COLORADO

Colorado Kids Belong began when Adopt Colorado Kids was established in 2013 by Founder, Julie Mavis, to address the foster care crisis in Colorado. Through strategic partnerships with the State and other organizations, Adopt Colorado Kids helped hundreds of waiting children and youth find forever homes. 

In 2015, Adopt Colorado Kids helped launch America’s Kids Belong to begin tackling the foster care crisis in other states. In 2019, Colorado launched as a state chapter of America’s Kids Belong and continues to be laser-focused on Colorado’s children and youth who are impacted by foster care and the need for belonging. 

MEETING THE NEEDS OF COLORADO CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE

TOGETHER

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Colorado’s Kids

 

Our state has well over 3,000 children who are in the foster care system through no fault of their own. Of these children, on any given day nearly 300 are legally-free for adoption and are waiting for their forever family. The rest of the children need a loving, safe, and supportive foster family to care for them while they wait to go home to their biological families.

When children age-out of the system at 18 without a family, they are significantly more likely to experience homelessness, crisis pregnancy, unemployment, incarceration, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Trafficking.

The Solution Is…

YOU

YOU CAN HELP SOLVE THIS CRISIS WHERE YOU LIVE

 

Are you a Business Leader? You can make dreams come true for kids in foster care and be a foster friendly business (like you might be with military families). We can advise you.

Are you a Faith Leader? You can use your calling and your community to recruit and support more than enough foster and adoptive families. We can equip you.

Are you a Creative Leader? You can use your skills and your platform to advocate for kids in foster care – giving them a face and a voice. We can train you.

Are you a Government Leader? You can run a collaborative campaign with the leaders above to sustainably improve the story for kids in foster care and for the families who care for them. We can guide you.

Click The Icons Above for More Information

COLORADO PROGRAMS

With a wide-variety of influencers on board, we can combine a number of our proven methods to help meet needs within the foster care system. Since beginning work in Colorado, alongside numerous faith leaders, government workers, foster advocates, artists & creatives, as well as a host of generous donors, we’ve already seen amazing things happen.

I Belong Project ™

 

The I Belong Project ™ started as a Colorado initiative and has become one of America’s Kids Belong signature programs in other states. The I Belong Project™ uses high quality videography to give children in foster care a face and a voice. These videos serve as individual recruitment tools for foster children who are legally-free for adoption and are waiting for their forever family.

America’s Kids Belong Colorado is contracted with Larimer county to recruit and support foster and adoptive families for Larimer County’s waiting children and youth.

Dream Makers Project

Over 26,000 teens age out of foster care each year in the United States. In 2015 America’s Kids Belong Colorado launched Dream Makers as a way to inspire and empower teens by giving them an opportunity to dream about their future. This program started in Colorado and is now operating in multiple states. These dreams may be an internship that connects them with an opportunity for the future, a practical gift to launch them towards their next step, a gift to learn a new skill, or an experience to gain confidence. In any case, it’s their dream, and we want to inspire these kids to dream big!

Dream Makers connects businesses, groups, and individuals to care for these kids needs and their dreams. When you become a Dream Maker, you have the opportunity to let one of these teenagers know that someone cares and they are not alone. Your support can give them the confidence they need to change their future. Learn more DreamMakersProject.org.

FOSTER & ADOPT

Prospective Parents

 

Every day we meet more individuals and families who are considering taking the leap to become foster parents. We know you probably have a lot of questions and would need more answers before committing. That’s normal.

Just don’t let the fear of the unknown stop you from moving forward. Call your Colorado County Human Services Department today. They will walk you through the process, help answer any of your questions along the way, and assist you in determining if becoming a foster parent is a fit for you.

Together we can give every child a face and a voice. Together we can show each child that they are precious, seen, and worthy of belonging.

Next Steps

Become a Foster Parent

While you may foster or adopt from any county or through a child placement agency, a good place to start the process is by calling your local county department. The button below will take you to the State web page that lists all Colorado Counties and Agencies.

Go to Site

Become a Foster Adoptive Parent

Visit the Colorado Heart Gallery

Heart Gallery

or use the button below to contact your county or a Child Placement Agency for more information about waiting children and youth.

Go to Site

Contact Us

If you would simply like to know more about the Colorado arm of America’s Kids Belong, or for general questions about foster care and foster care adoption – we welcome your interest, and will help as we can. Please use the button below to contact Kristy DeAnda.

Contact Us

JOIN THE STORY

Together we can give every child a face and a voice.
Together we can show each child that they are precious, seen, and worthy of belonging.

 

Will You Join Us?

Volunteer With Us

OUR IMPACT PARTNERS

Belong Foundation

Members of the Belong Foundation

Linden Marketing and Communication
Timberline Church

 

Building Foundation

Members of the Building Foundation

Ron and Linda Schaefer
Richard and Janette Verhey
Ryan and Melissa Schaefer
Larry Gayeksi and Jenny Foster 
Shannon and Scott Kimber 

 

 

Belong Partner

Members of Belong Partners

Discovery Church
Evan and Melissa Garber
Used Car Dealers of Colorado Charity Fund – CIADA
Chrisland Real Estate Companies
Spillt
The Group Inc.
Miriam and CJ Conant
Shannon Green
SNS Ironworks

Building Partner

Members of Building Partners

Community Foundation of Northern Colorado

 

 

 

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    EVENT SPONSORS

    Love All Tennis Tournament and Fundraiser

    OUR TEAM

    Kristy DeAnda

    State Director
    Larimer County Recruiter

    Email Kristy

    Lori Bruegman

    Dream Makers Project Director

    Email Lori

    Jaalah Neerhof

    I Belong Project™ Director
    & Church Engagement

    Email Jaalah

    Mimi Salonen

    Events & Donor Relations

    Email Mimi

    Shelby Mavis

    Business Engagement

    Email Shelby

    Simon Lovell

    Web & Creatives

    RESOURCES

    Books:

    From Fear to Love by Bryan Post

    Born for Love by Dr. Bruce Perry

    Parenting the Hurt Child by Gregory Keck & Regina Kupecky

    Parenting Adopted Adolescents by Gregory Keck

    The Connected Child by Dr. Karyn Purvis and David Cross

    No Drama Discipline by Daniel Seigel and Tina Bryson

    The Whole-Brain Child by Daniel Seigel and Tina Bryson

    Twenty Things Adopted Kids Wish Their Adoptive Parents Knew by Sherrie Eldridge

    Beyond Consequences, Logic, and Control by Heather T. Forbes

    Help for Billy by Heather T. Forbes

    The Lucky Few by Heather Avis

    The Body Keeps the Score by Dr. Bessel Van Der Kolk

    Community Resources:

    Finally Home Foundation

    Royal Family Kids Camp 

    Kids at Heart 

    Confessions of an Adoptive Parent 

    Empowered to Connect 

    Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development

    The Post Institute

    Post Daily Dose

    Child trauma Academy

    Films:

    ReMoved –  View Part 1 l View Part 2

    Lion – View in IMDB

    Paper Tigers – (KPJR Films)

    Instant Family

    Foster – (HBO Documentary)

    I am Somebody’s Child: The Regina Louise Story

    CONTACT

    Kristy DeAnda
    kdeanda@cokidsbelong.org

    1540 Main Street
    Unit 218 #331
    Windsor, Colorado 80550

    DONATE

    You can make a donation on our “GivingFuel” web page

    Donate Now

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    REALITIES FOR CHILDREN PARTNER AGENCY