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COLORADO
Office of Children,
Youth & Families
Division of Child Welfare 1
Colorado Diligent Recruitment Plan
County Department/Child Placement Agency Plan Template
County/Agency Name: Weld County Department of Human Services
Effective Date: June/July 1st, 2021 through June/July 1st, 2022
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.
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 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 placement.
9) Providing additional training and support to therapeutic and treatment foster care families.
rman Street, Denver, CO 80203 P 303.866 5700 www.colored) gov/CDlIS
Jarod Pars. Governor michette Barnes, E*ecutvve Director J •
Go ►-1 r- co,+- 0 YTS
06/07/2
Cc : i-1 SD
O51a-11 GI
1476
2021-1476
County/Agency Diligent Recruitment Plan
2
Colorado is a beautifully diverse state, with 64 counties and over 35 CPAs that each have
u nique populations, strengths, needs, resources, and cultures. In recognizing and valuing the
n eed 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, 2021 from the staff 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 Meladie Clopton,
MSW (C) the Foster Care and Adoption Recruitment and Retention Specialist by June 1st,
2021 (County) and July 1st, 2021 (CPA). County Departments are asked to provide their
plans/data to each CPA they partner with by June 1, 2021. If CPAs have not received the
county department's diligent recruitment plan/data by June 7, 2021, and would like to review
them, please contact the Foster Care and Adoption Recruitment and Retention Specialist,
Meladie Clopton (contact information listed below).
All plans will be effective from June/July 1st, 2021 through June/July 1st, 2022. 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.
Counties and CPAs are encouraged to utilize the following:
• Family First Act Supplement to the Diligent
https://professionals.adoptuskids.orq/family-first-act-supplement-to-our-diligent-
recruitment-navigator/
• Recruitment Navigator Developing Recruitment Plans Toolkit developed by the
National Resource Center for Diligent Recruitment
http://www.nrcdr.org/ assets/files/NRCDR-org/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.
Do not alter or delete portions of this form.
Meladie Clopton, MSW (C)
Foster Care and Adoption Recruitment and Retention Specialist
meladie.clopton@state.co.us
303-801-8580
1575 Sherman Street. Denny, CO 80203 P 303.866.5700 www.totoratio.gov/CDHS
ja tad Potts, Governor I Mlctw Ue Barnes, Executive Director
County/Agency Diligent Recruitment Plan
3
Part 1: Information Gathering
The Multi -Ethnic Placement Act (MEPA) has the following requirements:
https://www.congress.gov/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
opportunity to become a foster or adoptive parent solely on the basis of race, color, or
national origin of the parent or the child/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. Explain how your agency meets these requirements:
a. Discuss how your agency safeguards against discrimination.
• We offer anti -discrimination training to our foster families and workers.
• Our foster care recruitment marketing platforms feature diverse populations
such as LGBTQ+, Latinx, Native American, diverse faith community,
African American.
• We utilize diverse individuals and organizations to help with recruitment
efforts: LGBTQ, Latinx, Native American, diverse faith community, African
American.
• Weld County contracts with the Language Line, which can be accessed for the following
languages (ASL, Spanish, Burmese, Somali, Arabic, etc.). The County also contracted
with Voiance for translation and interpretation services.
• County staff are often utilized to interpret when necessary and available.
• Weld contracts with other Core Service providers when necessary.
b. Specifically address your agency's practice regarding complaints received by
potential and current clients? Also, how clients and staff are able to access
this grievance information.
• Civil Rights and Discrimination Complaints contact name, number, and Telecom Relay
Service section is on the home page of the DHS website.
1575 Sherman Street. Denver. CO 80203 P 303.866-5700 www.cotorado-gov/CDHS
Jarod Pot s. Go..ernor Michelle Barnes. Executive Director
County/Agency Diligent Recruitment Plan
4
• Child Welfare Complaint Process is on the CW home page. "If you have concerns, we
want to work with you to immediately resolved it. The first step is to call 970.400.6860
and request to speak with your caseworker's supervisor."
2. Describe your county/agency child welfare system and structure. Note: In this
section you must provide information on how to access services through your
agency, including location and hours of service. (Refer to Addendum A) (Do you
have staff internal and external with the primary responsibility for the recruitment and
retention of foster, adoptive, and kinship parents?)
