Weld County Faith Partnership Council hosts foster friendly breakfast

Published on May 18, 2023

In an ongoing effort to create a “foster friendly” community, the Weld County Faith Partnership Council (WCFPC), in coordination with the Weld County Department of Human Services, hosted a “Foster Friendly Breakfast” event for local church leaders on Wednesday, May 17, at the Weld County Administration Building.

Attendees listened to several guest speakers talk about the importance of supporting foster children in the area, as well as many personal stories of those who have worked closely with foster kids or even provided homes to foster kids themselves. A video introduction kicked off the event highlighting the Berrelez family, who have fostered 15 children in Weld County, and are currently nominated for the state’s Foster Care Month recognition of Colorado’s exceptional foster families.

Among the other guests who spoke were Tracee Rudd, the Director of the Colorado chapter of America’s Kids Belong, Scott Nix, a Milliken resident who along with his wife, Amanda, have fostered 17 children, and Weld County Commissioner Lori Saine, a liaison to the Weld County Faith Partnership Council.

“This is not for the faint of heart,” Saine said. “This is not a quick win. That’s why I so appreciate everyone who has shown up here today.”

The overall purpose of the gathering was to connect with churches in the Weld community who are interested in becoming “foster friendly” by “dramatically improv[ing] the experiences and outcomes for kids in foster care by ensuring that foster families are seen and valued in their communities as they stand in the gap with vulnerable children,” according to the America’s Kids Belong mission statement.  Currently there are over 300 children in foster care in Weld County.

For more information on the WCFPC please visit https://www.weld.gov/Government/County-Governance/Boards-and-Commissions/Weld-Faith-Partnership-Council.