Editorial: What Happens To Children Who Don't Get Adopted?
By Libby Smith
DENVER (CBS4) - For more than 30 years -- every week -- CBS4 has profiled a boy or girl in foster care seeking a "forever family" in our Wednesday's Child feature.
But what happens to the many children who are not adopted, the kids who "age out" of the foster care system? Several months ago, we began looking into that question.
Our goal: to tell the stories of these young people facing daunting challenges, along with the stories of people all across Colorado working together to help them. Why is this so important? Because children who connect with a family are more likely to continue their education, get a good job, stay healthy and raise thriving families of their own.
CBS4 SPECIAL REPORTS: Aging Out
Children who do not, sadly, are more likely to become homeless or get involved with drugs or prostitution and end up in jail. That's why solving this problem is so important to Colorado – we can create a better life for these children and in turn make our state even stronger.
CBS4's Britt Moreno introduces viewers to a Wednesday's Child each week, and she has spent months looking into the problem of "Aging Out" and what we can do to solve it. It's an unprecedented editorial commitment to exploring this issue in Colorado. Britt's reports will air every day this week in all CBS4 newscasts.
The stories will be posted to a special section on CBSDenver.com along with additional online content, Britt will do several Facebook Lives on the CBS Denver Facebook page discussing the problem of "Aging Out," and she'll be talking about it with our radio partners at KOA NewsRadio.
Please join CBS4 for this important and informative special series.
Additional Resouces
The following are helpful resources for people who are aging out of foster care and for the people who care for them.
Colorado Child Abuse and Neglect Public Awareness Campaign
Child Abuse & Neglect Hotline
1-844-CO-4-KIDS
Learn more about foster care and adoption in Colorado.
co4kids.org
United Way Bridging the Gap
helping teens live on their own after foster care
unitedwaydenver.org/bridging-the-gap
303-433-8383
Dream Makers Project
making dreams come true for former foster care youth
dreammakersproject.org
Chafee Program
life skills program provided through human services dept. of each county
denverchafee.org
CBS4 Wednesday's Child Section
cbsdenver.com/wednesdayschild/
The Adoption Exchange
promoting adoption for foster care youth
adoptex.org
303-755-1339
Adoption Exchange's Birthday Wishes Program
adoptex.org/get-involved/donate/birthday-wishes-program/
303-755-1339
Office of the Lt. Governor
colorado.gov/ltgovernor
303-866-2885
SOAR! Youth & Adult Choir
soaryouthandadultchoir.org 720-218-1433 (Youth)
720-989-5744 (Adults)
Libby Smith is a Special Projects Producer at CBS4. If you have a story you'd like to tell CBS4 about, call 303-863-TIPS (8477) or visit the News Tips section.
