August 2022• ISSUE 6 • VOLUME 2
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Foster parents are the best recruiters. The lived experiences of our foster families and youth in foster care speak volumes. As our foster families encounter their community through day-to-day living, people in our community take notice. Many people tell me that they could never foster. Most of the time, they cite not thinking they would handle reunification well after having bonded with kids in their home. This is understandable and foster parents will confirm that this is tough.
There is, to be sure, a time of grief and loss that the family will need to navigate, especially when kids have been in the home for a significant time. In the words of Scott Nix, “It’s like signing up to get punched in the gut.” Thanks, Scott, for your special way of encouraging people to step up to the plate. LOL! But seriously, this experience demonstrates the mark the kids leave in our hearts. We are different – better - having known them. There’s something special that happens when we share someone else’s burden. And that’s what foster parents do.
When was the last time you asked someone whether they had considered fostering?
Don’t forget, Weld County foster parents can refer a family up to five per calendar year and receive $100 upon placement (more for families who take in teens). The referred family must name you at the inquiry or by their orientation. Have your friends and family visit www.weldgov.com/go/fostercare for more information and to register for orientation.
Kristy
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Weld County Foster/Kinship/Adoption Support Group
 Thursday, August 18, 2022, from 6 - 8:00 p.m. at the Weld County Department of Human Services located at 315 N. 11th Ave., Bldg. A Greeley, CO 80634.
Contact John Killen at (970) 400-6239 or register here.
Windsor’s Harvest Festival Parade!
Monday, September 5, 2022
Join us as we recruit more foster families at the Windsor Harvest Festival. For more information and/or to join our parade team, contact deandakr@weldgov.com.
Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI)
Fall: September 6 - October 25, 2022
Tuesdays, 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
TBRI is an attachment-focused, evidence-based parenting and intervention model. It is trauma-informed intervention that is specifically designed for parents and caregivers of children who come from “hard places.” Weld County requires foster parents to attend TBRI within their first year of fostering.
Click here to register.
Questions? Contact Kate Wurtz, (970) 400-6360.
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Meet Aaron!
Aaron, age 10, is an inquisitive boy who enjoys talking about space, science, geography, and history. He’s a Denver Broncos football fan who also loves exploring, adventuring, reading, writing, and playing video games, especially Minecraft. Aaron would do well with a nurturing and patient family, and he would like to grow up with his sister, age 11, and his brother, age 8.
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Visit Weld County’s Waiting Kids for more information about children and youth waiting for a foster adoptive family.
Please note that only families who already have a home study are eligible to adopt from Weld County. If you are interested in our waiting kids, you can learn about them and the adoption process by emailing macdonje@weldgov.com or by calling (970) 400-6472.
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Restoring Foundations for Kids (RFK) Camp
 A big thank you to RFK for serving Weld and Larimer with an awesome weeklong summer camp for our kids. Looks like an absolute blast!
Learn more about RFK here.
Joyce Hause, Child Welfare Quality Assurance Reviewer
I have worked with child welfare for 39 years. I have worked with the county and youth for three years before that. Over that time, I have worked with some amazing foster parents who I thought of as a part of the team on the case. One foster family set aside a room to allow previous foster children to return to their home for a short period when the department was no longer working with the youth.
Another foster parent sewed dresses for foster children for special occasions such as prom and weddings, although the foster child may not have been living in their home any longer. One foster family always planned camping trips with the foster children outside of the state. It was always fun when the girls returned excited about sitting on the giant green dinosaur in South Dakota. One foster family shared with their family members the benefits they received fostering children and eight of their relatives joined as foster families.
Not all foster families need to do these extra things to be considered extraordinary. You are wonderful to take children into your homes and share your family with them.
Joyce Hause (staff highlight above) used this playdough recipe when working with preschool children. She stated that it also helped older children to release some anger and frustration.
Playdough Recipe:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup salt
- 4 teaspoons cream of tartar (in the spice aisle)
- 2 cups lukewarm water
- 2 Tablespoons of vegetable oil (coconut oil or baby oil works too)
- Food coloring
- Quart sized bags
Stir together the flour, salt and cream of tartar in a large pot. Next add the water and oil. If you’re only making one color, add in the food coloring now as well. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly. Continue stirring until the dough has thickened and begins to form into a ball. Remove from heat and then place inside a gallon-sized bag or onto wax paper. Allow to cool slightly and then knead until smooth. If you’re adding colors after, divide the dough into balls (for how many colors you want) and then add the dough into the quart sized bags. Start with about 5 drops of food coloring and add more to brighten it. Knead the dough, while inside the bag so it doesn’t stain your hands.
Once it’s all mixed together you’re ready to PLAY.
Store the play dough inside the bags once done to keep soft. Keeps for up to 3 months.
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Are you interested in fostering? Register for an orientation to learn more about foster care and the certification process.
Upcoming orientations:
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Wednesday, August 10, 2022, 4:30-6:00 p.m. at the Department of Human Services, Bldg. B, 315 11th Ave., Greeley, CO 80631.
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Wednesday, August 24, 2022, 4:30-6:00 p.m. at Weld County Social Services, 4209 Weld County Road 24 1/2, Longmont, CO 80504.
Upcoming pre-certification training options:
 We hope to meet you at one of our upcoming meetings! In the meantime, please reach out if you have any questions. For more information and to register for an orientation, please visit www.weldgov.com/go/fostercare or email Kristy at deandakr@weldgov.com.
Weld County is proud to partner with Realities for Children, a 501(c)3 charitable organization, to collect monetary and item donations for our children and teens in foster care. Your gift provides emergency funding to Weld County youth who have been abused, neglected or are at-risk. All donations are tax deductible, and 100% of your donation goes directly to help our children and teens in foster care. Click here for more information.
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