1) Office Address
(including zip
code)
2) Telephone
Number(s)
3) Recruiter Name(s)
4) Hours of Service
(M -F)
822 7th St., Suite 150
Greeley, CO
970-400-6849
Kristy DeAnda
8am-5pm M -F & as
needed
Weld County Foster, Kinship, Adoptive Structure and Staff:
• Child Welfare Support Specialists receive general Child Welfare calls and walk-ins.
• Child Welfare Resource Manager oversees Foster and Kinship Units; Child Welfare
Permanency Manager oversees Adoption recruitment.
• Foster Care Supervisor and Foster Care Coordinators oversee and support Foster Parents.
• Kinship Supervisor and Kinship Care Coordinators oversee and support Kinship Parents.
• Child Welfare Adoption/Permanency Supervisor oversees recruitment for legally free
children and youth.
• Post Adoption Support through DHS's Family Resource Division.
• Certification Specialist supports foster and kinship certifications for families.
• Foster Care Recruiter recruits foster families and helps with retention of foster families.
• Services are accessed through lobby (above), website/webpages, phone, emails.
• We have webpages for Foster Care, Kinship, Waiting Kids page, Post Adoption.
• Application process for certifying foster and kinship families is through Binti.
3. Describe strategies for training agency staff to work with diverse cultural, racial,
and various socio-economic communities. (How are trainings offered? What on-
going training is provided?)
• We utilize the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) Training
Resources that offer annual training that covers diverse populations.
• The Child Welfare Division is partnering with Dr. Guzman, Chief Diversity
Officer and Associate Vice President of Student Affairs, from University of
Northern Colorado to provide diversity training for management.
• Outside agencies who represent diverse populations are invited to quarterly staff
meetings and provide presentations on the populations they serve.
• We collaborate with our community partners, such as North Range Behavioral
Health, to provide education and training on trauma and bias.
• Weld has staff who are experts on Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) who
1575 Sherman Street. Denver, CO 80203 P 303.566 5700 vvwwcotsuaco.gov,CDHS
J•rod Potts. Go+.Y'rr r kurnettc e84rnes, tmecuttoor D rector
County/Agency Diligent Recruitment Plan
5
provide consultation and training.
• We offer training to staff to increase their ability to work with diverse
populations. The training helps develop cultural competency and knowledge of
biases.
• 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 have a best practice group for working with non-English speaking families. The group's
goal was to come up with best case practices when working with families whose native
language is not English. So far, they have developed a training for staff and a procedure for
case assigning and utilizing interpreters and translators. The group's discussions about
cultural components and diversity lead to forming another work group called
"Disproportionality in Child Welfare."
• We also partner with Foster Source who provides ongoing training opportunities for both
foster parents and workers.
4. Describe the pre -service and ongoing training model(s) that is balanced and
factual and opportunities that your agency provides to prospective foster,
adoptive, and kinship families and its structure. (Refer to Addendum A) (How often
are orientation sessions and trainings offered? How do you structure your curricula?
How many staff have experience training? What ongoing training is available to foster,
adoptive, and kinship families through your agency and community partners?)
• Orientations are offered twice a month and as needed for those with schedule constraints.
• Orientations include the following topics: Goals of Child Welfare (CW); What to Expect as a
Foster Parent; Why Be Involved; The Certification Process in Weld County.
• Recruiter is a former foster parent & a foster adoptive parent of teens. Six Foster Care Unit
staff members have experience training.
• Pre -Certification training is facilitated by The Matthews House, and two different WC Foster
Parents.
• Foster and Kinship Booster Training (Ongoing training and networking opportunities).
• Parent Cafes, an evidence -based program based on the Strengthening Families Five
Protective Factors.
• Trust Based Relational Intervention trainings are available through Weld County's Family
Resource Division for foster, kinship, adoptive and biological families.
• We partner with Foster Source who offers regular trainings for foster families.
5. Describe the certification/approval process at your agency. Note: In this section
you must address your agency's non-discriminatory fee structure (i.e. free CPR &
First Aid, gas cards , resource closet, etc.). (How quickly do families typically move
from initial inquiry to certification? Does your agency gather data on when and how often
families drop out of the certification process? How frequently and under what
circumstances do you refer to other agencies for certification/approval rather than work
with them directly? Do you charge an application fee?)
