As the Post noted in its editorial of August 14, seven-year-old Chandler Grafner, whose guardian was sentenced to life imprisonment for the little boy’s starving death, is not alone. Last year, tragically, 13 Colorado children died at the hands of trusted adults despite being brought to the attention of the state’s child protection system.
There has been extensive criticism of the case workers whose job it is to identify and protect children at risk. But little public attention has been given to the system’s unsung heroes, the foster parents who nurture abused and neglected children after they are removed from their homes.
On any given month across the state, approximately 2,700 foster families are caring for 3,500 youngsters who have been removed from their homes because of unsafe situations. Another 3,300 children have been placed in group or other residential facilities; many could live in foster homes if more foster families were available.
Foster parents come from all walks of life. Some consist of a single mom or single dad. Some have children of their own, some have never had a child, and still others have grown children and grandchildren.
Some are like Lisa and Jeff Haselhorst of Parker, who had five biological sons and an adopted daughter when they decided to become foster parents; the Haselhorts at times are parenting 10 children. Others are like single mother “Ayanna,” of Aurora, who has cared for 12 foster children, two of whom still live with her.
The children in foster care are similarly diverse. They come from all racial groups and income levels. Some have suffered severe neglect, while others have been physically, sexually or emotionally abused. They frequently have emotional and behavioral problems. Some have never lived in a stable family. As Lisa Haselhorst puts it, “These kids come with a lot of baggage.”
Federal and state laws emphasize family reunification. Parents who lose custody of their children must have their problems identified and must participate in developing a treatment plan before their children are returned to them. If alcohol or drug abuse is involved, treatment might include enrollment in a rehabilitation program and agreeing to periodic urine testing. If the family is homeless, the reasons for that homelessness must be identified and corrected. Eventually, about 80 percent of foster children are returned to their parents or to an extended family member.
Mary Griffin, program administrator for foster care for the Colorado Department of Human Services, thinks foster parents are under-appreciated. “People don’t recognize the value of what foster families provide,” she said. “They are there 2-4/7, working with kids, nurturing them and trying to provide them with a normal life.”
Melanie Tem, foster care placement supervisor with the Adoption Alliance, agrees. She said foster parents are people who “want to help children have a stable home, enough to eat and a life organized enough to get them to school regularly.”
Colorado always needs more foster parents. That’s because large numbers of foster families leave the system when they adopt the child they have been caring for. Alternatively, many are relatives who have stepped in to care for the child of a child in an emergency and discontinue fostering once the child is reunited with his or her family.
The shortage of foster parents is statewide. Some rural counties have only one foster family available, and even the metro area is struggling to meet children’s needs. Arapahoe County alone, for example, has more than 500 abused and/or neglected children in its system and has been advertising for foster parents to care for them.
If you’re considering becoming a foster parent, visit the state-sponsored website for foster care and adoption, , or call your county’s department of human services. Your commitment could literally save a vulnerable child and help stop the terrible cycle of child abuse and neglect
Susan Thornton (smthornton@ ) served 16 years on the Littleton City Council, including eight years as mayor. Her column appears twice a month.
