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The Ariel Difference  |  Types of Service  |  Supports  |  Locations  |  Getting Started  |  FAQs

What is foster care?

Foster care provides temporary, safe homes for children and youth who can’t remain with their birth families due to abuse, neglect, or a family crisis. In Colorado, counties hold legal custody of children in out-of-home placement and partner with private child placement agencies like Ariel to find and support appropriate homes. Children in care range from newborns to age 21, come from all backgrounds, and may have a wide range of needs. Some placements last days; others last months or years. The goal in every case is reunification—returning children home safely when that’s possible.

The Ariel Difference

When a foster parent calls at 9:30 at night, someone answers. When a family suddenly has two new placements and needs a hand with the school-age child already in the home, a team member steps in, not because it’s in the job description, but because the need is there. Support at Ariel is calibrated to what each family actually needs: a monthly in-home visit at minimum, but also text check-ins, coffee shop conversations, IEP attendance, soccer field meetings. The clinical team is on-call around the clock, available for everything from a behavioral crisis to a question that can’t wait until Monday.

Ariel’s approach to the children in those homes starts with a reframe: a child’s behavior tells you what they’ve been through, not what’s wrong with them. Foster parents receive context alongside guidance: the understanding that a child who fights about dinner every night once didn’t know food would be there, or that a child who won’t settle at bedtime may be carrying something from when nights weren’t safe. That belief that every child can heal, and that healing happens through consistency and connection, runs through everything. It’s also why Ariel’s therapists, case managers, and family time workers share a building: collaboration happens in real time, not through scheduled handoffs, and no one falls through a gap between departments.

Types of Foster Care

One thing to understand before diving in: Traditional, Therapeutic, Treatment, and Proctor are license classifications for foster parents, not labels for children. A child in foster care is just in foster care, getting the support they need. What varies is the level of training, experience, and coordination the foster parent has in place.

  • Traditional | The starting point for most families. Traditional licensing involves the standard training hours, a home study that explores what situations and age ranges the family is ready for, and Ariel’s full case management support from day one. Every placement involves trauma; “traditional” doesn’t mean “easy,” and Ariel doesn’t treat it like it does.
  • Therapeutic | Therapeutic licensing involves additional training and more frequent contact with the treatment team. Families at this level are working with children and youth who have significant trauma responses, medical needs, or behavioral challenges that require more specialized support — including, at times, more intensive therapeutic services coordinated across the family, the foster home, and the treatment team.
  • Treatment | The highest level, and relatively rare. Treatment foster care requires significantly more training hours, specific ongoing education, and intensive coordination with therapists, case managers, and medical providers. Most families who reach this level have come up through the therapeutic level over time, or arrive from another agency already experienced. Ariel has just a few of these types of foster homes, which reflects how much this level requires of a family.
  • Proctor care | Proctor care is a distinct track, separate from the traditional child welfare system. Proctor homes partner with the Division of Youth Services to support youth who are preparing to transition to parole—not children placed through DHS. The focus is on what comes next: employment, continued education, mental health support, and the routines that make independence real. Child welfare isn’t involved; the judicial system is. Compensation is higher, reflecting the nature of the work.
  • Licensed kinship care | When a child is removed from their home and a family member is available to step in, kinship placement is often the best option for keeping that child connected to people they know. Ariel works exclusively with certified kinship families—not uncertified kin placements, which are managed directly by the county. Getting certified means Ariel can provide the same case management, training, and team support available to all Ariel foster families. If this describes your situation, reach out and we’ll walk you through what the process looks like.
  • CHRP foster homes (Children’s Habilitation Residential Program) | CHRP is a Medicaid waiver program for children and youth ages 0–21 with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD). As an approved CHRP provider, Ariel supports certified foster families in helping children and youth thrive in their homes and communities. Services available through the waiver include habilitation support, respite care, therapy, and community integration—all aimed at building self-help, socialization, and adaptive skills while reducing the risk of out-of-home placement. Child welfare isn’t always involved; sometimes a family simply reaches a point where they need more support than they can manage on their own. Ariel is actively building its network of CHRP-certified homes, particularly reaching out to families with I/DD experience.
  • Group centers | Some children and youth need a more structured environment than a family-based home can provide. Ariel sponsors and supervises specialized group facilities, known as group centers, for adolescents and youth with higher-level needs who require this level of care.

