For over a decade, foster families throughout Garfield County have provided so much more than mere shelter to displaced children.<\/p>\n
They have also shown compassion and offered hope to kids experiencing hardship at home.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was a need to grow a foster program so that we could keep our children and youth in our county,\u201d said Susan Garcia, Garfield County foster care adoption supervisor. \u201cFoster homes provide a safe haven and structure for children and youth when their birth families cannot.\u201d<\/p>\n
Garcia said the county\u2019s foster care program tries to avoid having children removed from their homes by offering support services to families experiencing difficult circumstances.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur goal with foster care is to always work with the birth families … to have their children remain with them,\u201d Garcia said. \u201cThat\u2019s our first priority.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the event that a child is removed from his or her home, the county will attempt to locate a close relative for the child to stay with temporarily.<\/p>\n
However, if another family member cannot help, the county will place the child with a local, foster family.<\/p>\n
At times, as many as 50 children can be in need of foster families in Garfield County.<\/p>\n
According to foster care coordinator Lindsay Zimmer, currently, the county has 16 foster families it coordinates with to assist children.<\/p>\n
Zimmer hadn\u2019t noticed a significant influx in the number of children in need of foster families during the pandemic.<\/p>\n
However, Zimmer also said the county was always recruiting foster families, particularly those able to assist older children.<\/p>\n
\u201cGenerally, our need is always for the older kids,\u201d Zimmer said. \u201cThe middle school, the high school age range.\u201d<\/p>\n
Residents interested in becoming foster parents should contact Garfield County Human Services at 970-945-9191 in Glenwood Springs and at 970-625-5282 in Rifle.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is a pretty lengthy process to become a foster parent,\u201d Zimmer said.<\/p>\n
The application process can take between 60 and 90 days and includes extensive interviews, hours of training, health evaluations and reference checks, Zimmer said.<\/p>\n
In some cases a child might live with a foster family for the weekend and in other instances, years.<\/p>\n
Erin, who could not provide her last name due to privacy concerns, has been a foster parent in Garfield County for the last three years and in that time has fostered seven children.<\/p>\n
\u201cFoster care has tough moments,\u201d Erin said. \u201cBut it also has incredibly beautiful, wonderful moments that will change your life and make you a better person.\u201d<\/p>\n
mabennett@postindependent.com<\/p>\n