Consequently, persons investigating reports of child abuse are required to take into account accepted child-rearing practices of the child's culture. In addition, dependency and neglect petitions are not filed in instances of spiritual healing in Colorado. State law allows parents to treat their children through spiritual means in lieu of medical treatment. The religious beliefs of a parent, however, cannot prevent a child from receiving medical care when a condition is life-threatening or will result in serious disability. Parental consent is usually required for medical treatment, unless the minor is married or fifteen years of age or older and living apart from his or her parent independently.
Permanent sterilization is a medical procedure that requires parental consent.
A minor may obtain mental health services without the consent of a parent, but the health care provider may notify the parents of the treatment without the minor's consent. Parents have the option of placing their children in public, independent, parochial, or private home-based education programs. In the area of public education, parents can provide their ideas on policy to their locally elected school boards and educational accountability and content standards committees. Under state law, parents may remove their children from a health educational program, which may include sex education, if it is contrary to the parents' religious beliefs. The amendment is intended to affirm the individual, natural, and inalienable rights of parents in raising their children.