DECEMBER 2022 • ISSUE 10 • VOLUME 2
|
Last month, we celebrated Weld County Adoption Day with a Board of County Commissioner Proclamation highlighting the families, workers, and community partners who support children and youth through the adoption process.
The Board and the Department of Human Services also honored and sincerely thanked the Walker Family — a foster family in Weld County whose focus has been on helping medically fragile children for over a decade. At the time of the proclamation, the Walkers had adopted nine children, with 13 kids in total. “The Walkers have a passion for medically fragile children, and, with both Jennifer’s and Kurt’s professional nursing backgrounds, they excel at the care they provide in their home. Kurt and Jennifer are fierce advocates for all their children, ensuring they receive a proper education, therapeutic services they need, and space to ‘just be kids,” said Jamie Ulrich, Director of the Weld County Department of Human Services. “Even though their time with Weld County Foster Care is winding down, their legacy of love will continue here in Weld County.”
The Walkers celebrated Weld County Adoption Day by finalizing the adoptions of two more children, changing the total number of children’s lives to 15!
Finally, as we finish the year and celebrate the holiday season, we celebrate all our fantastic foster, kinship, and adoptive families who provide much-needed care and support for Weld County children, youth, and families. You make our community stronger.
Happy holidays to you and yours!
-Kristy
|
|
 |
 The Walker Family being presented a Certificate of Appreciation from the Weld County Board of Commissioners for their dedication to Weld County youth.
Are you interested in learning more about foster care? Register for orientation to learn more about foster care and the certification process.
-
Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023, 4:30-6 p.m., at the Weld County Department of Human Services Bldg. A. (315 N. 11th Ave. Greeley, CO 80634).
You’ve already attended orientation? Register for pre-certification training by contacting Kristy at deandakr@weldgov.com.
We hope to see 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.
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 here!
KindConnect is a program run 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 Consistent.
It's plainly understood that cute little newborns need constant and consistent care, from diaper changes and feedings to skin-to-skin contact and cuddles. It often seems like the thought process is that preteens and teenagers do not need this constant nurturing. The thing is, they do.
While it may not look like bottles and tummy time, teenagers need someone who is going to tell them that we can make it and that we can be anything that we want to be. (You would be surprised at the number of children in foster care who have not heard this.) Teenagers need consistent support, just like a newborn. Support at this age is emotional, rather than physical.
What teens don't need is adults labeling them—in any sense—especially when times are tough. Teens are not "bad" or "troublemakers" or anything of the sort. In fact, some of these labels may even reflect why a teen was removed from their biological families. This can be triggering and damaging. Instead, show up consistently for a teenager and remind them that they are capable and special over and over again.
– Victor Sims, Former Foster Youth
Source: https://www.verywellfamily.com/what-i-wish-foster-parents-knew-about-foster-kids-5509619?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery.
|
Weld County Commissioners and Department of Human Services leadership and workers gather for the Weld County Adoption Day Proclamation in November.
 Back row: Commissioner Perry Buck; Commissioner Mike Freeman; Commissioner Lori Saine; Commissioner Steve Moreno
Middle row: Marissa Siemers; Jacqueline Underwood; Julie Rudley; Jennifer Bauer; staci Devore; Jaime Irwin; Julie Witkowski; Director Jamie Ulrich; Commissioner Scott James; Heather Walker; Shawna Wilson; Lauren Hayes; Kelly Krause; Denise Suniga; Brandi Puckett; Melissa Gilliam; Jamie Sanders
Front row: Megan Wick; Lori Nava; Robin Overmyer
Thank you to all our amazing community partners and volunteers as well as Weld County staff who helped provide a fun and festive Ho Ho Ho Down for our foster and kinship families. We hosted nearly 500 parents and youth and donated around 800 gifts - it sure was a magical time!
Community Partners:
Colorado Cornhole Connection
Crafting Change
CrossFit Endure
First FarmBank
Gyrath Realty Group
Tina O'Connell
MegaStar Financial Corp
Mountain Shadow Carriages
Project Greatest Gift
PDC Energy
Quilts for Kids
Realities for Children
Redeye Rotary
Rocky Mountain Christian Church
Sears Real Estate
Serve 6.8
Timberline Windsor
 Also, a big thank you to Mike Usher and Kiwanis for hosting a UNC Football Tailgate and Game experience for our kids! We heard the game was terrific, and UNC won. Go Bears!
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.
|
|