1575 Sherman Street. Denver, Co 80203 P 303.846 5700 www.cotorado gov'CDiS
Jarod Po4,s. Governor ; Micrietie Barnes, Executive Director
County/Agency Diligent Recruitment Plan
6
• 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.
• Our training and certification process length is 4-5 months.
• 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.
6. Describe your agency's current process for data collection. (EXAMPLE: How did you
hear about us? Have you seen our advertisements at any of the following places?) Note: In this
section you must provide actual data reflecting characteristics of children/youth
in care. (Refer to Addendum A) (How does your agency gather and maintain data on
the characteristics of child/youth in care? How does your agency gather and maintain
data on the characteristics of available families and placement capacity? Do you feel like
your data gathering techniques are effective? How does your agency use the data
collected to inform diligent recruitment and retention?)
• 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.
1575 Sl e►,nan Street. Denver. Co &0203 P 303.8465700 vvveve cotorada.gav'CCyHS
Jarcd Pole-,. Ga•.er-nar Htic►+elto Berries, Executive Director
County/Agency Diligent Recruitment Plan
7
AGE/GENDER AT REMOVAL:
Caucasian
Hispanic/Latinx
Black/African
American
Asian
American
Indian/Alaska Native
Other
184
232
4
1
1
Gender
0-5
6-11
12-14
15+
Male
99
63
40
22
Female
84
55
33
26
Ages Total
183
118
73
48
PLACEMENT TYPE:
0-2
3-5
6-8
9-11
12-14
15+
Total
Foster
Home
50
24
20
17
22
11
144
Group
Center Care
2
4
1
7
Group
Home Care
1
3
1
5
Independent
Living
1
1
2
Kinship
Non -
Certified
42
27
30
20
20
12
151
Kinship
Foster Care
19
11
7
8
6
3
54
Residential
Child Care
Facility
1
5
15
16
37
Runaway
1
1
Trial Home
Visit
7
2
4
4
1
3
21
Total
118
65
63
55
73
48
422
575 Sherman Street. Denver. Co 80203 P 303.866.5700 www.cotoredo._ /C
JaroQ Polls. Gaon -not j MKCttette Barnes, Executive Director
County/Agency Diligent Recruitment Plan
8
7. Describe community partnerships that exist in your county/region and how they
impact your recruitment and retention efforts. (Refer to Addendum A) (How
effective do you think these partnerships are? What aspects of these partnerships are
strongest, and what aspects do partners find challenging? Is data shared between
agencies?)
• For the City/Zoe's Caf� & Events — Free use of their facility for Orientations and
Training. Help with recruitment.
• Foundations Church Windsor — Free us of facility for Orientation. Help with recruitment
& retention efforts.
• Foster Source — Ongoing training opportunities, help with retention efforts.
• City Lights Church — Just getting started with involvement. A Parent Night out respite
event is planned for July 2021.
• 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 — Gift and food donations for children and families for
holiday; Backpacks for school, help with sharing social media posts and recruiting
volunteers for recruitment and retention efforts.
• Colorado Kids Belong — Shares social media posts for recruitment; offers resources for
respite events and for faith community involvement.
• Realities for Children — Emergency fund; starting discussions about expanding this
partnership to help with respite and resources for families.
• Serve 6.8 — Adopt -a -Family and Giving Tree support for holidays.
• 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.
At this point, the retention aspects of these partnerships are the strongest. As pandemic
restrictions loosen, we hope to be out in the community with some of these partners for
recruitment efforts.
8. Describe standards, practices, or conditions in your agency related to the
recruitment, retention, or approval of families that may be unique or nuanced (i.e.
Families of Color, affirming families for LGBTQ+ children/youth, etc.). (For
example, does your agency require all kinship care providers to be certified?)
• 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.
• Our foster care webpage has a video that includes LGBTQ+ foster parents.
• 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.
?575 Sherman Street. Denver, CO 2!0203 P 303.866 5700 www Cotor?do gov,'CDMS
iarod Potts, Go..ernor . M ct e, a games:, E.etutr.e Dveitor
County/Agency Diligent Recruitment Plan
9
• 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.
