May is National Foster Care Month.  According to the most recent data published on the CDHS Community Performance Center, there are 5,523 youth living in an out-of-home placement, 3,553 of them are in foster care.  

We, undoubtedly, need community involvement to help create better outcomes for these kids. In particular, we hope that the people of Colorado will consider fostering or adopting an older teen. Of the 137 teens that emancipated last quarter, 71% were removed from their caregiver when they were 15 years-old or older. 

This is Public Service Recognition week. I hope you will join me in celebrating all the wonderful work our state and county human services staff do to keep kids safe and families healthy. This is a time to reflect and be proud of the difference our employees make in the lives of Coloradans. We work with children and families in crisis and as a result it can sometimes feel like we, too, are in crisis. But, I encourage you to consider the number of children that you have served over the last year and the difference you have made in their lives.