stuck in the process. Our role is to simplify everything, advocate for you, and help you move forward with confidence.
The Little Heroes First Program provides structured guidance so families can move from informal caregiving to a supported, professional role when eligible programs allow.
Eligibility Review and Program Navigation
We help determine whether your child may qualify through CFC, IHSS, the CwCHN waiver, the Parent CNA Program, or other Medicaid-funded programs and guide you through the required steps.
Training and Credentialing
We provide required caregiver training, certification support, and assistance with background checks and onboarding documentation. For families pursuing the Parent CNA pathway, we coordinate CNA school enrollment and cover tuition costs.
Employment and Administrative Support
We employ you as your child's caregiver when eligible and manage payroll, compliance requirements, and ongoing documentation so the process remains organized and stable.
Pay and Benefits Support
For families who qualify, compensation is based on authorized care hours and may include access to health insurance, retirement plans, paid leave options, and other employee benefits depending on eligibility and employment status.
How It Works



Family First
Specialized IHSS programs that train and pay family members to serve as caregivers.

Parent CNA Program
A unique pathway for Colorado parents to earn their CNA and provide paid care for their children.
The kinds of support we provide
From daily routines to specialized needs, care is shaped around what’s required at home.