9. Describe specific strategies that your agency is currently using to recruit and/or
retain foster, adoptive, and kinship families. Note: In this section you must
discuss specific strategies that are being utilized to reach all segments of the
community and your agency's method to disseminate information for both general
and child/youth-specific information. For example — media campaigns, mailers,
community forums/events, etc.)
(Which of these strategies do you feel are the most effective, and how do you know?)
• We nominated a couple of our exceptional foster families for the State's National Foster
Care Month campaign. One of our families was selected.
• We hosted a National Foster Care Month Proclamation and Press Release.
• We assembled a Foster Care/Adoption Committee including foster and foster adoptive
parents to help advise practices.
• We are currently doing a campaign, utilizing social media posts for general and targeted
recruitment, highlighting several current Weld foster families photos and quotes.
• We have a referral incentive program for our foster parents utilizing referral cards.
• We partner with Pizza restaurants to send out pizza box fliers throughout Weld County.
• Colorado Kids Belong and other partners share our social media posts about upcoming
Orientations.
• We put up posters in public establishments.
• We submit to various newsletters throughout the year.
• We have a Weld County's Waiting Kids webpage and use the Colorado Heart Gallery for
child -specific recruitment.
• We have a dedicated foster care webpage that we use for recruitment and retention
purposes.
• We hold retention events and activities for our foster parents. Some examples include
curbside meal/gift card pick-up (with Foster Source), BBQ event, Holiday events, TBRI
classes, Parent Cafes for foster/kin/adoptive/bio families, foster/kinship Roundtables for
ongoing training and connection.
• We use exit surveys and post -event surveys for feedback from our families about what is
working well and what is not working well.
• We send thank you cards to orientation attendees and to newly certified families.
• We recruit at community events, churches, and virtual meetings as allowed.
• We are currently developing resources and working with three churches interested in
offering Parent Night Out respite for our families. One event is scheduled for July 2021.
• During the COVID-19 shutdowns we recruited and matched individuals, families, and
groups to help foster families with meals, shoveling, gift baskets, deliveries, and
1575 Sherman Street, Denver, CO 80203 P 303,866 570O www,cotorado.gov: CDHS
Jarod Pons, Governor I Mticr+e+re BamQ:, Executive director
County/Agency Diligent Recruitment Plan
10
homework help. Our unit also made a concerted effort to increase communication with
families to inform them of COVID-19 restrictions and changes.
We know that connection, respite, and meals for our current families is highly valued. We
have received this feedback from families. We also know that social media, WC Foster Care
webpage, and CO4Kids are currently most effective at funneling prospective foster families
toward learning more or taking a first step. This information is reported when people sign up
for orientation.
10. What are barriers to effective diligent recruitment in your community and what
specific strategies are in place to overcome them? Note: In this section you must
address specific strategies for overcoming linguistic barriers, reaching Families
of Color, recruiting affirming families, etc. (For example — financial, staff shortages,
geographic, socio-economic, etc.)
• Our barriers have been limited cultural community events, church and faith community
services general networking opportunities due to pandemic. Specifically, the NoCo
PowWow (Native Americans), Chili Fest (Latinx), Juneteenth LGTBQ+, African
American, and other minority populations).
We have adapted through non -in -person events and communication venues such as radio, virtual
meetings, social media boosts targeting specific groups, sharing blog posts that highlight cultural
sensitivity and/or population groups, and encouraging our foster families to refer friends and
families.
11. Describe the characteristics of waiting children/youth (i.e. linguistics, sibling
group, runaway, disabilities, etc.). What child/youth population(s) have the highest
need for foster, adoptive, and kinship parents? Please provide available data that
has been provided or gathered within your agency to demonstrate this?
• Offense -specific youth.
• Youth with complex trauma and attachment difficulties.
• Teens, especially teen boys.
• Sibling groups greater than two.
Available data to support these findings: Our kids needing child -specific recruitment for
adoption; Weld County Collaborative Case Reviews; Quality Assurance team.
