OCTOBER 2022• ISSUE 8 • VOLUME 2
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Happy Fall! I hope you are enjoying the weather and pumpkin spice everything! This month, we’re excited to share that Realities for Children’s KindConnect program has come to
Weld County! KindConnect is a website designed to be the connection of kindness between the household item needs of children, youth, and families involved with foster care, kinship care, and preventative care services in Weld County. This platform allows caseworkers and Weld County staff to connect real-time needs to those interested in donating tax-deductible and gently used items, like cribs, strollers, furniture, cookware, linens and small kitchen appliances that may already be residing in your garage or basement.
We always say not everyone can foster, but everyone can do something! How does KindConnect work? Sign up at RFCKindConnect.org to receive notifications of requests for item needs as they are entered by agency staff. If able to fulfill the item donation request, simply check ‘Donate This Item,’ and a delivery team member will coordinate the pick-up and delivery. Another nifty aspect of this program is that donors can decide how often they want to receive notifications! This is one fantastic way community members can be hands-on in helping to support families in Weld County.
Please help us spread the word that KindConnect has made donating needed household items as simple as the click of a button, letting children, youth, and families know they are not alone! If you’re not yet a foster parent, consider becoming a donor, delivery volunteer, or both! We still need donors and delivery drivers.
Kristy
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Caseworker Panel Presentations - Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022
Do you have questions for caseworkers? What is the role of a caseworker (Permanency, Response, Youth Services, Foster Care Coordinator and Visitation Workers)? Several Weld County foster parents have asked for a panel with caseworkers from each area so foster parents can ask questions and learn more. Now’s your chance!
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North County will be held at the Weld County Department of Human Services Campus (315 north 11th, Greeley- Bldg B) at 12:00-1:30 p.m.- Conference Room.
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South County will be held at the Weld Department of Human Services Del Camino Office (4209 County Rd 24 1/2, Longmont, CO 80504)- at 5:30-7:00 p.m.-Conference Room.
Parent Night Out - Friday, Oct. 21, 2022
 Another Parent Night Out is coming your way for children ages 0-12 at Rocky Mountain Christian Church in Frederick. You deserve a night out!
Register by Oct. 14, 2022 https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5S2DT28.
Weld County Foster/Kinship/Adoption Support Group
Thursday, Oct. 20, 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 for more information or register here.
Christmas Ho Ho Hoedown - Save the Date!
Santa’s getting ready! Gift lists for kids in foster care are due Oct. 20, 2022. For kids placed into a home after 10/20, please reach out to your FCC.
Click here to submit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QVL397J.
Meet James!
James is everyone’s best friend! A wiz with math, he enjoys numbers and problem-solving. James has also become interested in learning Arabic, Japanese, and Chinese, and Greek. James is in school full days and does well. He is autistic and needs consistent supervision. James has limited language skills, but he really lights up around people that he knows and trusts. Supports will be provided for transitioning to a new home.
Visit Weld County’s Waiting Kids for more information about children and youth waiting for a foster adoptive family.
Please note 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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Weld County Foster Care was in Windsor's Harvest Parade!
Did you see us? A big thank you to everyone who came out and joined us!
Nichole Noraker, Foster Care Coordinator
I will always remember when I helped reunite two children with their family in Mexico. They were placed in a wonderful foster home prior to being reconnected with their family. It took a lot of patience and dedication from this foster home to provide safety and structure to these two children while supporting their return home to the family. This foster family went above and beyond caring for these two children, and I am forever grateful they had that support through a difficult and scary time in their life. I commend foster parents for the challenging situations they are often faced with.
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Be connected.
How I grew up significantly impacted my career choice. I decided to choose a career that I knew so well: a case manager. I wanted to focus on seeing and finding forever families for children in the foster care system.
While in training, we were told repeatedly not to let a child get too attached to us. This bothered me, especially hearing it coming out of the mouths of people who talk about the severe trauma that so many children in the foster care system endure. The same was said in an adoption class I attended. I sat in the classroom and challenged the instructors. I said, "Well, if you aren’t going to love the child completely, then why are we here? Aren’t we supposed to be here to provide another loving adult to the child?" The questions would continue, class after class.
It was a reminder that children need an adult they can trust and connect with, even if it's just for a short period of time. Being open to making that connection can make a world of difference.
– Victor Sims, Former Foster Youth
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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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Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022, 4:30-6:00 p.m., Greeley, CO.
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Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022, 4:30-6:00 p.m., virtual via MS Teams.
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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