Colorado is facing a foster care shortage, with a lack of families willing to take in the increasing number of children entering the system. The Griffith Centers, a nonprofit headquartered in Denver, is experiencing a shortage of foster parents, particularly for teenagers and siblings looking to stay together. This shortage is also seen in at least 16 other states, including Arizona, Texas, Wisconsin, and Georgia. The number of children in Colorado’s foster care system has grown to 4,351 in 2023, up 11% from the previous year.
Chantelle Johnson, director of the Griffith Centers’ foster care program, highlighted the importance of providing a safe home for children in foster care. She mentioned that teenagers and siblings are often harder to place in foster homes initially, making the shortage of foster families more challenging. Lacy Ruffin, a foster care home supervisor for the Griffith Centers, shared a success story of a child who came to foster parents unable to speak and is now able to communicate in full sentences. The impact of a safe and supportive home on a young adult’s development is significant.
Jacob Harrington, a foster parent through the Griffith Centers, emphasized the positive impact of fostering on both the children and the foster parents. Harrington and his wife fostered five children after initially knowing nothing about foster care. He highlighted the support they received and encouraged others interested in fostering to learn more about the process. The nonprofit is urging anyone interested in becoming a foster parent to reach out and learn more about the opportunity to provide a safe and loving home for children in need.
The Child Welfare Information Gateway reported that there are over 391,000 children and youth in foster care in the United States. Approximately 20,000 young people age out of the foster care system each year without a permanent family. This highlights the urgent need for more foster families to provide stability and support to children in foster care. The high number of children entering the foster care system in Colorado, at an average of 10 children a day, underscores the critical need for more foster parents.
While there are challenges in the foster care system, there are also success stories that demonstrate the positive impact of foster care on children’s lives. The Griffith Centers is dedicated to providing love, support, and opportunities for growth to children in foster care. Foster parents like Jacob Harrington have seen the transformative effect of providing a safe and nurturing environment for children. By encouraging more families to consider fostering and supporting them in the process, the foster care system can better meet the needs of vulnerable children in Colorado and across the country. It is crucial to raise awareness about the foster care shortage and encourage more individuals to explore becoming foster parents to make a difference in the lives of children in need of a loving home.