1575 Sherman Street. Denver, CO 80703 P 3.03 866 5tg0 www.totoracto QovfCDHS
lewd Polis. Grx.ernor M,chei4e Barnes. E.arutiee Director
County/Agency Diligent Recruitment Plan
11
Weld County DHS Waiting Children 5/10/21
Gender
Age
Ethnicity
Characteristics
Male
14
Black or African American
Adverse parental background, Aggressive
or assaultive behavior, History of mental
illness, History of neglect, History of
physical abuse, intellectually challenged,
Learning disability.
Female
11
Hispanic or Latinx, White
Aggressive or assaultive behavior, History
of mental illness, History of neglect,
History of physical abuse,
Juvenile/Probation youth, Learning
disability, Oppositional/ defiant behavior.
Male
17
White
Adverse parental background, Aggressive
or assaultive behavior, Alcohol/ drug
exposure, History of mental illness,
History of neglect, History of physical
abuse, intellectually challenged.
Transgender
(sibling set of 3, 1
of 3)
14
Hispanic
Adverse parental background, History of
neglect, History of physical abuse, History
of sexual abuse, LGBTQ, Suicidal
ideation/ self -harm.
Female (sibling
#2 of 3)
16
Hispanic
Adverse parental background, History of
physical abuse, History of neglect, runner.
Male (sibling #3
of 3)
10
Hispanic
Adverse parental background, History of
neglect, runner.
Female
17
White
Adverse parental background, Aggressive
or assaultive behavior, History of mental
illness, History of neglect, History of
physical abuse, intellectually challenged.
Female
16
White
Adverse parental background, History of
mental illness, History of neglect,
Juvenile/Probation youth, Suicidal
ideation/ self -harm.
Male
15
Hispanic
Adverse parental background, Alcohol/
drug exposure, History of mental illness,
History of physical abuse, History of
sexual abuse, History of neglect,
Oppositional/ defiant behavior, Suicidal
ideation/ self -harm, runner.
575 Sherman Street. Deriver, CO 80203 P 303-860 5700 www,color-Go.gov/CONS
Jarod Pods. Governor i Mwcnelte Barnes, Ex.cun.w D rector
kf •
• �a7r. •
County/Agency Diligent Recruitment Plan
12
12. Describe your agency's strategies for child -specific and targeted recruitment for
prospective foster and adoptive parents that meet the need of children/youth in
care. (i.e. demographics, race, ethnicity, culture, etc.) Such procedures must ensure
that the placement of a child/youth in an appropriate household is not delayed by
the search for the same race or ethnic placement. (For example — the use of, etc.)
Child Specific Recruitment:
• Keep information about waiting children updated on our webpage. Continue to highlight
this page during Foster Care Orientations so all prospective foster parents see the page.
• Continue to work with Colorado Heart Gallery for adoptive recruitment.
• Diligent family searches and other non-traditional kinship option searches.
Targeted Recruitment:
• Continue to collaborate with current foster parents: LGBTQ+ foster parents, Latinx foster
parents, Native American, members of different faith communities, and those who foster
teens for referrals and recruitment assistance.
• Use social media and other marketing materials for targeted recruitment for special
needs, teens, sibling groups greater than two, LGBTQ+, youth with mental health, IDD,
DD, medically fragile.
• Use social media boosting to target specific groups for foster parent recruitment.
• Continue strategic communication in orientations to highlight diverse needs and
encourage best practices in matching families with the specific needs of our children and
youth.
• Reach out to individuals, groups, businesses, organizations, and churches to establish
recruitment and retention partnerships and opportunities.
• Recruit at events strategic in reaching diverse populations such as PowWows, Juneteenth,
Cinco de Mayo, United Way Children's Festival, etc.
• We plan to develop a therapeutic foster care program, consisting of four to five veteran
and specially trained foster parents, allowing for the placement of higher -level care
within the community and children and youth to maintain connections with family,
school and community supports.
4575 Sherman Street, Dever, CO 50203 P 3,O3 84:4 5700 www colored* Qo.'I
)arod Potis„ Go'.' rnor MiMel:e Barnes, Executive Director
County/Agency Diligent Recruitment Plan
13
Part 2: Plan Development Process
Diligent Recruitment and Retention is a community activity and each county/agency is
encouraged to develop a Diligent Recruitment Plan with the input of your community's
stakeholders (such as counties/CPA's, youth in foster care, foster, adoptive, and kinship
caregivers, faith community, volunteers, community advocates, and etc.).
