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Hi Mariah,
Alison Pegg
Wednesday, June 15, 2022 12:42 PM
CTB
HS -Contract Management
COMMUNICATION ITEM: 2022-24 Diligent Recruitment Plan
2022-2024 Diligent Recruitment Plan .pdf
Follow up
Flagged
Through operational memo: OM-CW-2022-0011, the Colorado Office of Children, Youth & Families (OCYF)
requested all county departments of human/social services to complete a two year diligent recruitment plan. The
plan is effective from June 15, 2022 through June 15, 2024. The attached plan outlines the Department's
recruitment efforts, community partners, and data collection process. The plan does not require formal board
approval and is not associated with any Tyler ID or CMS number. The plan was submitted to the state by the
Division of Child welfare today, Wednesday, June 15tH
Thank you,
Alison Pegg
Contract Management and Compliance Coordinator
Weld County Dept. of Human Services
315 N. 11th Ave., Bldg A
PO Box A
Greeley, CO 80632
W(970) 400-6603
Contract Management Extension: 6556
(970) 353-5212
apeggweldgov.com
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GoRMun ;Co...t;onS
i 1 It 122 1
2022-1919
COLORADO
Office of Children,
Youth & Families
Di,ncion of Child Welfare
Colorado Diligent Recruitment Plan
County Department/Child Placement Agency Plan Template
Please download and save a copy of this document to your computer (go to file and
download)
County Department or CPA Name: Weld County
Effective Date: June and July 15th, 2022 through June and July 15th, 2024
The Colorado Division of Child Welfare has the following core beliefs regarding diligent
recruitment and retention of foster, adoptive, and kinship caregivers:
• We prohibit discrimination or harassment because of race, ethnicity, culture, ancestry,
religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, gender
expression, or any other legally protected characteristic.
• We strive to be equitable, diverse, and inclusive in our partnerships, collaborations, and
practice.
• We value all prospective, current, and former foster, adoptive, and kinship families.
• We value the belief that retention of foster, adoptive, and kinship families is a customer
service -based activity that begins at the first contact with a prospective family and
continues through post permanence support.
• We value opportunities for support, engagement, and training of foster, adoptive, and
kinship families.
• We value opportunities to increase Colorado's capacity to track and interpret data.
• We value the use of data to inform the recruitment and retention of foster, adoptive, and
kinship families.
As set out by the statewide Diligent Recruitment Plan, the state of Colorado identifies the
following goals for diligent recruitment and retention within the child welfare system:
1) Recruit and maintain a sufficient pool of culturally, ethnically, and racially diverse families
who can provide ongoing safety for and meet the needs of children and youth served by
the foster care program.
2) State, counties, and private child placement agencies (CPAs) have the capacity and
ability to use data to inform and monitor diligent recruitment and retention efforts
throughout Colorado.
3) Excellent customer service provided to prospective, current, and former foster, adoptive,
and kinship families.
4) Excellent customer service provided to internal and external community
partners/stakeholders.
1 sin Sherman Wit, Dtflflt, CO 80203 P 303.8663700 www.colorado,govittOttS
Jared Potts, Governor i chel* Barnes. Executive r*ctor
County/Agency Diligent Recruitment Plan
2
5) Create and implement dedicated and planned respite opportunities to allow foster
parents to recharge at critical times, in turn supporting their ability to provide the highest
quality care possible to the children and youth in their care. Respite on a regular basis
will be especially critical for foster parents taking in youth stepping down from
congregate care placements.
6) Develop therapeutic foster care programs and revise treatment care programming.
7) Identify short-term placement options for children and youth including youth who are
screened out from detention settings.
8) Collaborating with the bio-family, judicial partners, and case professionals regarding the
planning and decision -making pertaining to the placement.
9) Providing additional training and support to therapeutic and treatment foster care
families.
Colorado is a beautifully diverse state, with 64 counties and over 35 CPAs that each has unique
populations, strengths, needs, resources, and cultures. In recognizing and valuing the need for
localization of diligent recruitment and retention efforts, each county and CPAs will submit its
own plan for the diligent recruitment and retention of foster, adoptive, and kinship families to
meet the needs of the children and youth in their care. By design, each plan will be different and
will be based on the expertise of the communities it aims to serve. CPAs are required to
complete this template, in partnership with the counties they serve, to develop their own Diligent
Recruitment Plan.
