We license many different types of foster homes (i.e. some families want to adopt, some want to do only respite and others want to do long-term foster care). These homes are located in urban, suburban, and rural settings, and they span the ethnic, cultural, and racial spectrum. Kids Crossing celebrates diversity!

First, you must be over the age of 21, with reliable transportation and extra room in your home. Next, you must complete an application and background checks: Background Investigation Unit Inquiry Form from CO (and other states you have lived in for the past 5 yrs), Colorado Bureau of Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and a County Records check. Then, you will begin working on your CPR/First Aid certification and other training, including the 12 hours of required CORE Training. In addition, we must have your pet records (vaccinations), physicals for every member of the household, three references for each applicant, and copies of driver’s licenses and automobile insurance. When we have received all of these items, and you have successfully passed your background checks, we will complete the SAFE home study and home inspection.

We work with all types of kids! Boys and girls, from birth to eighteen years old, who may have emotional and/or behavioral disorders, medical needs and/or developmental delays, substance abuse issues, delinquent behaviors, special education needs, histories of abuse and neglect, and so on. Some children may need respite care (short-term) until a relative is available, long-term care, or adoption! Kids Crossing has been around since 1992 and receives referrals from many of the larger counties in Colorado including Adams, Arapahoe, Denver, El Paso, Jefferson, Pueblo, and many of the smaller counties including Chaffee, Costilla, Fremont, Huerfano, Otero, Las Animas, Bent and the San Luis Valley.

You will be told everything that we are told. Please keep in mind that many times children are going to be brand-new to the system, and if their parents were suddenly taken to jail, for example, many details about the child are going to be unknown. It will be your job as their foster parent to pay close attention to the behaviors of the child during the first few weeks. You might end up knowing more than the caseworker. On the other hand, we will know more information about children who have been in placement for an extended period of time but need to be moved. You will have access to all of the information that we have in our records. 

This is difficult to determine. Each child coming into the system is coming from a unique situation. The child may stay one day until a parent is able to care for them, a few weeks until a relative is identified or may stay years until he/she is adopted or, for our teens, emancipated. Typically, children stay in care less than twelve months, because the goal is to find permanency for all children and reconnect them with family members if appropriate.

Yes, foster parents are definitely able to specify what ages and types of children they think they will be able to maintain in their home. In general, there is a higher need for homes willing to take in teenagers and sibling groups; however, there is always a need for foster parents to fit various niches. Adoptive homes are always needed as well.

Per State regulations, each foster family home is allowed to have up to four foster children placed into their home, or a maximum of eight children (combination of biological, adopted and foster). If a sibling group of more than four is referred, and you have room, this is also allowed on a case-by-case basis. You will tell us the number of children you are comfortable with, and we will accommodate you, within the limits of the State regulations and the space you have available in your home.

In some cases, yes, and, in some cases, you may be asked to transport to the child’s home school. If the caseworker is unsure how long the child will be in placement, s/he may ask you to transport on a temporary basis. Unfortunately, there is no extra reimbursement for transportation costs.

Foster parents are paid one time a month on the 25th of the month for the previous month. Your foster care reimbursement is determined by the child’s needs. It starts at a base rate and then can be negotiated from there.

We have a 24-hour emergency cell phone and always have a qualified, experienced staff member to answer immediately. We want you to call us any time of day or night rather than have you make a decision by yourself that you may regret later. Also, all of the staff tries to be familiar with the children you have in your home. Therefore, if you come to the agency or call with a question, anyone should be able to help you out. In addition, we provide ongoing training opportunities, including Trauma Informed Caregiver training, and we have various resources available to foster parents via our website. We host foster parent support groups, and we recognize the achievements of our foster parents at appreciation dinners. We also organize social events for foster families, such as holiday parties and summer barbeques. In general, we feel that we have a great relationship with our foster parents and try to support every family in the way that feels good to them.

This will depend on your child’s situation. You will most likely see the parents when you drop the children off at the visitation center or Department of Human Services for visits, but you may be asked to facilitate phone calls with the parents at times, as well. When a child is placed into your home, the caseworker will discuss visitation with you and make sure you feel comfortable with anything being asked of you. Ice Breakers (a safe meeting with the home supervisor, Foster Parents and Biological Parents) can be used to facilitate positive interaction between the Foster Parents and Bio Parents. This means that we do everything we can to encourage positive relationships between biological parents and foster parents. We believe that foster children are reunified more quickly and more successfully when this occurs.

Yes, as long as the child and their family are comfortable with this. Most times, children love to go to religious services and activities with foster families. However, there may be times when a parent or the child has a strong preference about which denomination of a faith they attend or a preference to not attend the service/activity at all. It is during times like this that a foster family needs to be prepared to make arrangements for a child to stay home or to be transported to a specific type of religious service during that time frame. It is a State regulation that foster parents give children the freedom to choose to participate in religion.

Yes, of course! We have many types of parents and each is unique in their own way. Even if you have never had children of your own, we still believe that you have great potential to do foster care.

The County does not pay extra for daycare, so if you choose to put a foster child in daycare, the County will not pay for it. However, you may deduct this cost from the amount you are given for foster care reimbursement. Considering a family member as a daycare provider is also an option. To keep your children for over six hours at a time, the individual will have to complete background checks and do some training as well. The caseworker for your child may have strong feelings about your child being or not being in daycare. If daycare is something you will need to resort to on a full-time basis, please let us know upon licensure.

If you do not foresee a move in the next 2-3 years, you may apply for foster care. If you have a spouse deployed, you are eligible for foster care licensing on your own as long as he/she is in support of the idea and in agreement to participate in the licensing process upon return. We also have foster parents who reside on base.

We think just working with our staff is a perk! Kids Crossing also offers no-fee adoptions and free foster care licensing. We have many fun activities throughout the year for families, as well as, onsite therapy, visitation, and trainings, and a clothing bank and resource room. The Colorado Springs and Pueblo offices offer our own therapists and family preservation workers that understand what foster families really need and even offer services in-home service. Kids Crossing also has a referral incentive program for any families who introduce new foster families to the agency.

Yes, rules will allow for adult DD clients and foster children to be living in the same home. In addition, you can be a licensed home daycare provider and be a licensed foster parent. If you are interested in caring for DD adults as well as foster children you can do both through Kids Crossing.

We have four offices located in Pueblo, La Junta, Colorado Springs and Denver. Each office offers unique services and is staffed with competent, supportive staff.