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JULY 2024 • ISSUE 5 • VOLUME 4
Welcome to summer, officially! We hope you find some moments to enjoy a lighter schedule, warmer weather, and some fun. There are many supporters in our community who are there for you as you care for children and youth in foster care, and I hope you find some good things in this newsletter to keep you inspired and encouraged. One of the rewards of fostering is making friends with other foster and kinship families who can provide relational support and shared experiences. Between events like the upcoming Foster and Kinship Appreciation BBQ and the Foster Source Ambassadors Weld area events, we hope you make some time to connect with others.
And, if you’re not yet fostering, why not take your next steps today?
-Kristy
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Another week of Royal Family KIDS Camp is complete! Forty-nine campers from Weld and Larimer counties and 90 volunteers spent the week among the pine trees making memories to cherish for a lifetime. A big thank you to the RFK Timberline staff, volunteers, and donors who make this a reality each year for northern Colorado's children involved with the child welfare system.
For more information on Royal Family KIDS Camp, visit the For the Children website.
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Are you interested in learning more about foster care? Register for an orientation to learn more about foster care and the certification process.
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Wednesday, July 10: 4:30 to 6 p.m., virtual via Microsoft Teams.
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Wednesday, July 24: 4:30 to 6 p.m., Weld County Human Services, Building A, 315 N. 11th Avenue, Greeley
 You’ve already attended orientation? Register for pre-certification training by contacting Kristy at deandakr@weldgov.com. The schedule for these trainings
is below.
Upcoming Pre-Certification Training – (Choose One)
Cohort 7 (Tuesdays, In-Person & Zoom Hybrid)
24 Hours of National Training and Development Curriculum (NTDC)
Meets Tuesdays, July 9 to August 27, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Classes 1, 2, and 8 will be in-person at Carbon Valley Lutheran Church, 10916 Cimarron Street, in Longmont; Classes 3 through 7 will be virtual via Zoom.
Cohort 8 (Wednesdays, In-Person & Zoom Hybrid)
24 Hours of NTDC
Meets Wednesdays, August 7 to September 25, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Classes 1, 2, and 8 will be in-person at Windsor Community Church, 700 Automation Drive, in Windsor; Classes 3 through 7 will be virtual via Zoom.
Parentified Child Class: Virtual for Foster and Kinship Parents
Tuesday, July 16, 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Shari Simmons will delve into the complex dynamics of children who, due to trauma, have taken on parental responsibilities for themselves, their siblings, and even their parents, which can have a profound effect on a child’s development and well-being. For more information, please contact Kelly Krause at krausekc@weldgov.com.
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Parent's Night Out
Sunday, August 18, 3:45 to 7 p.m.
City Lights Church, 7251 West 4th Street, Greeley (New location!)
Save the Date!
Foster and Kinship Appreciation BBQ
Thursday, September 19, 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Island Grove Exhibition Hall, 421 N. 15th Avenue, Greeley
We appreciate our foster and kinship families! Join us for a night of food and fun for the whole family. Invites coming soon!
Inspired by the powerful true story, Sound of Hope follows Donna and Reverend Martin as they ignite a fire in the hearts of their rural church to embrace kids in the foster system who were the hardest to place. The small community depicted in this film took in a total of 77 youth.
Purchase advance tickets through Colorado Kids Belong to help the film reach as many screens as possible and inspire more people to consider helping at-risk children, youth, and families through foster care and adoption for waiting youth.
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Fundango Respite Events and Summer Camp Opportunities
Fundango is a respite program for foster, adoptive, and kinship parents in Colorado with children ages 0 to 17 years of age in their home. Staff are both Colorado Bureau of Investigation and Federal Bureau of Investigation checked and trauma-trained to work with the unique needs of our population. In our program, staff and volunteers focus on social/emotional learning through a variety of activities. Families receive a temporary relief from everyday tasks to help reduce stress, support family stability, prevent abuse and neglect, and minimize the need for out-of-home placement. Visit the Kids at Heart website for more information.
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Kids Bowl Free
Families can register each of their children to bowl two free games every day during the summer! Families can also purchase a pass at a bargain price that allows the adults to bowl two free games each day as well. Visit the Kids Bowl Free website for more information.
Youth Employment and Training
Youth employment and training programs provide eligible individuals with opportunities for education, training, and work-based learning through several activities, services, and programs which can assist youth with job readiness and preparation for the workforce. For more information, visit the Weld County website.
Operation Foster Hope (Foster Closet)
Operation Foster Hope provides clothing, shoes, diapers, nursery items, furniture, strollers, car seats, school supplies, hygiene products, safety equipment and other needed items to families free of charge.
For more information, email operationfosterhopecloset@gmail.com.
Referral Incentives
Foster parents are the best recruiters! Weld County foster parents can refer a family, up to five per calendar year, and receive $100 upon placement. The referred family must name you at inquiry or by their orientation. Have your friends and family visit www.weldgov.com/go/fostercare for more information and to register for orientation.
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. For more information visit the Weld County website.
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