Counties and CPAs will receive their data by April 30, 2022, from the recruitment and retention
specialist at the Division of Child Welfare to support them in the completion of their plans.
The Diligent Recruitment Plan for all counties and CPAs must be submitted to the Division of
Child Welfare by June 15tt, 2022 (County Department) and July 15th, 2022 (CPA). County
Departments are asked to provide their plans/data to each CPA they partner with by June 15,
2022. If CPAs have not received the county department's diligent recruitment plan/data by June
15, 2022, and would like to review them, please contact the Foster Care and Adoption
Recruitment and Retention Specialist and the permission to share this data with CPAs as
requested will proceed through the Division.
All plans will be effective from June/July 15th, 2022 through June/July 15th, 2024. The
Foster Care and Adoption Recruitment and Retention Specialist will review the completed plan
and is available for one-on-one technical assistance to assist the county or CPA in the plan's
development and implementation.
If you are a county department that does not have a foster care program please answer only the
following questions — 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 13, and 14. Thank you!
Counties and CPAs are encouraged to utilize the following resources:
• Family First Act Supplement to the Diligent Recruitment Navigator
1575 Sherman Street. Denver. CO 80203 P 303.566.5700 www.cotoraio:soviCDHS
Jarod Pons. Governor I Mathias Barnes. Executive Ds for
County/Agency Diligent Recruitment Plan
3
https://professionals. adoptuskids. orq/family-first-act-supplement-to-our-diligent-
recru itment-navigator/
• Recruitment Navigator Developing Recruitment Plans Toolkit developed by the
National Resource Center for Diligent Recruitment
http://www.nrcdr.orq/ assets/files/NRCDR-orq/developing-recruitment-plans-toolkit.pdf
Additional Addendums are added to support the county and CPA personnel in the completion of
this form but are not required to be completed.
form.
Mary Griffin, MSW
Foster Care Administrator
mary.griffin@state.co.us
303-396-3979
Toilynn Edwards
Placement Resources Administrator
toilynn.edwardsstate.co.us
720-456-9558
Please do not alter or delete portions of this
sn Sherman Street . Denver, CO 80203 P 303, 1.5 vvw,cCt '', F t
Ja d its, Governor# Mictsetto Banns, Esocuttvie Oar
County/Agency Diligent Recruitment Plan
4
Part 1: Information Gathering
The Multi -Ethnic Placement Act (MEPA) has the following requirements:
https://www.congress.qov/bill/103rd-congress/house-bill/4181 /text
Codes/References: Title IV -E of the Social Security Act Section 471(a)(18)(A) & (B); 45 CFF
Part 1355.38(a)(2); and Multi -Ethnic Placement Act of 1994 as amended by the Inter -Ethnic
Adoption Provisions of 1996 (MEPA-IEPA)
• Prohibits State agencies and other entities that receive Federal funding and were
involved in foster care or adoption placements from delaying, denying, or otherwise
discriminating when making a foster care or adoption placement decision on the basis of
the parent or child/youth's race, color, or national origin
• Prohibits State agencies and other entities that receive Federal funds and were involved
in foster care or adoption placements from categorically denying any person the
o pportunity to become a foster or adoptive parent solely on the basis of race, color, or
n ational origin of the parent or the chi d/youth
• Requires States to develop plans for the recruitment of foster and adoptive families that
reflect the ethnic and racial diversity of child/youth in the State for whom families are
needed
• Allows an agency or entity to consider the cultural, ethnic, or racial background of a
child/youth and the capacity of an adoptive or foster parent to meet the needs of a
child/youth with that background when making a placement
• Does not affect the provisions of the Indian child/youth Welfare Act of 1978
• Makes failure to comply with MEPA a violation of title VI of the Civil Rights Act
1) Does your county department or agency have a non-discrimination policy specific
to caregivers having non-discrimination towards the child(ren)/youth they are
providing care and placement for? If so, please provide the policy.
Our non-discrimination policy is in draft form and being reviewed by legal.
2) [COUNTY ONLY QUESTION] If you are a county department that does not have a
foster care program and partner with a CPA or contractor for recruitment and
retention services, have you reviewed their non-discrimination policy to ensure it
aligns with MEPA? If so, when was the most recent review? Please provide
verification of the review.
