Families are created in many beautiful ways—and sometimes they are created during moments nobody expected.

Grandparents step in to raise grandchildren. Aunts, uncles, siblings, godparents and trusted family friends open their homes. Foster parents provide safety during uncertain seasons. Adoptive families navigate new beginnings, complicated emotions and lifelong connections.

No matter how your family came together, you deserve support, reliable information and a community that understands.

Buzzy’s Village was created to bring foster, adoptive, kinship and grandfamilies together with helpful resources, local programs, family activities and meaningful support throughout Colorado Springs, Monument, Palmer Lake, Fountain, Falcon, Peyton, Calhan, Black Forest, Teller County, Douglas County, Castle Rock, Larkspur, Pueblo and the surrounding Southern Colorado communities.

You do not have to know exactly what to ask for—and you certainly do not have to figure everything out alone. Welcome to the Village. 💛

🌼 What You’ll Find in Buzzy’s Village

🏡 1. Getting Started

Information for families who are:

• Considering becoming foster or adoptive parents

• Beginning the foster-care certification process

• Caring for a relative’s child

• Raising grandchildren

• Providing care as a close family friend or “kin-like” caregiver

• Trying to understand guardianship, adoption or kinship placement

• Looking for the appropriate county or placement agency

Colorado’s official county search can help families locate foster-care, adoption and kinship contacts in their community. Visit the CO4Kids County and Child Placement Agency Search.

💛 2. Kinship and Grandfamily Support

This section is for grandparents, relatives and trusted adults who have stepped forward to raise a child when the child’s parents are unable to provide care.

Resources may include:

• Kinship caregiver programs

• Grandparent support groups

• Caregiver education

• Guardianship information

• Family navigation services

• Benefits assistance

• Legal-resource referrals

• Peer support and social gatherings

• Help locating beds, clothing, car seats and household necessities

El Paso County hosts informational kinship-support sessions where caregivers can connect, learn new skills and locate additional help. Learn about El Paso County kinship support.

Pueblo County’s childhood-resource directory also includes support for grandparents and others raising children through its Kinship Family Resource Center connections. Explore Pueblo County childhood resources.

🫶 3. Foster-Family Resources

Helpful information for certified foster families, families beginning certification and caregivers currently supporting children in foster care.

Look here for:

• Foster-parent orientations

• Certification information

• Training opportunities

• Support groups

• Placement-agency contacts

• Clothing closets

• School supplies

• Birthday and holiday assistance

• Camps and mentoring

• Respite-care information

• Family events and appreciation activities

Families can begin with their county:

• El Paso County Kinship and Foster Care

• Douglas County Foster Parenting

• Pueblo County Foster Care and Adoption

🌱 4. Adoption Resources

Adoption is not simply one happy “gotcha day.” It is a lifelong journey that can include celebration, grief, identity questions, attachment, birth-family relationships and new developmental needs.

This section may include:

• Adoption information and orientation

• Post-adoption support

• Adoptive-parent groups

• Trauma-informed parenting resources

• Transracial-adoption resources

• Birth-family and open-adoption support

• Counseling referrals

• Adoption-related events

• Educational workshops

• Activities that celebrate different kinds of families

🧠 5. Mental Health and Trauma-Informed Support

Children who have experienced separation, loss, instability or trauma may need support that recognizes the story behind their behavior.

Resources may include:

• Trauma-informed counseling

• Play therapy

• Attachment-focused support

• Grief and loss resources

• Caregiver education

• Behavioral-health services

• Support for difficult transitions

• Crisis and stabilization resources

• Parenting classes

• Help advocating for children at school

Whenever possible, families should ask potential providers whether they have specific experience working with foster care, adoption, kinship care, attachment and childhood trauma.

🎓 6. Training and Caregiver Education

Caregivers deserve tools—not judgment.

This section will feature:

• Free and low-cost caregiver training

• Foster-parent continuing education

• Trauma-informed parenting classes

• Attachment and connection workshops

• First-aid and safety courses

• School-advocacy training

• Understanding IEPs and 504 Plans

• Support for challenging behaviors

• Preparing children for transitions

• Helping children understand their family stories

Colorado’s Child Welfare Training System offers free required core training and continued learning opportunities for foster, kinship and adoptive parents. Explore Colorado foster-care training.

🍎 7. Food, Childcare and Financial Assistance

Opening your home to a child can bring sudden and unexpected expenses. Asking for assistance is not failing—it is using the support created to help families remain safe and stable.

