Teamwork for Transformation: Lindsay Gilchrist and the Family Voice Council

Lindsay Gilchrist is a foster and adoptive parent in Denver. She has three kids, two of whom are adopted. Lindsay and her wife currently serve as respite foster parents. They take care of kids with medically fragile conditions for short periods giving the long term foster family a break for self-care.  

Lindsay’s experience as a foster/adoptive parent led her to become dedicated to facilitating positive changes in Colorado’s child welfare system. 

Lindsay and her wife had a good experience in working with Denver County. “We had a great team around the kids. They were very supportive, and we all worked really well together.” Lindsay shared. 

Although Lindsay was able to find the support she needed, she also saw that other foster families struggled to get that same support in the system.

 “We talked to other foster parents and realized that there was a lot of frustration that foster parents weren’t viewed as valued members of the team and a critical component of the system,” said Lindsay.

About  70 percent of certified foster families in Colorado quit fostering within the first year, so Lindsay wanted to do something to help. 

In response, Lindsay founded CHAMPS Colorado in May 2020, with a primary focus on strengthening the partnership between resource  families and counties and advocating for supportive policies for foster and kinship families. Currently, it operates in seven counties in Colorado and has played a pivotal role in establishing the Family Advisory Council (FAC) at the state level.

The creation of FAC took over a year. It received more than 50 applications from Coloradans interested in participating in this initiative. Lindsay underscores the council’s commitment to inclusivity, highlighting that they engaged with every applicant and interviewed 35 individuals before choosing a sixteen member council.

“We aimed for FAC to be a comprehensive reflection of every lived experience within the child welfare system,” Lindsay emphasized.

The diversity within the group creates an environment where each voice holds value. Lindsay explains that the FAC overcomes differences in opinion by focusing on its primary goals: to improve the child welfare system so kids can have a safe place to heal and reunite with their families and to help families overcome their struggles and strengthen their relationships.

Lindsay, who has a mentor role in FAC, highlights the council does more than help rewrite rule said, “It is a group that can provide legislators, counties and child welfare professionals with feedback about bills, regulations, and services to ensure they are practical and will help families.”

While acknowledging the improvements in the child welfare system over the years, Lindsay identifies two substantial challenges that need attention. First, there is a significant need for more family-based settings for children entering the system, particularly for young people with higher needs and teenagers. Second, it’s crucial to improve access to behavioral health services for children and youth facing significant mental health crises.

Lindsay firmly believes that overcoming both current and future challenges is only achievable through a collective team effort. She stressed the significance of actively including and appreciating each team member,  their contributions as integral to achieving success. Lindsay’s commitment to teamwork is deeply rooted in her experience as a foster parent and the establishment of both CHAMPS Colorado and the Family Advisory Council (FAC).

The Colorado Department of Human Services has more opportunities for people with lived experience in Colorado’s child welfare system to share their perspectives and work toward positive transformation in child welfare. Apply to the Child Welfare Family Advisory Council.