575 Sherman Street. C>en vet', CO 30203 P 303.866 5700 www : °Nevado gov/COHS
ttiti Potts 6 Governor I Micholle Barn ire f EA eCtil tWe Di rector
County/Agency Diligent Recruitment Plan
5
3) Please provide the contact information for your Recruitment and Retention
staff/CPA partner/contractor Include their name, telephone number, email,
address, and hours of service
Office Address 2) Telephone
(including zip code) Number(s) (M -F)
3) Recruiter Name(s) 4) Hours of Service
822 7t, St , Suite 150 970-400-6849 Kristy DeAnda 8 30am-5pm M -F & as
Greeley, CO needed
4) Please outline the pre -service and ongoing training provided to prospective
foster, adoptive, and kinship families that increases knowledge and
understanding on diversity
We train foster families during our pre -certification training for fostering diverse populations
The new National Training and Development Curriculum (NTDC) foster care pre -service
curriculum, which Weld County uses to train foster and kinship families, has three modules
dedicated to cultural competency and diversity
We also partner with Foster Source who provides ongoing training opportunities for both
foster parents and workers
Beginning with therapeutic foster families, our foster families will be required to attend
Cultural Inclusivity for Caregivers Understanding and Expanding Your Role -Foster Parent
' Ongoing Education Virtual seminar, 4 hours, for resource caregivers Description Learn to
distinguish between the concepts of race, culture, ethnicity, and nationality Description
below
Look at how differences in cultural beliefs and values can lead to
misconceptions about others
Use new knowledge to inform your own perspectives about those who are
different from you
Get support as you explore personal biases and how to minimize their impact
on the kids in your care v
You'll leave this course with greater confidence to start incorporating a
child's or youth's culture into your caregiving to promote their development
and positive self-esteem and,to help them adjust in their foster home and
community
5) How long does it take for a potential foster, kinship, or adoptive family to become
certified through your county department or agency's
0 Four -six months
1575 Sherman .Street, Denver, CO 30703 P 303 866.5783 www.cotorada.roe/CDHS
Jan. Poiis, Goornur I ►itch -Se aame;, Ecnaailvr Diiictor
County/Agency Diligent Recruitment Plan
6
6) What non-discriminatory fee structures are in place to support families in
becoming certified through your agency or county department? (i.e., free CPR &
First Aid, gas cards, resource closet, etc.).
• We offer Foster Care Orientation twice a month as a first step. One meeting per month is
offered as a virtual meeting, and one meeting per month takes place in a rotating physical
location (Greeley, Firestone, and Windsor)
• Once a prospect has attended Orientation and our pre-screening application process, they are
contacted by our Certification Specialist who walks them through the application, training,
and certification process.
• Home studies are completed by contracted Home Study Providers who schedule
appointments based on the prospective foster family's availability. We have a Home Study
Lead that ensures that home studies are meeting high standards and done in a timely manner.
Home studies beginning during the 8 -week training period.
• We cover training and certification fees. Families may cover medical release if there is a co -
pay involved. There is no application fee.
• We refer families to CPA's or adoption agencies when they have indicated that they are not
willing to foster regardless of a child or sibling group's legal status and they are only
interested in adoption. We cover our expectations for certifying families during Orientation
and we also discuss how foster care adoption works.
7) Describe your agency's current process for data collection regarding recruitment
and retention activities. How has this process met the needs of your agency or
county department? (EXAMPLE.' How did you hear about us? Have you seen our
advertisements at any of the following places?)
• We survey how people hear about us on our Orientation registration form.
• Data on foster and kinship families is gathered through the application process in Binti and
during the home study. Accessed through Binti.
• Characteristics of foster families and children needing placement are entered into Binti.
During the placement search, staff view matching families in Binti. The families are
automatically selected in Binti based on matching criteria built into the system, including
proximity of the foster family home to the child's removal location and school, ethnicity and
cultural considerations and characteristics of the foster parents and the child.
• Data on the number of families entering foster care via our certification process and exiting
foster care is maintained on a spreadsheet.
• Internal Data is accessed through Trails for families/resources, removal locations, languages
of children, challenges to placement.
• CDHS gathers data for us in preparation for this Diligent Recruitment planning — ages at
removal, children's race/ethnicity, placement type.
