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For family, friends & chosen DSPsJoin the support team of someone you know.
If you're already showing up for someone with a disability — your son or daughter, your sister, your best friend — you may be able to join their support team as a paid Direct Support Professional (DSP) when eligibility, authorization and employment requirements are met. giv.care provides the employment, training, payroll, EVV and ongoing support.
Services and paid DSP opportunities depend on Health First Colorado eligibility, individual authorization, approved services, and DSP qualifications.
More people may be eligible than most families realize.
Colorado's rules depend on your relationship to the person you care for. Here's the plain-language version.
Parents of adults (18+)
In Colorado, parents of adult children are not "Legally Responsible Persons" — so you can generally be hired and paid as their caregiver.
Siblings and other relatives
Brothers, sisters, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws.
Friends and neighbors
Some of the best DSPs come from the wider circle — friends of the family, neighbors, a former teacher or aide.
Spouses
A spouse is a Legally Responsible Person. Colorado allows paid spouse care only in certain programs and situations — ask us what applies before applying.
Parents of minors
Parents of children under 18 are Legally Responsible Persons under Colorado rules. giv.care Colorado currently serves adults 18 and older, so DSP roles supporting children aren't available through giv.care at this time.
Authorized Representatives
A person serving as someone's Authorized Representative for self-direction generally can't also be their paid attendant.
A paid DSP role depends on:
- An eligible person with authorized services
- An available service giv.care is approved to provide
- You meeting employment and service qualifications
- Successful screening, training and onboarding
- giv.care's operational capacity
As giv.care expands into selected DD waiver services, additional DSP opportunities may become available.
No job, number of hours or start date is promised. Rules change — we'll confirm what applies to your family. Sources: 10 CCR 2505-10 §8.7500–8.7528, HCPF.
What goes into your pay.
DSP compensation depends on the role, service, location, qualifications, experience and current employment offer. The applicable pay rate is provided before an applicant accepts a position.
- Pay depends on the role, service, location, qualifications and experience.
- The applicable rate is provided before you accept a position.
- Estimates are not offers of employment or guarantees of hours.
Colorado's weekly hour cap per caregiver
Colorado is phasing in a limit on how many hours one caregiver can provide to one person each week for personal care, homemaker and related services — with an exception process. Here's the schedule:
This is a statewide rule for those services, shown for general information. It is not a giv.care service or pay schedule — giv.care Colorado currently provides Supported Living Services (SLS), and hours depend on what's authorized in the person's plan.
A 16-hours-per-day limit also applies. Source: HCPF Operational Memo 26-043. Estimates are illustrative, not an offer of employment or a guarantee of hours.
Direct support is professional work. We treat it that way.
W‑2 employment
Eligible DSPs are W‑2 employees of giv.care, paid every two weeks. We handle payroll and taxes — no invoices, no chasing reimbursements.
Everything in one app
Schedule shifts, clock in and out with EVV, and write your shift notes from your phone — complete notes keep pay on time.
Flexible scheduling
Plan shifts directly with the person you support — around work, school and family life.
Training and competency
Structured onboarding, CPR & First Aid, Colorado's required provider training, and coaching specific to the person you support.
Screening and enrollment
DSP roles may require background screening, fingerprinting, training and other enrollment steps. giv.care explains the applicable requirements and responsibilities during onboarding.
Supervision and support
Ongoing supervision, help planning for coverage where possible, and a Colorado team that responds.
Requirements, without the runaround.
Family and friends meet the same standards as any giv.care DSP — because the people you support deserve the best-prepared support team possible. We walk you through every step.
- A smartphone with a data plan — Apple or Android, to use the giv.care app.
- Colorado background checks — including a Colorado Adult Protective Services (CAPS) check and a fingerprint-based CBI check. giv.care explains the applicable requirements and responsibilities during onboarding.
- CPR & First Aid certification — required for all giv.care DSPs, even family.
- Colorado provider training — the state's required HCBS provider curriculum, plus training specific to the person you support.
- Medication training (QMAP) if needed — Colorado requires Qualified Medication Administration Person training for staff who give medications to SLS members.
- Shift notes — a few sentences after each shift, in the app. That's what gets you paid.
Four steps to your first paid shift.
Apply
Tell us about yourself and the person you plan to support.
Talk with our team
A Colorado team member calls to answer questions and map next steps.
Onboard and train
Background checks, fingerprinting, training — tracked in your checklist.
Start supporting
Clock in with EVV through the app. Paid every two weeks.
We won't give a start date until authorization, your onboarding and service setup are complete. Timing depends on background check processing and authorization by the person's Case Management Agency.
Do I work for giv.care or for the family?
You work for giv.care. The person you support can request you as their DSP, and you always have the right to accept or decline.
Can I sign up if I don't have someone to care for yet?
Yes — we'll add you to our Colorado DSP network. Most caregivers join to support a specific person, so it may take longer to receive shifts without that connection.
Do I need certifications if I'm related to the person?
Yes. Every giv.care DSP completes the same training — including CPR and First Aid — so you're fully prepared, even when caring for family.
Is driving or mileage paid?
Not automatically. Transportation must be specifically authorized and is not included with every service. We'll explain what applies before you start.
How many hours will I work?
It depends on the hours authorized in the person's Person-Centered Support Plan, Colorado's weekly per-caregiver limits, and what you and the family agree on.
Turn the support you already give into a professional role.
Tell us about yourself and the person you support — about five minutes. We'll review your situation and explain whether giv.care is a fit.