There are children in Boulder County that need you!

What is Family Foster Care? When children are removed from their birth families' homes because of abuse and/or neglect, the children must be cared for by other loving adults. 

These caregivers are skilled in providing structure and nurturance to a child.  Foster Parents provide the same guidance, discipline, and safety that they would provide to their own birth children. 

Foster Parents work with Social Services professionals to assess and meet a child's needs until the child returns to his or her birth family, moves on to a permanent adoptive home, or emancipates and lives independently. 

Many Foster Families work closely with biological families to help them learn to keep their children safe and healthy.

Types of Foster Care

Receiving Homes:  These families accept children into their homes on an emergency basis.  That means the family may be contacted any hour of the day or night.  A child placed in a Receiving Home can remain there up to 90 days.

Regular Foster Care Homes:  These families accept children into Regular Foster Care Homes:  These families accept children into their homes for longer periods of time. 

The families determine whether they will accept children on an emergency-basis or only on a planned basis. 

Children may remain in care for a few days, a few months or longer.

Respite Care Homes:  These families provide care for children who already reside in another Foster Home.  The length of time care is provided varies from a few hours to a few weeks. 

Foster Families use respite care for their foster children when they have other health care appointments, training, time away, special occasions, vacations and family emergencies. 

Providing respite care allows prospective families an opportunity to "get their feet wet" and help a family and a child for a short period of time.

Matching

As a Foster Parent, you will be able to determine the characteristics of a child that you can accept into your home, including the sex, age, ethnicity, range of behaviors and special needs. 

Boulder County will do its best to ensure that the child placed in your home will be a "good fit" for the child and your family.

This worker will be available to answer questions and provide support to your family. 

In addition to regular home visits, the Resource Family Team Workers or Adolescent Retention Specialists facilitate support groups and coordinate and offer specialized trainings throughout the year.

Financial Reimbursement

All foster homes are financially reimbursed at a daily rate to cover the basic medical, dental, and therapeutic needs of the child. 

Medicaid is also provided for children placed in out-of-home care.  In addition, foster parents are financially reimbursed for the mileage used when transporting the child to required appointments. 

Each child is also eligible for an initial clothing allowance.

Mail completed application to: Boulder County Dept. of Social Services Attn: Bonnie Lloyd 3400 Broadway Boulder, CO 80304