• We use data collected to prioritize goals and inform our practices. We use this information to
help us understand our gaps in resources and needs of children in out -of -home placement.
• We administer an exit survey for closing families.
1575 Sherman Wit, Denver, CO SOW) P 303.1366 , 5700 wvvvii Coto /CONS
ja Potts, Go'enorr I Michel Le Barnes, (*gym ChneCtor
County/Agency Diligent Recruitment Plan
8) Do you need support from the Foster Care and Adoption Recruitment and
Retention Specialist regarding data collection? If so, please outline what would be
helpful?
No, we can collect county data
9) Describe the community partnerships you have and how they impact your
recruitment and retention efforts
For the City/Christ Community Church/Zoe's Caf� & Events — Use of their facility for
Orientations and Training Help with recruitment, KindConnect collaboration
Foundations Church Windsor and Vineyard Church — Use of facility for Onentation Help
with recruitment & retention efforts
• Foster Source — Ongoing training opportunities, help with retention efforts
• City Lights Church —Respite events, KindConnect partner, recruitment support
• Timberline Windsor — Respite events, KindConnect partner, recruitment support, foster
closet
Weld County Faith Partnership Council (WCFPC) — Monthly meetings with WCFPC
members to talk about needs and goals for WC Foster Care, space in their Newsletter for
recruitment and retention efforts
Various Churches/Congregations/business groups/individuals including but not limited to
MegaStar, Gyrath Realty, Tina O'Connell, Rotary — Gift and food donations for children and
families for holiday, Backpacks for school, facility use, sharing social media posts and
recruiting volunteers for recruitment and retention efforts
Colorado Kids Belong — Shares social media posts for recruitment, occasionally meets
material needs of foster families, offers resources for respite events and for faith community
involvement, contracted to facilitate pre -certification training for families
Realities for Children — Emergency fund, launching KindConnect items sharing program for
Weld County in collaboration with PDC Energy and DHS
Toys for Tots and Serve 6 8 — Adopt -a -Family and Giving Tree support for holidays, food,
clothing, and material needs for foster and kinship families
• Royal Family Kids Camp — provides camp and other activities for children in foster care
• Finally Home Foundation — provides family strengthening events and support for foster
families, kin, adoptive families
Youth for Christ — reBALANCE TBRI youth programming for youth with trauma, offers
respite events for families with teens
Love Thy Neighbor — Respite events
1575 5t,rman Street Ltcnvvr, CO :0203 ;a 30r 365,5700 c+. v caionda o4/CDHS
Jtirod Pair„ Go,, -nor ; fltchciir i mr;, <ro, ts•c 0 resta,
County/Agency Diligent Recruitment Plan
8
10) Describe your strategies and their impact in recruiting and retaining the following
populations:
• LGBTQ+ affirming
• Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC)
• Children and youth with disabilities
• Children and youth with significant behavioral needs
• We have a foster parent and member of the LGBTQ+ community who refers families and
helps with recruitment efforts.
• We have foster parents who are bilingual and bicultural and who have strong connections
with the Latinx community.
• We choose photos for marketing and social media reflective of the diverse population in
Weld County for foster parent recruitment.
• We work with a group that includes an immigrant member from the Latinx community who
understands and advises us about Latinx family dynamics for recruitment and an African
American man who helps us with recruitment efforts.
• Our division has a strong presence of bilingual staff, including our CW support specialists.
• We have over 200 youth placed with non -certified kinship families. Each non -certified
kinship family has a Kinship Care Coordinator who is available to support them as needed.
One of our KC Coordinators is bilingual. Kinship Care Coordinators regularly talk to their
kinship families about certification. If a family chooses to pursue that option, a referral is
made to the Certification Specialist who contacts the family within 48 hours.
11) Is your county department or CPA exploring therapeutic or treatment foster care?
Yes.
12) What is your county department or agency doing to address covid barriers to
effective diligent recruitment and retention? (**County departments and agencies
requested that the state collect this data)
• We are offering some virtual orientations and pre -certification training options.
• We offer virtual options for ongoing training requirements.
• We have a helper program available for families who would like to support foster families
with things like meals, chores, etc.
