Colorado Springs, CO
Foster Care Colorado Springs
Address & Contact
1440 E Fountain Blvd
Colorado Springs, CO 80910
Main Phone: (719) 632-4569
Fax: (719) 632-6573
Administration Fax: (719) 381-4440
Contact Us
Staff Directory
Lee Oesterle, MSW, LCSW
Masters Level Social Work and Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Lee has been working in the Child Welfare system since 1978. Before receiving his Masters in Social Work at the University of Denver in 1980, Lee worked in group homes with adolescent boys. From 1980 to 1988, Lee was a Team Leader and then the Clinical Director of Chins Up Youth Care Homes. In 1988 Lee began his private practice and continues that practice on a part-time basis. In 1992, Jan and Larry Faubion asked Lee to be the Executive Director of the child placement agency they were starting – Kids Crossing.
Lee was the Executive Director from 1992 to 2013. In May of 2013, Lee was seriously injured in a bicycle accident in the mountains. After months of rehabilitation at Craig Hospital, Lee returned to work as the Clinical Director of Kids Crossing. This role proved more conducive to his continued healing and recovery. In 2015, Lee was again asked to be the Executive Director.
Ben Schoch
Placement Coordinator with the Colorado Springs office
Ben is a Colorado native who graduated from CSU-Pueblo and has held a variety of jobs within the human services field. He has worked at Kids Crossing for the greater part of a decade and enjoys working directly with families and youth to problem solve and offer support. In addition to his role as Placement Coordinator, Ben teaches foster parent CORE classes and several other trainings throughout the year. In his spare time he enjoys spending time with his family and friends while enjoying an active lifestyle.
Sarah Bailey
Recruitment & Retention Specialist, Colorado Springs, Denver
Sarah graduated from the University of Tampa with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in marine science. Before entering the social work field she trained dolphins for the US Navy Marine Mammal Program in San Diego. In 2011, she moved to Colorado with her husband to be near her family. She started with Kids Crossing in 2011 as a home coordinator. In her free time she spends time with her family and is having fun raising her little girls.
Gladys Offutt
Home Coordinator, Colorado Springs Office
Gladys graduated from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs in the fall of 2011, with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Kids Crossing is her first experience in the social work field, and she has been with us since 2012. She enjoys working with children and is constantly surprised by their resilience. In her free time, Gladys enjoys spending time with her family, painting, and drawing.
<ul class=”et_pb_member_social_links”><li><a href=”mailto:goffutt@kidscrossing.com” class=”et_pb_font_icon db_pb_team_member_email_icon”><span>Email</span></a></li></ul>
Karen McKay
Home Coordinator, Colorado Springs Office
Karen has been with Kids Crossing since 2006 and has enjoyed working with so many talented and big-hearted individuals throughout the years. Karen graduated from UCCS in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology. Karen enjoys spending time with family and friends when she is not working.
Testimonials
Kobylinski Family
Kids Crossing is proud of the Kobylinski Family and their amazing achievements! Please click here to view their video story.
Gloria and Tiny Smith
Gloria and Tiny Smith started doing foster care over 20 years ago because of a boy that Tiny met at the local Boys and Girls Club. The teen wasn’t getting the attention that he needed at home and they could tell he needed some extra help.
The Smith’s opened their home to him (just informally, not as Foster Parents) and he stayed with their family for the entire summer. He didn’t want to leave because he said that if he went home he would probably end up in foster care.
This situation made the Smith’s decide to become licensed foster parents – because they experienced first hand children who have been neglected – and realized how they couldn’t ignore this need.
Kate & Matt Pincus
“I think Matt and I realize we have the ability to make positive changes in a child’s life and while foster care is not necessarily an easy road it is an area of our lives where we feel a tremendous responsibility. Each kiddo is exceptional and extraordinary and will no doubt touch our hearts. Every child deserves safety and security but they also need unconditional love and we have a lot of that to give out (plus three rowdy boys ready to play).”
“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard” -Winnie the Pooh
Brian and Tiffaney Hackley
Brian and Tiffaney Hackley have fostered for 3 ½ years. They have three son’s ages 21, 8, and 5 and have have fostered adopted a daughter who is medically fragile. Bryan is 15 Years active duty Army and Tiffaney is a Lifestyle Blogger who works from home.
The Hackleys love and encourage every child that comes to their home. Their time with Kids Crossing has been a great source of learning as it has expanded their knowledge and training to better serve the children and Bio Parents involved.
The Svendsens
Pictured from Front Left to Right: Patti, Ta’Nasia, Amanda, Derek, Desmond, Amelia & Peter.
“If you are willing to risk heartbreak, the rewards are unimaginable,” states Patti Svendsen.
Patti and her husband, Peter, have had the privilege of providing foster care for over 145 children in the past 26 years. Patti defines one of her “rewards” as she tells the story of Jeremiah (front right, pictured in Summer 2005), who was placed with the Svendsen’s at birth, only given 2 months to live. Jeremiah surprised everyone, living until he was 13 years old and passing away in December of 2005. Although his passing was full of heartbreak, his life was a joy.
Careers
At Kids Crossing, our staff are still kids at heart!
Resumes are accepted on an ongoing basis
Kids Crossing lists any avaliable positions on Indeed.com.
Interested in learning more about Kids Crossing? Schedule an informational meeting today!