August 14, 2025 Minutes

Weld Faith Partnership Council Minutes

August 14, 2025

XD2 Ranch Ministries

Council Members in Attendance: John Rotharmel, Sandy Figueroa, Stacey Casteel, Dave Shumpert, Nate Taverner, Steve Osborn, Amber Cecil, Roy Lantzy

Council Members Absent: Lauren Tipton, Steve Karcher, Pam Sommer, Roxene Tines

DHS: Kristy DeAnda, John Killen

Weld County Commissioner: Lynette Peppler

Call to order – 7:41 AM – Nate Taverner

June Minutes – John R. motioned to approve as presented, 2nd by Stacey C.; Motion Passed

Opening prayer: Dave S.

Commissioner Update:

  • Judicial center is set to be downtown
  • Redistricting – Lawsuit had been filed against the county – January will bring new districts
  • 3 departments received national awards – Noxious Weed, Health Dept, Human Services
  • Celebration for Lynette’s mom who turned 100
  • Budgets are being presented – reviewing for all departments

DHS update:

(John)

  • Opportunity to attend child welfare conference in DC
  • Able to see how other states/counties offer services
  • Prevention program is not mandatory, but Weld has one– early support is key

(Kristy)

  • Foster care – Special orientation in learning more about fostering – Saturday 4-6
  • Good response at Beef and Bean Day – Opportunity for recruitment
  • City lights hosted respite event – 61 kids registered to attend
  • Seeing the progress of the Foster Friendly movement in communities and churches – efforts started here at WFPC
  • South County and North County meetings held
  • Timberline Windsor and Kids at Heart in attendance at the Northern County meeting
  • Helping to facilitate events/volunteers/partnership for more work in Weld County
  • Starting Christmas party planning
  • RFK camp – shared pics and promo video
  • People can go check it out as visitors are welcome
  • Kristy can arrange to see it
  • 50+ kids from Weld and Larimer counties
  • Weeklong for kids in foster and kinship care
  • Nice facilities, good food and lots of activities for kids
  • Share the gospel, build relationships
  • 7-12 ages – when aged out – try to match them with a mentor and keep relationships, reconnection
  • Set up Darrell from the camp to come in early spring to share with us
  • Recruitment is harder – extras making it harder to have a family commit
  • Less need because of successes in kinship program – but still definitely need foster families, especially for more difficult placements; Siblings 2+, teens/older kids, behavior, trauma or mental challenges, not being foster to adopt – not necessarily aligning with the goals of the department - reunification is the goal
  • Therapeutic foster care needs – want every kid to be in a family setting rather than a group home
  • Boulder county eliminated foster care from services – private program – child placement agencies
  • Do not believe Weld County is at risk for elimination of services
  • Working to overcome difficulties when families move; try to provide support across counties

Newsletter:

  • Possibility of a Facebook page – tell churches, have admins, event pics, able to share out, etc.
  • Standard sent out monthly/By monthly
  • Multiple administrators for page
  • Able to share events and “asks” for events
  • ADA compliance required
  • Jennifer Finch facilitates
  • Suggested to go through the County if it will be sent out County-wide – Subscribe option
  • Set up meeting with Jennifer Finch for the board

Council Member Updates:

Steve

  • Tracey Rudd – CKB – lumped Carbon Valley with Longmont
  • Gathering – 25 people to set a vision for foster friendly in Longmont
  • Awareness event Oct 4th – Left Hand Brewery – From 4-6 PM – Inviting foster/kinship families and the community
  • Finished working with WFB – Summer lunch program

Amber 

  • Successful car show – Largest we’ve had – Donations to Toys for Tots and Realities for Children
  • Upcoming DCA Events; Banquet 10/24 with Comedian Rik Roberts, Concert early Spring

John

  • Celebration for 19 years at lighthouse

Roy

  • Clothing closet for kids with needs – beginning and end of year 30 kids needing sponsorship – financial or sponsorship or purchase items needed
  • Boots and coats
  • Church in the park Oct 26, Farr Park (Greeley)

Sandy

  • NoCo wrap-up update – Vendor tables – Jildi with Safe Families was in attendance – Well attended event – Good feedback from attendees

Dave

  • Welding program very successful – Kids are learning and completing projects – Middle school to college aged kids – Moving into Severance HS in approx. 3 weeks for the winter months – With funding able to buy helmets and gloves
  • Feed the need – Provided beef to several families – To help families facing health issues, foster families and families with needs – Additional needs being met – Families coming alongside to help with other needs
  • Rodeo Bible Camp in July – biggest so far!

Nate

  • Weld Project Connect – October 16th – Volunteers needed serve 600-900 people – Fair will be held Island grove to provide people with direct resources – Check out the United way website

Next meeting: Sept 11th – Location in Eaton – Suggested to be Tradecraft Coffee – Amber will call and set up meeting

Meeting adjourned – 8:52 AM

 

 

 

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