13) List the County Departments or CPAs you worked with during this reporting
period. (i.e. The Collaborative, Hope & Home, Hope's Promise, Logan County)
Ariel, Courage Community, Whimspire, DAYS, Dungarvin, Griffith, Hope and Home, Lutheran
Family Services, Maplestar, Nightlight, Parker Personal Care Homes, Family Resource Network,
Sample Supports, Savio, Smith, Special Kids Special Families, SAFY, Strong Foundations,
Quality of Life, Top of the Trails, Kids Crossing, Bethany, A New World, Kairos
1575 Merman Street, Denver. CO 84703 P 303.866.5704 WWw cotorado.goviCONS
Jarod Potts. Governor ; MdC ltt. Barnes. Laecuttvr for
County/Agency Diligent Recruitment Plan
9
14) Your County Department or Agency Diligent Recruitment Plan
DCW
former
Goal:
To
Provide
provide
parents
a
minimum
a respectful
from initial
of
inquiry
2
and responsive
through
targeted
and
2 general
experience
post
-placement
strategies.
to
prospective,
services.
current,
and
Recruitment
foster
and
adoptive
Activities
Current,
or
Recruitment*
Type
of
Outcomes/Measures
Potential
Activity
is Complete
Expanded,
(Y/N)
New Activity+
Weld
Newsletter
County
&
Foster
social
Care
media
Expanding
newsletter
monthly
issues
to
General
Reduction
recruitment
rates
newsletter,
awareness
social
through
media
in
increased
through
dropout
Yes
Recruit
Powwow
at
NCIPA
Annual
Current
Native
recruitment
foster
parent
Yes
Targeted
Reach
community
fragile
out
foster
to medical
for medically
needs
Current
Targeted
Increase
foster
children/youth
medical
families
needs
potential
for
with
Yes
Valpak
bulk
mailing
Expanded
General
Increase
over time
in inquiries
Yes
Foster
Program
Parent
Referral
Current
General
targeted
&
Increase
mouth
inquiries
word of
Yes
1575 Sherman Street . Denver, Co $0203 P 303.866.5700 www . colorado.gov/COHS
Jarod Potts. Governor $ Micitwitte Barnes. Executive Director
4
•
•
County/Agency Diligent Recruitment Plan
10
DCW
adoptive,
Retention
and
Goal:
non -certified
To
Provide
provide
kinship
a
ongoing
minimum
parents
capacity
to
of
help
2
targeted
development
meet
and
families'
2 general
and
needs
support
strategies.
and
of
build
foster,
on
their
kinship
skills.
foster,
Activities
Expanded,
Current,
or
Recruitment*
Type
of
Outcomes/Measures
Potential
Activity is Complete
(Y/N)
New
Activity+
Community
respite
4X/year
adoptive
events
for
families
-facilitated
at
foster,
least
kin,
Current
Reduction
homes,
of community
in
general
closing
sense
support
Yes
Targeted
Support
families
an
with
offering
and
opportunity
appreciation
other
&
while
meals
appreciate
foster
giving
to
at
connect
families
trainings
events
foster
them
by
Current
General
Organic
mentoring
families
support
among
and
Yes
Provide
helper
through
and
families
helper
options
respite
more
with
program
respite
for
recruitment
higher
families
for
needs
and
Current
Targeted
Greater
support
families
needs
community
for
with
foster
high
Yes
training
Provide
supportive
foster
video
monthly
Supervisor)
links
educational
families
by
tips,
resources
and
ongoing
Foster
(Post
books,
Care
and
for
Institute
Current
General
Resources
for
needing
encouragement
specialized
skills
foster
a
at
families
boost
parenting
the
in
and
ready
Yes
Launching
KindConnect
program
Children)
(Realities
collaborative
item
sharing
for
New
General
items
Meet
of
families
community
of
foster
gently
material
by
and
used
donations
needs
kin
needed
No
I 575 Sherman Street, Denve. CO 80203 P 303.866 '5 7Cc3 www coLorado ;ov f CDHS
.aid Potts, Governor I Matte ern . 1*eann Director
County/Agency Diligent Recruitment Plan
11
4575 SYter ron Stmt. Culver CO t0 03 P 303 044 5700 rrti, r! co'oro,do 7O7/CDHS
J,-cd Pot.. Go ',nor ; d1ccord;r iii c0ior t•
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