Additional support available with Foster Care

Most of the services below require county referral and approval on a per-child basis. They aren’t automatic benefits for every placement. Your case manager can help clarify what’s available for your specific situation.

Case Management

Support calibrated to each family’s actual needs: weekly contact for a new or complex placement, monthly check-ins for experienced families. We meet you where you are.

On-Call Support

Ariel’s clinical team rotates on-call every seven days, available around the clock for foster parents, birth families, and county workers. Not only for crises.

Child and Family Therapy

In-house therapists with trauma-focused training work in the same building as case managers and family time supervisors, so collaboration happens in real time.

Behavioral Support Services

Board-Certified Behavior Analysts develop individualized plans for children with trauma-rooted behavioral challenges, train caregivers, and adjust as needs change.

Mentoring (Community Supportive Services)

One-on-one mentoring for foster youth and youth with CES waiver funding, referral-based and available in Grand Junction only.

Family Time

Court-ordered visits between children in placement and their birth families, coordinated and supervised at Ariel’s offices in rooms designed to feel home-like, not clinical.

Respite Care

Short-term care that gives foster families a break, arranged through your case manager with other Ariel-certified families.

Where we provide Foster Care

Ariel provides residential services across Colorado, supported by our regional headquarters (HQs). Each location offers services based on local capacity and licensed family availability. In 2024, Ariel supported more than 200 licensed foster families across over a third of Colorado’s 64 counties. For the most current information about what’s available in your area, reach out to our team.

 

Regional HQ Traditional Therapeutic Treatment Kinship CHRP Group Center Foster to Adopt
Colorado Springs ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️
Delta / Montrose ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️   ✔️
Denver Metro ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️
Grand Junction ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️
Pueblo ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️

How to get started

The path to becoming a licensed foster parent follows these steps:

  • Step 1: Reach out. Prospective foster parents connect with Ariel’s recruitment team for a conversation about where they are, what questions they have, and whether this feels like the right fit.

  • Step 2: Come in. Foster parents meet the Ariel team in person, learn about Ariel’s role in Colorado’s foster care system, and get a clear picture of what day-to-day foster parenting actually looks like. This is where Ariel begins getting to know them: their experience, their household, what they’re open to, and where they’ll be a strong fit.

  • Step 3: Application. Foster parents complete the application and submit required documentation: health evaluations, personal references, background information, and signed agreement forms to continue in the licensing process.

  • Step 4: The home study. Ariel uses the SAFE (Structured Analysis Family Evaluation) methodology: a series of conversations, a home safety review, and a detailed questionnaire covering realistic scenarios including ages, needs, and situations the family would be ready to support. The goal isn’t to find reasons to rule anyone out; it’s to make sure families are solid and to make a match that works for everyone.

  • Step 5: Training. Colorado requires pre-service training before licensing. Ariel covers all costs. Foster parents complete the state-mandated National Training and Development Curriculum (NTDC) at their own pace, plus a short Ariel orientation covering Ariel’s approach, the case manager’s role, and what to expect once licensed.

  • Step 6: Background checks, home inspection, and licensing. Background checks for all adults in the household, a home safety inspection, and final licensing approval. Once complete, the family’s information goes into the state system and they receive their license.

  • Then: Matching. Ariel begins looking for the right fit. Families are informed about a potential placement before any decision is made and have the chance to ask questions. Timeline varies; families who are open to a wider range of ages and circumstances tend to get placed more quickly. Providing respite care while waiting is a good way to build experience and stay connected.

If you’re a county caseworker or professional, contact Ariel directly to discuss placement needs, service availability, or specifics about a child or family. You can reach out via our Contact Form or by connecting with your closest regional HQ.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

If you don’t find what you’re looking for below, feel free to ask your question via our Contact Form.

