National Foster Care Month: Engaging Youth, Building Supports & Strengthening Families

Mesa County Department of Human Services (MCDHS) recognizes National Foster Care Awareness Month every year in May. This is a time to highlight the importance of foster care and acknowledge foster parents, family members, child welfare professionals and members of the community working together to ensure children and teens who have experienced abuse and neglect have the support they need to thrive.

“Being a foster parent is one of the most challenging and rewarding things anyone can do,” says Sarah St. Martin, MCDHS Child Welfare Supervisor. “We’re grateful for all of our amazing families who have chosen to serve their community by stepping up to provide love and care for children and youth while families navigate through what is potentially the most difficult time in their lives. Thank you for your dedication to supporting our children, youth and their families.”

Nationally, there are over 391,000 children and youth in foster care. Each day in Colorado, approximately eight children and teens enter foster care. Currently, there are 3,448 children and youth in out-of-home placement, such as kinship or foster family, group home or other congregate setting across the State. In Mesa County, there are nearly 200 children and youth in out-of-home care with over 100 foster and kinship families opening their homes to them.

Foster families play a vital role by embracing these children, valuing their family connections and providing homes free of abuse and neglect until the children can return home, be adopted or live independently. During the month of May, we take the opportunity to thank these heroes in our community for providing safe and loving homes for children and families in crisis.

More foster and kinship families are needed to provide stability and love to children of all ages in Mesa County. If you are interested in becoming a foster parent, please contact Foster Care of Mesa County at (970) 609-KIDZ or visit us online at https://fosteradoptmesacounty.org/