Foster Care Agencies in Colorado [Your Adoption Options]
With hundreds of kids waiting for a foster care family in Colorado, the need for loving homes has never been greater. These children come from various backgrounds and have diverse needs, but they all share a common desire for a safe, loving family.
Foster care offers families a unique opportunity to grow while providing children in need with a nurturing environment. By opening your heart and home to a child in foster care, you can make a profound difference in their life and offer them the stability and support they need to thrive.
American Adoptions of Colorado doesn’t provide foster care services, but we do facilitate private adoptions. We can provide you with valuable information about foster care and our private adoption services as you explore your options. Contact us online or call 1-800-ADOPTION today to learn more.
What Are Foster Care Agencies?
A foster care agency is a state-licensed organization responsible for children who have been removed from their homes due to neglect, abuse or other family crises. The agency’s goal is to find temporary or permanent foster families for the children.
Are There Foster Care Adoption Agencies?
The answer is both yes and no. While it is possible to adopt from foster care, the primary goal of foster care is reunification with birth families. Children become available for adoption through foster care only when their birth parents’ parental rights are terminated.
Many of the children available for foster care adoption have special needs. Colorado defines this as:
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Over the age of 7
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Part of a sibling group
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Physical disability
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Mental disability
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Educational disability
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Emotional disturbance
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Developmental disability
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Hereditary factors
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High-risk children
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Medical condition requiring further treatment
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Ethnic backgrounds that may be difficult to place
Foster care adoption can be a great option for families prepared to navigate unique challenges and who have a lot of love to give. By adopting through foster care, you can provide a stable, supportive home for a child in need.
Foster Care Adoption Agencies vs. Private Adoption Agencies
Depending on your family-building goals, you may want to explore other types of adoption. Here are three things to think about when comparing foster care and private adoption:
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Age of child: Foster care agencies typically place older children, sibling groups and children with special needs, whereas private adoption agencies often place infants and very young children.
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Certainty: With private adoption, there is a greater sense of certainty because the expecting parents voluntarily choose to place their babies for adoption. This can reduce the emotional uncertainty and legal complications that sometimes accompany foster care placements, where reunification is often the primary goal.
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Wait times: Wait times in private adoption can be shorter because adoptive families are chosen directly by pregnant women looking to place their babies. In foster care, wait times can vary widely. Because foster care aims to reunite children with their birth families when possible, there is no guarantee that a child will become eligible for adoption.
Best Foster Care Agencies Near Me in Colorado
If you're considering foster care adoption in Colorado, there are numerous resources available to help you get started. Some of the local foster care agencies and organizations in Colorado include:
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A New World Child Placement Agency: If you want to become a foster parent, you can schedule a virtual lunch and learn with this Aurora-based nonprofit foster care agency.
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Bridges Child Placement Agency: Bridges, a foster care agency in Pueblo, believes that it takes a selfless, caring family to help another family out when the state steps in on behalf of the children.
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Clarvida: As a behavioral health, mental health and human services provider, Clarvida offers case management services for foster children and training programs for foster families.
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Colorado Department of Human Services: The CO4Kids campaign website explains how you can help and lists foster care placement agencies by county. You can also see which kids are waiting for adoption online.
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Colorado State Foster Parent Association: The goal of this organization is to better meet the needs of foster children in Colorado who have been placed. It provides education programs for foster parents and offers resources and benefits to foster families that are members.
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Kids Crossing: Kids Crossing is a nonprofit foster care agency located in Colorado that was founded by foster parents in 1992.
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Raise the Future: This nonprofit connects foster children with caring adults who can be reliable presences in their lives. It offers services to families struggling with trauma and provides Trust-Based Relational Intervention training for foster families.
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Special Kids Special Families: This foster care agency specializes in supporting foster children with disabilities and finding them safe, loving homes.
We can assist you in connecting with local foster care agencies and provide more information about other types of adoption, such as private domestic adoption. If you're ready to take the next step, reach out to our adoption specialists today.
Disclaimer
Information available through these links is the sole property of the companies and organizations listed therein. American Adoptions provides this information as a courtesy and is in no way responsible for its content or accuracy.