More than thirty kids wishes came true and found permanent families through the annual Nov. 19 “Adoption Day” that was established by the Weld County Board of Commissioners, according to a Weld County press release.
“Every child deserves a safe, loving, and permanent family,” said Perry Buck, Commissioner Coordinator for the Department of Human Services (DHS). “It’s important that people know our adoptive families are valued tremendously for all that they do and support. There is an ongoing need for foster and adoptive families.”
Weld County Department of Human Services DHS celebrated the finalized adoptions virtually with the kids and their new families at the Weld County Courthouse on November 20th. The adoption red tape process was from January through October 19th, according to officials.
“It’s a true team effort — starting with our intake caseworkers who deal with the initial investigation, to our permanency caseworkers who work with families to strive for reunification, and if that is not possible, we then work towards permanency with the adoption caseworkers. After adoptions are finalized, our post-adoption caseworkers work hard to support our adoption families along the way,” said Jamie Ulrich, Weld County DHS Director.
Weld County is looking for families to sign up to adopt over 60 youths that need homes.
There are about 105 active foster homes in Weld County as of November 2021. Since then, some of the foster homes have closed because the kids are adopted. The DHS team conducted an evaluation and needs about 25 more active foster care homes for the youths in Weld County, according to DHS.
According to officials, the children and teens in the Welfare system the foster family adopts them. Weld County DHS will be holding a foster care orientation on Wednesday, Dec. 1st from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. at the Weld County Humans Services building A, Greeley, CO.
For more information on the Weld County Foster Care program visit https://www.weldgov.com/Government/Departments/Human-Services/Foster-Care.
Also, for information on The Family, Forever Program post-adoption services, call 970-400-6707 or email us at hs-postadoptionsupport@weldgov.com.