Foster Care Information
About The Foster Care Program:
The Foster Care Program provides recruitment, training, certification and retention services for family foster care providers. Family Foster Homes provide temporary substitute care for children, ages 0 through 18, who have been removed from their families due to physical, sexual or emotional abuse, neglect or the parent is otherwise unavailable. Foster parents offer day to day care and guidance until the child can be reunited with his or her birth family, move to a kinship family or permanent adoptive home or emancipate. Caseworkers work closely with foster parents to identify and meet the special needs of the child(ren). The children are covered by Medicaid insurance and the foster parents are given a monthly stipend to help reimburse the cost of their care.Foster parents are the people who, having come to understand all of these realities, choose to become the substitute families for these children in need. Foster parents provide the daily basics: food, clothing, shelter, and, the love, stability, guidance and discipline that all children need. Foster parents do all these things knowing that the child may only be with them for a short time. They know that foster parenting will not make them rich or famous. Foster parents are people who believe that children are worthy of their best efforts every day.
Foster parents are people. They represent different ages, races and income levels. Most foster parents are married, but there are single foster parents too. Many foster parents have biological or adopted children living at home. Some have never had children of their own, and, still others have raised their own children to adulthood. There are foster parents who go to your church, work with you at your office or factory, or live in your neighborhood.
The basic requirements for becoming a foster parent generally include that you:
- Are 21 years of age, or older;
- are in good physical and emotional health;
- meet your state or local requirements for housing safety, space and equipment;
- have the skills attitude and stamina to effectively deal with the many behaviors and feelings displayed by children and youth;
- have a non-punitive attitude and can demonstrate some level of acceptance toward the parents of the children in care;
- can work cooperatively with the representatives of the foster care agency;
- are accepting of the temporary nature of foster care and can help a child transition back to his family or move on to a permanent or adoptive placement.
Children and youth may need foster care home placements for a variety of reasons:
- they have been emotionally, physically or sexually abused;
- the physical or mental incapacity of their parents;
- they are abandoned;
- the drug, alcohol or other chemical abuse by their parent;
- the child's behavioral or emotional problems; or,
- the separation, divorce or death of their parent(s).
Children and youth needing foster care home placement come from a variety of social and economic backgrounds; from every race, religion and nationality - and every age from birth to young adulthood.
Some children and youth may need specialized foster care services.
All children and youth in foster care require specific considerations from foster parents.
Emotional considerations: Separation from their home, family and friends is traumatic - foster parents help ease the hurt and pain that separation can cause;
Behavioral considerations: Separation reactions vary - some children withdraw, others act-out at home, school and in the community - foster parents help cope with the hurt, anger and grief the child or youth is experiencing;
Special needs considerations: Some children and youth bring some special needs with them into foster care placements - specific medical, emotional or physical needs, pregnancy or other brothers and sisters needing a sibling group placement - foster parents may need special training or support services.
Youth Foster Care Program
The Youth Foster Care Program is an integrated project between the Department of Human Services and Larimer Center for Mental Health, through L.I.F.E. services. The program is designed to be able to provide intensive services to family foster homes that specialize in adolescent issues. The goal of the program is to develop specialized homes in Larimer County in which to place "high-risk" adolescents in order to have youth remain in the community and connected to support systems. Services provided to the families include bi-monthly support groups and weekly contact with the Family Development Specialist. Additional support services will be provided to the youth placed in the homes. The program serves youth ages 12-18, with a possibility of younger children depending on the development and presenting issues of the youth.For more information about the Youth Foster Care Program, please call (970) 498-6588.
Developmentally Disabled / Medically Fragile Foster Care Program
The purpose of the Developmentally Disabled / Medically Fragile Foster Care Program is to provide experienced and skilled Larimer County certified foster homes for children/youth needing out of home placement who have such special needs. The program focuses on the recruitment, certification, education, retention, and support of foster parents who have experience and knowledge of the special needs of children who are developmentally delayed/disabled and children who are medically fragile. The program also will assess and monitor the accomplishments, challenges, and goals of the child/youth placed in the foster homes participating in this program. Foster homes within the program will receive a higher reimbursement in connection to the specialized services provided. The Larimer County Department of Human Services; Child, Youth, and Family Services Division acknowledges the intensive needs of these children/youth in connection to system mandates to keep children safe, enhance children's well-being when possible, support birth family reunification, and maintain services within the child/youth's community of origin. For more information, call (970) 498-6588.Some Facts
- Foster parenting is a commitment to help a child and family through a specifically difficult period by providing consideration, understanding and guidance to the child;
- Foster parents may refuse a particular placement if they feel the placement is inappropriate for them or for meeting the specific needs of the child;
- Foster parents do receive some financial support - a monthly reimbursement to cover basic room, board and clothing expenses, plus coverage for medical and dental expenses. Foster parents are not paid for their services;
- Foster parents may be able to adopt a child in care, however, the goal of foster care is to return the child or youth to his or her family as soon as possible. Any consideration of adoption is after all comprehensive efforts at returning the child home, or to relatives, are exhausted. Specific policies regarding foster parents as an adoptive resource are available from the Larimer Department of Human Services.
What Is Respite Care?
Respite Care is care provided to a foster child for a short period of time by someone other than their foster family. During this time the foster parents are temporarily relieved of their daily parental responsibilities for the foster child in order to rest and refresh themselves. Usually the care would be limited from several hours to several days or a weekend. With periodic time-out, foster parents are better able to carry out the difficult tasks required of caring for children and youth with special needs.
While respite care is designed principally to provide rest and relief for the foster parents, the foster child also benefits. A temporary change of caregiver gives the child/youth an opportunity to build new healthy relationships and to experience a bit of independence. Quality respite care can nurture the youth's sense of trust and stability through contact with additional stable and caring adults and their families.
Most respite care is provided in the home of an approved Respite Care Provider. However, in some instances it may be more appropriate to provide care in the foster family's home.
Respite Care allows interested individuals and/or couples to provide care for children/youth who have come from abuse, neglect or other family dysfunction, without making the 24 hour/7 days a week commitment that being a certified foster parent with Larimer County requires.
To qualify as a Respite Care Provider an individual must be 21 years of age, undergo an orientation process including a home visit, pass a criminal background check, be CPR/1st Aid certified, and attend 6 hours of training. The training will emphasize health and safety, and the care of children/youth who may have emotional, physical or behavioral problems. If you are interested or want more information, please call Colleen Gibley-Reed at 970-498-6588.
Becoming a Foster Parent
To become a Foster Parent you will need to:- Make the initial call to the Foster Care Coordinator listed below.
- Attend a two-hour Orientation session given by the Agency. Orientations to the Larimer County Department of Human Services, Foster Care Program, will be held the first Tuesday of every month from 7:00-9:00 pm.
- Participate in a walk-through of your home to assess any changes needed to insure the safety and well-being of children placed in your home, as well as to comply with the State of Colorado Rules and Regulations.
- Attend and complete the PRIDE Training and assessment process (Parent's Resource for Information, Development, and Education).
For specific information on becoming a foster parent for Larimer County, please contact:
Children & Familiy Services Division
Larimer County Department of Human Services
2555 Midpoint Drive, Suite E
Fort Collins, CO 80525
970-498-6588
