Cobbled Streets - Helping Homeless And Foster Kids Move Forward

PROVIDE LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCES, OPPORTUNITIES AND RELATIONSHIPS FOR CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE.

ENRICHING OPPORTUNITIES: FOCUSING ON PROVIDING EXPERIENCES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR FOSTER CHILDREN WHILE PROMOTING HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS WITH ADULTS. THE OPPORTUNITIES RANGE FROM DANCE & MUSIC LESSONS TO GOLF AND SWIMMING CLASSES TO EQUINE THERAPY AND EXPLORING NATURE. BEST PRACTICE & EVIDENCE-BASED RESEARCH CONFIRMS THESE ACTIVITIES IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH, AS WELL AS IMPROVE A STUDENT'S SCHOOL ATTENDANCE, BEHAVIOR AND COURSE COMPLETION. THEY OFFER YOUTH A CHANCE TO MEET NEW FRIENDS, COACHES, AND MENTORS. FOSTER YOUTH THEMSELVES SUGGEST THAT ACTIVITIES OF ALL KINDS HELP THEM DEAL WITH SADNESS AND LONELINESS. IN 2023, COBBLED STREETS PROVIDED GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL ACTIVITES FOR 2,033 KIDS PROVIDING OVER 9,500 HOURS OF ACTIVITIES. THIS ALSO PROVIDES FOSTER PARENTS WITH SOME RESPITE.

DATABASE OF RESOURCES FOR FOSTER FAMILIES AND FOSTER YOUTH. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH JUST AS SPECIAL, A COMPREHENSIVE FOSTER CARE DATABASE HAS BEEN CREATED OF COLORADO RESOURCES. THE DATABASE ALLOWS ORGANIZATIONS TO CREATE MORE EFFECTIVE PARTNERSHIPS, RECRUIT VOLUNTEERS, MOBILIZE THE COMMUNITY TO BETTER SERVE KIDS, AND REDUCES DUPLICATIVE AND INEFFICIENT EFFORTS. THE DATABASE IS LIVE AND CAN BE ACCESSED AT WWW.JUSTASSPECIAL.COM. THE RESCHOOL PROJECT HELPS FOSTER FAMLIES FINANCE AFTERSCHOOL ACTIVITIES. IN ADDITION, WE ALSO ADVOCATE FOR GENERAL SYSTEMIC REFORM, MEETING WITH STAKEHOLDERS AND LAW MAKERS WITHIN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEMS TO EDUCATE THEM ON THE VALUE OF KEEPING CHILDREN STABLE IN A HOME AND HOW ENRICHING EXPERIENCES HELPS STABILIZE THE CHILD AND THE FOSTER FAMILY AS A WHOLE.

COBBLED STREETS ALSO PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO FOSTER CHILDREN WHO AGE OUT OF THE SYSTEM AND HAVE NO SUPPORT OR RESOURCES TO DRAW UPON. WE HELP WITH FURNISHING FIRST APARTMENTS AND BUYING WINTER CLOTHES OR WORK CLOTHES. WE ALSO HELP FOSTER FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY KINSHIP FAMILIES PAY FOR THINGS LIKE CONVERTING THEIR GARAGE INTO AN ADDITIONAL BEDROOM TO TAKE IN MORE FOSTER KIDS; GETTING BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLIES; PAYING FOR GAS TO HELP TRANSPORT KIDS TO SCHOOL, CAMP, AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES; OR EVEN PAY FOR GROCERIES.

THE AMBASSADOR PROGRAM WAS LAUNCHED IN 2022. COBBLED STREETS HAS PARTNERED WITH FOSTER SOURCE TO IDENTIFY "AMBASSADORS" IN EACH OF THE 23 JUDICIAL DISTRICTS OF COLORADO. THESE AMBASSADORS ARE GENERALLY CURRENT OR PAST FOSTER PARENTS. THEY ARE PAID A STIPEND OF 500/MONTH TO IDENTIFY AND CONNECT WITH THE FOSTER FAMILIES IN THEIR DISTRICT,TO CREATE A SENSE OF COMMUNITY AMONG THE FAMILIES, BRINGING THEM TOGETHER TO HELP SUPPORT EACH OTHER. AS OF THE END OF 2023, WE HAD 8 AMBASSADORS IN 7 JUDICIAL DISTRICTS AND SERVED AN AN AVERAGE OF 15 FAMILIES (23 KIDS) PER DISTRICT PER MONTH.