1. Who was involved in the development of this plan? Were any current or former
foster parents, adoptive parents, kinship caregivers, and/or youth in foster care involved
with the plan's development?
Name
Role
Agency
Foster Parent — FC/Adoption
Committee
Liz Brodzinski
Foster Adoptive Parent —
FC/Adoption Committee
Various members
Community members of faith
WC Faith Partnership Council
Jildi Gentry
Community member — FC/Adoption
Committee
Mayra Ponce
Community member — FC/Adoption
Committee
Unidos Por Amor non-profit
Tracee Rudd
State Director, CO Kids Belong &
Larimer County Recruiter
America's Kids Belong
Melinda Snyder
Missions Pastor
City Lights Church
Foster Parent
Jaalah Neerhoff
Collaborative Foster Care Recruiter
Foster Source
Kari Stewart
Missions Pastor & Adoptive Parent
Timberline Church
t.
r, CO 80203 P 303 866 5700 www.cotorado.8o''/CD+4S
rd Pops. Governor M►ct+ette Barnes. Executive Director
County/Agency Diligent Recruitment Plan
14
2. Specifically describe how his plan was developed? Describe any changes that
have been made since the last plan (Specifically describe the process, any meetings
held, input gathered, data collection, etc.)
• Weekly Supervision with Foster Care Resource Manager to discuss foster parent needs
and best practices for recruitment and retention.
• Monthly meetings with Foster Care and Adoption Committee which includes foster and
adoptive parents, and diverse members of our community. This is a change that has been
made since the last plan.
• Weekly Weld County Collaborative Case Review (WCCCR) meetings which helps to
inform Recruiter of specific current placement needs.
• Feedback from foster parents using an exit survey. This is new since the last plan.
• Feedback from foster parents using post -event surveys. This is new since the last plan.
• Two conversations regarding foster family retention with Foster Source.
• Periodic meetings with Collaborative and Larimer County recruiters.
• State's Recruitment and Retention quarterly meetings.
• State's quarterly Foster Care quarterly meetings.
• Binti foster care recruitment progress reports, looking at location data.
3. How were activities identified? (See below)
• Recruitment activities are based on greatest placement needs and need for diverse foster
families.
• Retention activities are based on ways we can help provide respite and support for
families and retain more families for teens.
4. How will you know that your activities are successful? How will you measure your
success?
• Gained 12 families for ages 8+
• Gained 8 families able to take sibling groups
• Gained 6 families for medically fragile or DD/IDD children and youth
• 24 Orientations offered
• Newsletter started
• Pizza box campaign across Weld
• Church use video completed by Stand Sunday 2022
• Gain at least 5 families of color, LGBTQ+ and/or affirming, & members of diverse faiths.
157S Sherman Street. Denver, CO 80203 P 303 566 5700 ~en ,cotor do-gov: CONS
iarod Potts. Governor , mocnclte [3erne:, Executive Director
County/Agency Diligent Recruitment Plan
15
5. Have you asked for Technical Assistance (TA) from State staff while creating this
plan? What areas of TA are most needed by your agency related to diligent
recruitment and the retention of foster parents?
• Yes, attended Diligent Recruitment meeting with Meladie Clopton on 4/30/21.
• Financial assistance, such as the Innovation Grant and funds for social media advertising.
• Recruitment trainings and opportunities to learn from other agencies and recruiters.
• State -sponsored training from Annie E. Casey Foundation, The Post Institute, or some
other agency that can provide new ideas for recruitment and retention.
DCW
and
Goal:
from
Provide
To
initial
provide
a
inquiry
minimum
quality
through
family
of
2
targeted
experience
post
-placement
and
2
to
general
prospective,
services.
strategies.
current,
and
former
foster
Recruitment
adoptive
parents
Recruitment
Activities
Expanded,
Current,
or
Recruitment*
Type
of
Potential
Timeline
Responsible
Strate•
ies
Outcomes
Parties
New
Activity+
/Measures
Recruit
families
8+
12 new
for ages
Social
newsletter
submissions,
referrals
program,
other
venues
marketing
media,
and
Current
expanded
and
I argeted
Gain 12
7/1/21-
6/30/22
Recruiter,
Foster Parents,
Communications
Specialists, Various
Recruit
families
sibling
8 new
for
groups
Social
newsletter
submissions,
referral
program,
churches
media,
and
Current
expanded
and
Targeted
sibling
Gain
families
groups
8
for
7/1/21-
6/30/22
Recruiter,
Foster
Communications
Specialists,
Parents,
Various
Recruit
families
children/youth
with
medically
fragile
ID/DD
6 new
for
or
Social
boosting
targeted
audiences.
