Foster Care In Colorado
Foster care is a temporary home where adults provide a safe home for children and teens, because their parents need time to learn new skills to become the parents their children need them to be. Social services agencies are always in need of families who are willing to care for children with special needs, sibling groups, older youth and young people who speak a different language.
Kids are resilient. Even when they’ve experienced toxic stress, like child abuse or neglect, they can overcome and reach their full potential with help from the community. If you have time and patience to dedicate to helping a young person work through the challenges that often accompany a difficult childhood, we need your help.
How do I become foster parent?
The first step is to contact your local county department of human services or a child placement agency and attend an information meeting. You can find the dates, times and location of information meetings on each organization’s website. Click here for links to child placement agencies and county departments of human services near you.
Every foster parent must complete core training and other trainings, such as CPR and first aid. The county or child placement agency that you are working with may also require other trainings.
Each year, foster parents are required to complete additional trainings to maintain their certification. Your county or child placement agency or the Child Welfare Training System can help you fulfil these requirements.
Who can be a foster parent?
Colorado is committed to inclusion. There are no restrictions on who can foster based on race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or expression, gender identity or marital status. All that matters is that you are at least 21 years or older and that you are ready to make a difference in a child or teen’s life at a time when they need you the most.
Foster parents must be at least 21 years old, pass a background check, complete training and receive a home study. Foster parents must be able to use sound judgment like a prudent parent and demonstrate a responsible, stable and emotionally mature lifestyle.
Meet Colorado foster families
You often hear of the seemingly heroic experiences of foster parents and you wonder: 'Could I do that?' The truth is, foster parents are ordinary Coloradans who have answered the call and stepped up to care for children and teens who need a safe and loving place to live while their parents receive support and learn the skills they need to build a stable home.
Find Support
Caring for children and youth in the Colorado child protection system is rewarding work that presents many challenges. There are many free support and training resources are available to all Colorado foster, adoptive and kinship parents. Seek support during the good times, so you have a network available during the tough times.
What Are Therapeutic and Treatment Foster Care
Therapeutic and Treatment Foster Care are out-of-home care provided by highly-trained foster parents who specialize in caring for children and youth with significant emotional, behavioral and mental health needs. Therapeutic and Treatment foster care have been designed to provide safe and nurturing care in a more structured home environment than traditional foster care.
