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“A forever home.”
Those were the simple but powerful words of 12-year-old Dominick, when asked what being adopted means to him. He and his older brother Deangelo found their forever home on last year’s Weld County Adoption Day, when they officially became the sons of Chris Babcock-Hooper.
Although he doesn’t wear a cape, Chris is a real-life superhero. At just 24 years old, past experience motivated him to become a foster parent. And at 25, this inspiring man became a single father to two teenagers.
“I just wanted to make a difference in these kids’ lives,” recalled Chris. “I was ready to make a safe place for them, and so excited to make them a permanent part of my family. I would never change the decision I made. It feels so good to know that I finally get to be ‘Dad.’”
“An anchor for the family.”
That’s what Julie Witkowski, who heads the Weld County Department of Human Services (DHS) Family Resource Division, wants the Family Forever post-adoption support program to be for all adoptive families. Julie, who has worked in social services for 20 years, not only understands the ins and outs of the DHS system but also has a passion for supporting adoptive families who, she says, sometimes just want to be assured they really are a family…forever.
“Children who have experienced trauma often have some additional hurts and needs. And while parenting children from hard places is one of the most admirable things a person can do, it’s not an easy job,” explained Julie. “That’s why the county commissioners and DHS decided to create a dedicated team to provide for our county’s growing adoptive family community. This way, those families have a safety net of support and resources whenever they need it. We’re here for as long as it takes, to make sure they know they’re not alone.”
After a child is adopted and all the paperwork, meetings and legal proceedings are done, the role of government in an adoptive family’s life is officially finished. However, in Weld County, DHS directors and the commissioners recognized that the steadily increasing adoptive family population was severely underserved and in urgent need of support. So, they did something about it.
In March of 2018, commissioners approved creating the Family Forever program to provide support to adoptive families. Julie was hired and began building a small but mighty team, comprised of two other staff members who also happen to be adoptive parents, who now brings much needed assistance and support to more than 500 adoptive families.
“Because of their own experiences, the Family Forever team is familiar with the level of support it takes to maintain a blended family,” said Julie. “Those family dynamics also mean they can empathize with and relate to adoptive parents in search of assistance on a deeply personal level. Sometimes they can even predict when certain supports may be helpful and when specific trainings could be beneficial for struggling families.”
Julie and her team provide access to many forms of support, such as specialized training opportunities that can help with developmental, educational and mental health issues, different types of therapies, mentoring, working with advocacy groups to help with school IEPs (Individualized Education Programs), providing referrals to community resources, case management services, a resource lending library, respite care and more.
“Basically, our goal is to provide continuing support to all adoptive families, whatever that support looks like. Even if it’s just listening to a parent vent about something they’re struggling with,” said Julie.
The Family Forever team receives referrals for newly-adoptive parents from the DHS adoption unit, in addition to the other families who reach out to the team on their own. Any family who has adopted and lives in Weld County, and any family who has adopted from the Weld County child welfare system and lives elsewhere, is eligible to receive the completely free and voluntary services offered by the Family Forever program. Adoptive families are encouraged to reach out to the team for assistance at any time.
“Making permanency permanent.”
“Permanency means that all children are with their families, that a child knows who they’re going to be with for the rest of their life. That’s why Family Forever was created: to help families stay together no matter what and to maintain stability and have access to the resources needed to be successful,” explained Julie. “Support for families doesn’t end on the day they adopt. That’s when permanency really begins.”
As for Chris, he is glad to know support is available should he need it. “My case manager lets me know she is always there for me, ready to support us with anything we need,” he said. “She’s been great!”
By Megan Garziano, Weld County Communications Specialist
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