Resources may include:

• SNAP and food assistance

• WIC

• Colorado Child Care Assistance Program

• School-meal programs

• Food pantries

• Utility assistance

• Temporary financial assistance

• Clothing and household supplies

• Diapers, formula and baby supplies

• Holiday and birthday assistance

• Foster-family reimbursements and benefits

• Discounted memberships and camps

Eligibility varies by program, county, income, placement and family circumstances. Always confirm requirements directly with the program before applying.

⚖️ 8. Legal and Advocacy Resources

Family arrangements can become complicated quickly, particularly when caregivers are trying to enroll a child in school, approve medical treatment or access benefits.

This section may include information about:

• Guardianship

• Kinship placement

• Adoption

• Foster-parent rights and responsibilities

• School enrollment

• Medical consent

• Birth certificates and identification

• Benefits and insurance

• Court-appointed advocacy

• Legal-aid organizations

• Navigating county services

Buzzy’s Village can help families locate organizations, but it does not provide legal advice. Families should consult a qualified Colorado attorney or legal-aid organization about their individual circumstances.

🎒 9. School and Educational Support

Children entering a new home may also be entering a new school, catching up academically or adjusting to an entirely different routine.

Find resources for:

• School enrollment

• Transferring records

• Tutoring

• Homeschool support

• IEPs and 504 Plans

• School supplies

• Educational advocacy

• Special-education resources

• College and career preparation

• Scholarships for current and former foster youth

• Support for older youth transitioning to adulthood

🎉 10. Events, Camps and Family Fun

Families need more than appointments and paperwork. They also need opportunities to laugh, connect and make happy memories together.

Buzzy’s Village will collect:

• Foster, adoptive and kinship family events

• Grandfamily gatherings

• Free family celebrations

• Support-group socials

• Parents’ nights out

• Respite events

• Camps and mentoring programs

• Museum and attraction discounts

• Sensory-friendly activities

• Adaptive recreation

• Seasonal events

• Family connection activities

Event listings should include the date, time, price, location and direct registration or information link whenever available.

🎂 11. Everyday and Emergency Needs

Sometimes a family needs help immediately—not several weeks from now.

This section may include organizations offering:

• Beds and bedding

• Clothing

• Shoes

• Car seats

• Diapers and wipes

• Formula

• Hygiene supplies

• School supplies

• Birthday assistance

• Holiday gifts

• Emergency food

• Transportation help

• Household essentials

• Placement bags and comfort items

Availability changes frequently, so families should contact each organization before visiting.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 12. Support for Teens and Young Adults

Older children and young adults deserve resources created specifically for them.

Look here for:

• Mentoring

• Independent-living skills

• Driver’s education

• Employment programs

• College preparation

• Scholarships

• Housing assistance

• Financial-literacy classes

• Mental-health support

• Youth groups and social activities

• Resources for youth aging out of foster care

El Paso County’s Foster Youth in Transition program supports eligible young people ages 18–21 who were in foster care or certain kinship placements. Learn about the Chafee and Foster Youth in Transition program.

🐝 13. Ways the Community Can Help

You do not have to be a foster parent to support children and caregivers.

Community members and businesses may be able to:

• Donate new clothing and shoes

• Provide beds or household supplies

• Sponsor birthdays or holiday gifts

• Donate attraction passes

• Offer family meals

• Provide free or discounted services

• Support foster-family appreciation events

• Volunteer with mentoring programs

• Host donation drives

• Sponsor a Buzzy’s Village resource or event

• Share verified programs with families who need them

Even one practical act of kindness can lighten the load for an entire family.

💛 It Takes a Village—and You Belong in Ours

Parenting is never meant to happen alone. Foster, adoptive, kinship and grandfamilies may face circumstances that other families do not always see: unexpected placements, complicated paperwork, changing relationships, difficult questions, financial pressure and children carrying experiences far beyond their years.

But these families also carry extraordinary courage, resilience and love.

Buzzy’s Village is here to make trusted information easier to find, bring local resources together and create a welcoming place where every caregiver feels seen. Whether you are raising a grandchild, welcoming a foster placement, navigating adoption, caring for a relative or simply looking for a way to help—you have a place here.

Resources will continue to be added and updated as new programs, events and opportunities become available.

Know about a helpful Southern Colorado resource, support group, event or organization that should be included? Email info@thebuzzyb.com.

Because families grow stronger when communities show up—and nobody should have to build their village alone. 🐝💛