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Are you interested in learning more about foster care? Register for orientation to learn more about foster care and the certification process.
Don't miss the next orientation, which will be held in person!
Wednesday, Oct. 22, 4:30 to 6 p.m., Weld County Human Services, Building A, 315 N. 11th Ave., Greeley
 Have you already attended orientation? Register for pre-certification training by contacting your foster care coordinator or Kristy at deandakr@weld.gov.
Upcoming pre-certification training options: Complete one of the following cohorts to meet the 24 hours of training required for foster care certification.
November 2025 Cohort
Friday, Nov. 14, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. (in person, Dayspring Christian Church - 8005 Highland Meadows Pkwy., Fort Collins)
Saturday, Nov. 15, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (in person, Dayspring Christian Church - 8005 Highland Meadows Pkwy., Fort Collins)
Tuesday, Nov. 18, 6 to 8:30 p.m. (virtual via Zoom)
Thursday, Nov. 20, 6 to 8:30 p.m. (virtual via Zoom)
Note: The last session will be 4 hours of online training, on your own.
CHAMPS Colorado
CHAMPS Colorado is a caregiver-led initiative grounded in the belief that when caregivers are supported, equipped, and heard children experience less trauma and greater stability. They work across Colorado to uplift the voices of kinship, foster, and adoptive families, partnering with counties, community organizations, and caregivers to strengthen support systems, shape policy and practice, and ensure those closest to children help lead the way in improving the child welfare system.
We want to thank CHAMPS and the 35 Weld County certified foster parents who shared their experiences through the survey conducted from May to June 2025. Your voices continue to shape how Weld supports, trains, and partners with caregivers like you. We deeply value your insights.
Your feedback is already helping us focus on:
- Improving communication and transparency.
- Prioritizing trainings that meet expressed needs.
- Creating more opportunities for peer connection for both foster parents and youth in care.
- Finding ways to train and support connections with biological families.
Anyone can become a therapeutic foster parent with the necessary experience and training. Therapeutic foster care certification requires an additional 12 hours of specialized training and bi-weekly visits from their support team. Contact Kelly Krause for more information.
Help a resilient teen find stability, healing, and hope
About the youth:
A 15-year-old boy with a creative spirit and a strong desire to succeed is looking for a trauma-informed, supportive foster home. He’s currently in a secure facility and needs a caregiver who can offer structure, patience, and connection.
Despite a history of trauma, this youth is:
- Creative and hands-on – builds models from paper and cardboard
- Musically gifted – plays multiple instruments
- Physically active – enjoys skateboarding, gymnastics, biking, and swimming
- Animal lover – dreams of having a dog
- Aviation enthusiast – wants to become a pilot
Emotional and behavioral needs:
- Struggles with emotional regulation, impulsivity, and trust
- Has experienced disrupted attachments and trauma-related behaviors
- Needs consistent structure, praise, and trauma-informed care
- Currently involved in the juvenile justice system with pending charges and working toward stability
Ideal foster home:
- Patient, empathetic, and structured
- Able to provide individual attention and positive reinforcement
- Willing to engage in his interests and support healthy friendships
- Collaborative with a professional team
- No other youth in the home involved in criminal behavior
You can make a difference
This youth is available for adoption with a concurrent plan for independent living. He needs someone who can see beyond the behaviors and believe in his potential.
Interested in learning more or referring a family? Contact Kristy today to explore how you can help this young person thrive.
Content for this post was summarized and organized with the assistance of Microsoft Copilot, an AI-powered tool.
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Meet Jax, age 7!
Visit Weld County’s Waiting Kids for more information about children and youth waiting for a foster adoptive family.
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Parent the Stage, Not the Age: Understanding Emotional Development with Bryan Post
In this video Bryan Post, an adopted and former foster child, and one of the foremost child behavior and adoption experts, breaks down the four ages of a child, and explains how focusing on just one can lead to parent and caregiver frustration and resentment. Check out the full video for a deeper understanding of a child's behavior and how to nurture the relationship.
Mark your calendar for opportunities for learning, connection with other families, and respite opportunities!
Kids at Heart: Teen Connect Events
Teen Connect is a grounding program for youth ages 13 to 17 that focuses on blending fun, creativity, and intentional programming designed to cultivate community and holistic health.
When: Fridays in October, 4 to 8 p.m.
Location: 6501 Brittany St., Fort Collins
Cost: $20 per participant per event
Note: Teen Connect will be held indoors due to dropping temperatures and earlier sunsets. For more information and to register, visit kidsatheartco.org/teen-connect.
Kids at Heart: Fundango Respite Program
Foster parents enjoy a temporary relief while staff and volunteers provide social/emotional learning activities for foster, kinship, and adoptive children and youth, from newborn to age 17.
Upcoming dates: Oct. 25, Nov. 22, and Dec. 6 in Loveland; Nov. 8 in Windsor/Greeley
Cost: $25 for first child, $5 for each additional child
Visit kidsatheartco.org/fundango for more information and to register.
Be the Source
Free trauma- and evidence-informed trainings are available to foster and kinship parents. Children deserve to heal and these upcoming trainings help caregivers learn and develop the tools needed to help. The following live, virtual classes take place from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Training hours and Spanish interpretation offered.
Other topics and on-demand trainings are also offered.
Bridge the Gap Resource Map
Bridge the Gap is a new Northern Colorado nonprofit connecting with individuals, organizations, and churches across Northern Colorado to inspire, equip, and support initiatives that serve children and families impacted by the child welfare system (foster, kinship, adoptive, and bio). Need support? Check out the Resource Map or fill out a contact form to begin connecting with vital resources.
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
The Colorado Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) and 988 Crisis Hotline Enterprise proudly announce the launch of 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. For foster parents, this could serve as an alternative to contacting law enforcement in crisis situations which do not include imminent risk of danger, preventing unnecessary exposure to police interaction. Be sure to add this to your emergency contacts and an accessible place in your home in case it’s needed!
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. 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.
Visit the Weld County website for more information.
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