Did you know there are 395 Colorado children waiting for a family? Even if being a foster parent is not your calling, you can help these children – including children in Douglas County.
When a child needs protection and is unable to remain at home, foster parents provide a temporary environment that honors true childhood. In Douglas County, foster care is coordinated through the Collaborative Foster Care Program, a partnership among Arapahoe, Douglas, and Jefferson counties. Each year, the program hosts recruitment and awareness days. You may have seen Douglas County staff this week hanging flyers and talking to business owners and residents about foster care.
There are several ways you can help:
- Make a tax-deductible donation online
- Purchase something from the Collaborative’s Amazon Wish List
- Own a business? Become a foster-friendly business by offering discounts to foster families
- Cook freezer meals for families. Call 303-636-1543 for more information
If becoming a foster family is on your heart, the first step is to attend an information session. There will be two online meetings in October: from 6 to 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 9, and from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 23. Registration is required. Learn more and sign up online.
The Collaborative Foster Care Program was created in August 2008 as a joint venture between Arapahoe and Jefferson Counties, with a goal to combine the best practice from both counties and improve placement outcomes for children in care. Douglas County joined in 2012.
The Collaborative Foster Care Program is committed to assuring foster parents have adequate training, support, and resources to promote the child’s best interest. Learn more on their website.