Foster parents open their hearts and their homes to children and youth when their parents or caregivers cannot care for them. Foster parents provide a safe, temporary, and stable home for kids or youth while meeting their daily physical, emotional and social needs. As key partners on the child support team, foster parents work with caseworkers and other professionals, sharing insights that guide case planning and decisions in foster care in Colorado.
When kids or teens enter foster care in Colorado, the first goal is to reunite them with their parents or caregivers. If reunification is not possible, the focus shifts to finding a permanent, loving home through adoption, guardianship or another long-term arrangement that provides stability, belonging and security.
Are you interested in becoming a foster parent in Colorado? Are you ready to take the first step? Start by filling out the foster care inquiry form. A county or child placement agency in your community will contact you to answer questions and guide you through the process.
Your journey to making a difference starts today!
Foster care provides children and youth with a safe, stable and caring home while their parents work through challenges that affect their ability to provide appropriate care. There is always a need for foster families willing to support sibling groups, kids or teens with special needs, and those who speak a different language, such as Spanish or Vietnamese.
Learn About Foster Care
On average, 8 kids enter foster care in Colorado every day, with around 3,500 kids and teens currently in care.
By providing a safe and loving home, you can change a child’s life for the better.
There are about 2,400 certified foster and kinship families in the state.
Every foster parent agrees that supporting kids and teens in foster care is fulfilling and transformative.
What matters most for foster care in Colorado is your ability to provide a safe, stable and caring home for a child or youth. While there are some basic requirements - such as being at least 21 years old - foster care is open to Coloradans from all backgrounds, experiences and walks of life.
If you’re ready to make a positive difference in a child’s or a teen’s life, now is the time to start. With time, patience and compassion, you can help guide a child through the challenges of a difficult past and be the support they need to thrive. Foster parents, who are just like you, truly have the power to change everything for a child in need.
For instance, you can be a foster parent if you:
you must:
There are only a few key steps that you’ll need to complete to become a certified foster parent.
Get more information by connecting with a county Department of Human Services or a Child Placement Agency to determine the right agency for you.
Complete the application and pass a background check.
Complete the required initial training, which can be found in the Child Welfare Training System (CWTS).
Complete a home study.
The best way to choose a foster care agency is to find one that fits your family’s values, needs, and the support you want as a caregiver. County human services departments and child placement agencies may share information in different ways. The best way to learn about those differences and more is to attend an information session or schedule a one-on-one meeting with a child placement agency.
You can also request more information about becoming a certified foster parent by filling out the foster care inquiry form to request follow-up from counties or child placement agencies.
Are you curious about the day-to-day of foster care in Colorado?
Watch these videos to learn what fostering is really like! Hear from everyday Coloradans as they share their experiences and why they chose to become foster parents.
Colorado is committed to serving all children, youth, families, and communities. Foster parents come from every background and life path, reflecting the diversity of the kids and teens who need them. We value people from all walks of life and welcome every type of family.
Are you curious about what it’s like to be in foster care?
Explore these videos to better understand the experiences and perspectives of youth in foster care.
Foster parents receive a monthly reimbursement to help cover the costs of food, shelter, clothing and other related childcare expenses.
Medical, dental and mental health care for children and youth in foster care is provided by Medicaid.
The Child Welfare Training System (CWTS) offers free training and ongoing learning for foster, kinship and adoptive parents across Colorado, both in-person and online.
Many child placements that certify foster parents offer support groups for parents and families.
Community organizations may offer extra resources, including training, social events, support groups and assistance with supplies when available.
