November 2024 • ISSUE 8 • VOLUME 4
Happy Fall! I hope you are enjoying the season! This month, we’re spotlighting Realities for Children’s KindConnect program. 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 that may already be residing in their garage or basement.
We always say not everyone is able to foster, but everyone can do something to help at-risk children, youth and families. This is one amazing way that community members can be hands-on in helping to support families in Weld County. How does it work? Sign up at RFCKindConnect.org to receive notifications of requests for item needs as they are entered by DHS agency staff. If you are 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 to this program is that donors can decide how often they want to receive notifications.
In the past two years, KindConnect donors and volunteers have helped youth in transition furnish their first apartment, previously homeless families furnish their residence, single parents with items for housing stability and more! 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. We still need donors and delivery drivers. If you’re not yet a foster parent, consider becoming a donor, delivery volunteer or both!
-Kristy
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 To find out more about donating through Kind Connect, check out this video.
Are you interested in learning more about foster care?
Register for a virtual orientation to learn more about foster care and the certification process.
Upcoming orientation dates:
Wednesday, Nov. 13, 4:30 to 6 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 11, 4:30 to 6 p.m.
 Have you already attended orientation? Register for pre-certification training by contacting Kristy at deandakr@weldgov.com.
Upcoming Pre-Certification Training
2024 Cohort 11 (Loveland, In-Person and Zoom Hybrid) – 24 Hours of NTDC Training
Meets Wednesdays, Nov. 6 through Dec. 18, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Classes 1 and 6 will be in-person in Windsor; Classes 2-5 will be virtual via Zoom.
2025 Cohort 1
First class will be an all-day in person training on Saturday, Jan. 4. Following classes will meet on Tuesdays evenings through Jan. 28 via Zoom.
Weld's Waiting Kids
Meet this fantastic duo, Richard and Eliyah! Visit Weld County’s Waiting Kids for more information about children and youth waiting for a foster-adoptive family.
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 Question: What inspired you to pursue child welfare?
Answer: I have always wanted to work with children on some level since I was in middle school and had struggles with bullying and not "fitting in." My school counselor had a lasting impact on my career path and made me realize I wanted to work with kids. I wasn't set on a career path until I started an internship with the child welfare prevention program, where I got to see the positive impact we were able to have on at-risk children and youth. Since then, I have been passionate about working with children and families.
Foster/Kinship/Adoption Support Group – A Parent Café support group to strengthen your family
Thursday, Nov. 21, 6 to 7:3o p.m.
Human Services Building B, 315 N 11th Ave., Greeley
Dinner and childcare provided.
Register for the Foster, Adoption and Kinship Support Group
Contact John Killen at (970) 400-6239 or via email for more information.
 Weld County Foster Care Holiday Party
Thursday, Dec. 5, 5:30 to 8 p.m.
Island Grove Exhibition Hall
525 N. 15th Ave., Greeley
Our annual festivities for the whole family! Food, fun, gifts and Santa!
To RSVP, email Brent with your name and guest count by Nov. 18.
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
The Colorado Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) and 988 Crisis Hotline Enterprise have launched a campaign to increase awareness and utilization of the 988 Colorado Mental Health Line (988). The service connects people in Colorado to trained crisis specialists offering compassionate mental health, emotional, and substance use support via call, text and chat.
Be sure to add 988 to your emergency contacts and an accessible place in your home in case it’s needed!
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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