Networking
through
Interfaith
Mental
Event.
Distribute
targeted
marketing
materials
health
media
facilities
to
Health
to
Assoc.
&
New
activity
and expanded
Targeted
Gain
families
medically
fragile
DD/IDD
6
or
for
7/1/21-
6/30/22
Recruiter,
Communications
Specialist,
Partners
Church
Increase
Offer
at
least
Current
General
24
7/1/21-
Recruiter,
575 Sherman Street. Dens, CO 80203 P 303.866.5700 www,cotorado.g0v/CDHS
)arod Pons. Governor 1 MidwWe Barnes, Executtve Ceti
County/Agency Diligent Recruitment Plan
16
awareness of
foster care needs
in Weld County
by making it
easy for
individuals to
learn about our
foster care
program
two Orientations
each month in
various
locations,
including
virtually
Orientations
offered
6/30/22
Community
Partners,
Communications
Specialist
Become more
Start a foster
New
General
Newsletter
7/1/21-
Recruiter,
streamlined and
care newsletter
will start
9/30/21
Communications
strategic with
communication
and follow-up.
for effective
short-term and
long-term
follow-up and
general news,
opportunities,
and easy access
to division
contacts
going out
regularly
Specialist
Increase
Pizza box
Current and New
General
Pizza box
7/1/21-
Recruiter,
awareness of
campaign and
campaign in
10/30/22
Community
foster care needs
and
opportunities to
become
involved
throughout
Weld County
Val -Pak
Kersey,
Windsor,
Greeley,
South
County,
Eaton
Partners,
Communications
Specialist
Increase church
Develop a video
New
Targeted
Video will be
7/1/21-
Recruiter,
member interest
to be used by
completed by
10/30/22
Timberline Church,
and awareness
and highlight
church
partnerships &
ways to be
involved as a
foster family or
foster family
supporter
local churches
specifically
during foster
care month and
during Stand
Sunday
Stand
Sunday, 2022
Professional
Videographer,
Communications
Specialist
Recruit diverse
Recruit at
Current and
Targeted
Gain at least
7/1/21-
Recruiter,
populations
United Way
Children's
Festival,
Juneteenth,
Chili Fest,
NoCo
PowWow; faith
community,
Utilize referral
program, &
Expanded
3 each of
families of
color,
LGBTQ+
families,
members of
faith
community.
6/30/22
Communications
Specialist
157$ Sherman Street, Denver, CO 80203 P 303.866 5700 www,cotora4o goviCDHS
Jaro0 Pots:, Gcrernor attehrt[e Barnes, Executive Drrector
County/Agency Diligent Recruitment Plan
17
targeted
social
media
DCW
adoptive,
Goal:
-certified
To
Provide
provide
kinship
a
ongoing
parents
minimum
capacity
of
to
2
help
targeted
development
meet
families'
and
2
general
and
needs
support
strategies.
and
of
build
foster,
on
their
kinship
skills.
foster,
Retention
and non
Retention
Activities
Expanded,
Current,
or
Recruitment*
Type
of
Potential
Timeline
Responsible
Strategies
Outcomes
Parties
New
Activity+
/Measures
Provide
respite
for
families
more
options
through
Recruit
respite
media,
newsletter,
word
of
new
families
social
and
mouth
New
General
Four new
respite
homes
7/1/21-
6/30/22
Recruiter,
Communications
Specialist
through
(ie.
