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JUNE 2024 • ISSUE 4 • VOLUME 4
June is National Reunification Month, and it’s all about keeping families together. Children and youth do best when they are able to be reunified with family, and this year’s theme is “We Believe in the Resiliency and Strength of Families.” In 2023, 58% of child welfare cases ended with successful reunification and 97% of intake child welfare cases transferred or closed, with children remaining home. We celebrate the strength of families and the hard work and dedication of parents who bring their kids home. Below, you’ll see a photo of the Weld County Commissioners' proclamation in honor of reunified families and those who work to support their success. Our foster and kinship families are a big support in these efforts and are valued members of the team supporting at-risk children, youth, and families in Weld County.
And, if you’re not yet fostering, let today be the day you take that step!
-Kristy
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June is reunification month. Commissioners are recognizing the amazing work human services and other community partners do year-round to help strengthen and support families, and to celebrate those families who have successfully reunified. Read more on the Weld County website.
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.
 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.
On June 2, we had the opportunity to recruit at Erie PRIDE 2024. Several families visited our booth to learn more about fostering and other ways to help at-risk children, youth, and families in Weld County. On June 8, we were also able to attend the Greeley Pride event. We were able to pull off these great recruitment opportunities within the past few weeks with help from our Foster Care Recruitment Collaborative Team!
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Therapeutic Foster Care Coffee
Thursday, June 27
2 to 3 p.m.
Aunt Helen's Coffee House
800 8th Avenue, Greeley
Join us to learn more about therapeutic foster care. No commitment required!
RSVP by emailing krausekc@weld.gov.
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Foster, Adoption, and Kinship Support Group
A Parent Café Support Group to Strengthen Your Family
Upcoming Date: June 20
Meets from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Department of Human Services, Building A, 315 N. 11th Ave, Greeley
Join us to connect with other foster parents, kinship caregivers, adoptive parents, child care providers, and family child care (FCC) home providers to share parenting strategies, successes, and struggles with those who can relate! Child care and dinner are provided. We focus on support around parenting and caregiving issues using a nationally recognized, research-based framework for keeping children safe and families strong. RSVP for one of the dates.
For information, call (970) 400-6707 or email hs-postadoptionsupport@weld.gov.
Parentified Child Class: Virtual for Foster and Kinship Parents
Tuesday, July 16, 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Shari Simmons delves into the complex dynamics of children who, due to trauma, have taken on parental responsibilities for themselves, their siblings, or even their parents, which can have a profound effects on a child’s development and well-being. If interested, please contact Kelly Krause at krausekc@weldgov.com.
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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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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