WELD COUNTY, CO — Friday, November 19, 2021 has been proclaimed Weld County Adoption Day by the Board of Weld County Commissioners. The day is recognized to raise awareness of youth in foster care who are waiting to be adopted, to showcase the importance of giving youth safe and loving families and to encourage individuals to make a powerful difference in the lives of Weld County youth through both foster and adoption.
“Every child deserves a safe, loving and permanent family,” said Perry Buck, Commissioner Coordinator for the Department of Human Services (DHS). “It’s important that people know our adoptive families are valued tremendously for all that they do and supported and that there is an ongoing need for foster and adoptive families.”
On Friday, Nov.19, Weld County DHS is honoring National Adoption Day, which is officially Saturday, Nov. 20, by celebrating the finalized adoptions of Weld County youth taking place at the Weld County Courthouse, virtually.
“It’s a true team effort — starting with our intake caseworkers who deal with the initial investigation, to our permanency caseworkers who work with families to strive for reunification, and if that is not possible, we then work towards permanency with the adoption caseworkers. After adoptions are finalized, our post-adoption caseworkers work hard to support our adoption families along the way,” explained Jamie Ulrich, Weld County DHS Director.
Highlights from the Weld County Adoption Team:
19 adoptions have been finalized from Jan. – Oct. 2021.
Weld County is anticipating 15 total adoptions on Friday, Nov. 19, putting the estimated total number of adoptions for 2021 in Weld County over 30.
Weld County is currently recruiting families for more than 60 youth in Weld County who are currently waiting to be adopted.
As of November, 105 active foster care homes are in Weld County. Due to some foster homes closing because of adoptions, the team estimates the need for 25 more active foster care homes to meet the current needs of youth in Weld County.
Many children and teens who are adopted from the child welfare system are adopted by their foster parents. Weld County is currently in need of foster families. The next Foster Care orientation is on Wednesday, Dec. 1, from 4:30 – 6 p.m. at Weld County Human Services Bldg. A Greeley, CO 80631. For more information on Foster Care in Weld County, please visit https://www.weldgov.com/Government/Departments/Human-Services/Foster-Care.
Post-adoption support services are available through the Family Forever Program. For more information on Family Forever, please call (970) 400-6707 or email us at hs-postadoptionsupport@weldgov.com.
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Baker Geist
Weld County Communications Specialist
1150 O St. / PO Box 758 / Greeley, CO 80632-0758
D: 970-400-4239 / F: 970-336-7233