Support
event
Night
Parents
or
Out)
families
Respite
activity
times
Engage
community
partners
provide
this
to
respite
year
4
New
General
Four respite
events
activities
offered
or
7/1/21-
6/30/22
Recruiter,
community partners
Support/appreci
ate
families
give
opportunities
connect
foster
them
and
to
Provide
and/or
food
fellowship
and
meals
event
for
Current
General
Meals
provided
event
all
participating
foster
families
held
or
for
7/1/21-
6/30/22
Foster Care
Unit
Retain
families
teens
4 foster
for
training
Offer a booster
about
fostering
teens
New
Targeted
Retain 4
foster homes
for teens
7/1/21-
6/30/22
Community
Partners,
Care
Foster
Unit
trauma-
informed
Provide
opportunities
community
become
to
more
for
Offer
informed
workshop
partner
interacts
children
foster
a
trauma-
that
with
in
for
a
New
Targeted
At
workshop
held
least
one
7/1/21-
6/30/22
Recruiter
care
1575 Sherman SU eet. Denver. CO !30203 P 303.866,5700 www.Cokradpsipv/COLS
larod Potss. Govern'oc I WOWS, Esinn. Executive Director
County/Agency Diligent Recruitment Plan
18
6. (County Only, Refer to Addendum B) Identify your communities with the highest
removals. (City and Zip)
City & Zip Code
# Removals
# Providers*
Greeley 80631
62***
14
Missing No Zip
40
Greeley 80634
27***
50
Evans 80620
15
6
Fort Lupton 80621
5
1
Platteville 80651
4
2
Longmont 80504
4
19
Windsor 80550/80528
3
2
Milliken 80543
6
8
*Only includes Foster Family Home Care and Certified Kinship Foster Homes, also includes CPA and
Other County Certified Homes in the same zip code. **Includes clients placed by other counties.
***Highest removals.
Denver, CO 80203 P 303.866 5700 vvvirv+.cotorado:goy/CDt S
Jarod Pol,s. Governor Mocne+ie Bames, Executive Director
County/Agency Diligent Recruitment Plan
19
Addendum A
Question 1, Page 4.
Office Address
(including zip code)
Telephone Number(s)
Recruiter Name(s)
Hours of Service (M -F)
Question 3, Page 4.
Office Address
Inquiry to
Orientation
(Weeks/Months)
Home Study
Completion
(Weeks/Months)
Training
Completion
(Weeks/Months)
Time to Final
Certification
(Weeks/Months)
Question 5, Page 4.
Caucasian
Hispanic/Latinx
Black/African
American
Asian
American
Indian/Alaska Native
Other
English
Spanish
American Sign (ASL)
Other
Gender Identity
0-5
6-10
11-14
15+
Male
Female
Other Self -
Identification
Sexual Orientation
0-5
6-10
11-14
15+
575 S,errnan Street, Denver, Co 00203 P303,844.5700 www.cotoraao.gov/CD+
Jared Pot,. Governor I Mad+ette Barnes, Executive Director
County/Agency Diligent Recruitment Plan
20
Heterosexual
LGBTQ+
Other
Question 6, Page 4.
List Counties/CPAs you worked with during reporting period ( i.e. ACDHS, SAFY, etc.)
Addendum B
Question 6, Page 8.
City & Zip Code
Number of Removals
Question 7, Page 8.
City & Zip Code
Number of Homes
1575 Sherman Street. Denver, CO 30203 P 301 366 5700 www colored* Qov/C0*1S
Jarod Roils. Goernor Mxte-4e Barnes, r><r.cutrve threetor
Mariah Higgins
From:
Sent:
To:
Cc:
Subject:
Attachments:
Follow Up Flag:
Flag Status:
Hi CTB,
Alison Pegg
Thursday, May 27, 2021 4:48 PM
CTB
HS -Contract Management
ITEM OF COMMUNICATION: DHS 2021 Diligent Recruitment Plan
Weld_Diligent Recruitment Plan_2021.pdf
Follow up
Flagged
The Colorado Office of Children, Youth & Families (OCYF) requested all county departments of human/social services to
update their current diligent recruitment plans. The attached update demonstrates the Department's efforts to reflect
the diversity of the children and youth for whom foster and adoptive homes are required, and it addresses the
recruitment efforts for 2021, based upon 2020 calendar year data provided by OCYF. The attached 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 on Wednesday, May 26tH
CW has requested that a few names on page 13 be redacted once this item is uploaded into Tyler:
•
Have a good evening!
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
'x'(970) 400-6603
Contract Management Extension: 6556
A (970) 353-5212
apegg@weldgov.com
Pq
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