Meet Aaron! 

Aaron is an inquisitive boy who enjoys discussing space, science, geography, and history. He’s a Denver Broncos football fan who loves exploring, adventuring, reading, writing, and playing video games, especially Minecraft. Aaron would do well with a nurturing and patient family. 

Visit Weld County’s Waiting Kids for more information about children and youth waiting for a foster family.

Please note that only families with 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 calling (970) 400-6472.

KindConnect is coming to Weld County!

KindConnect is a program ran through Realities for Children intended to be the connection of kindness between the item needs of children who have been abused, neglected or are at-risk with community members that have the items they need in northern Colorado.

You can sign up to be a donor and be notified of requests for gently used household items needs as they come to Department of Human Services staff working with children, youth and families. These needs may be things like cribs, strollers, furniture, cookware, linens, small kitchen appliances and more.

Watch this video to learn more: https://vimeo.com/743109028.

Sign up today at RFCKindConnect.org!

Be Compassionate.

Not only do children in the foster system need connection, but they also need compassion. When I was in foster care, I wished to maintain the activities that were important to me. Whether it was seeing my mother, my siblings or just going to my favorite restaurant. If I were to participate in the things that I value, that might have been exactly what I needed to feel comfortable and to feel safe in a new home. Foster parents can show this compassion by allowing kids to continue participating in the things they value.

Besides the physical necessities (like clothes, a roof, etc.), I needed a foster parent who listened, not someone who assumed they understood. I needed someone to say, "I don't know where you came from," and acknowledge that they may not understand what I was going through instead of pretending to know.

In trauma-informed training, we hear people ask questions time and time again, such as "What happened to you?" But in asking that question, we forget the all-important follow-up question: "What is showing up for you at this moment? How are you feeling?" We can't truly understand someone until we ask these questions.

As an adult now, I see myself having to fight this battle of explaining what happened to me but not acknowledging the feeling that I am hurt, weak, or as if I'm not showing up as my best self. Having someone there to ask those questions and hold space for my feelings means the world. That is how true compassion shines through, and it's something foster parents can practice regularly.

– Victor Sims, Former Foster Youth

Megan Wick, LSW

Adoption/Permanency Caseworker

How long have you been in this line of work?

“I have been a caseworker for 4 years and was an intern for 2 years before that.”

Anything you’d like to share with our foster parents?

“Foster Parents have such a positive impact on our children’s lives. They are essential to the work we do and helping children heal.”

Why did you choose social work and what do you do for self-care?

"I got involved in Child Welfare, because I wanted to be able to help families and children. For self-care, I do dog training and competitions with my dog."

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.