Questions about Foster Care

Foster care provides temporary, safe homes for children and youth who can’t remain with their birth families due to abuse, neglect, or a family crisis. In Colorado, counties hold legal custody of children in out-of-home placement and partner with agencies like Ariel to find appropriate homes. Ariel licenses individual families, provides ongoing support, and serves as a liaison between foster families and the county. The goal in every case is reunification—returning children home when it’s safe to do so.

Children and youth in foster care range from newborns to age 21 for those with developmental disabilities, and come from all backgrounds. There’s particularly high demand statewide for families who are open to teenagers, sibling groups, and children and youth with higher-level needs.

Every case is different. Some placements last a few days; others last months or years. Timelines depend on court decisions, the progress birth families are making, and the individual child’s needs. The timeline is genuinely hard to predict, and Ariel will be honest with you about that.

Yes. Children in foster care are covered by Medicaid.

Requirements vary based on age and gender. Generally, children over age 5 need their own room or can share only with a same-gender sibling. The specific requirements for your home will be covered during the home study process.

Whenever possible, yes. Colorado prioritizes school stability for children in placement because keeping school consistent reduces additional disruption and supports the child’s wellbeing.

Family time is court-ordered contact between children in placement and their birth families. Visits are held at Ariel’s offices in rooms designed to feel comfortable and home-like rather than institutional. Birth parents drive the visit; a trained supervisor observes and documents the interaction. As reunification progresses, visits may expand to community settings. Ariel submits a written summary after each visit and monthly attendance records to the county.

Being able to remember and show up is part of what demonstrates parenting readiness. Holding families to that standard isn’t indifference — it’s an expression of belief in their capability. If a visit is missed without prior notice, Ariel notifies the county worker.

The home study is how Ariel gets to know your family and assesses readiness—not just a home inspection, but an honest look at whether you’re in a solid enough place to care for a child who isn’t. It uses the SAFE methodology: conversations, a home safety review, and a detailed questionnaire covering situations you’d be open to.

Yes. Colorado requires pre-service training before a foster parent can be licensed. Ariel covers some costs. You’ll complete the state-mandated NTDC curriculum on your own schedule, plus Ariel’s mini orientation. After licensing, annual training is required to maintain certification.

Yes to both. There is no single definition of a foster family. What matters is the ability to provide a safe, stable home and a genuine willingness to support a child through their placement.

Questions about Becoming a Foster Parent

For comprehensive information about the process, visit the Become a Foster Parent page.

You need to be at least 21, have stable housing, pass background and child abuse clearances, and complete required training. You can be single, married, working, retired, renting, or owning. There’s no single template for who makes a good foster parent.

Yes. Foster parents receive a monthly stipend to help cover food, clothing, and daily living costs. Children in care are covered by Medicaid. Stipend amounts vary based on the child’s level of need and the foster parent’s license level; higher license levels come with higher compensation.

Yes. Many foster parents do. The key is having reliable childcare and enough flexibility to attend appointments: therapy, court dates, medical visits, school meetings. Ariel can help navigate childcare options.

Every situation is evaluated individually. Some issues are disqualifying; many are not, especially with time and context. The best approach is an honest conversation with Ariel’s recruitment team.

Yes, and there’s no penalty. When the county contacts Ariel about a potential placement, Ariel shares that information with you and asks whether it feels like a good fit. Saying no protects both you and the child. An honest assessment is better for everyone.

Ariel expects foster parents to treat everyone in the system with respect: caseworkers, judges, birth families, children and youth of all backgrounds. That’s not negotiable. At the same time, foster parents can identify specific situations they’re not equipped to handle well and decline those placements without being disqualified. If a child’s identity or needs feel like something you can’t fully support in your home, you can say it’s not a good fit. Ariel will call you with the next placement.

It depends on your flexibility. Families who are open to a wider range of ages and circumstances tend to get placed more quickly. Providing respite care while you wait is a good way to stay active and build experience.

Monthly visits from a county caseworker, and a Guardian ad Litem (GAL) or Child and Family Investigator (CFI) assigned to every case. A CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) may also be involved, though this isn’t guaranteed. Ariel attends county meetings alongside foster families. You don’t navigate that system alone.

A GAL (Guardian ad Litem) is a court-appointed advocate present in all child welfare cases. A CFI (Child and Family Investigator) is used when a child is over age 12 and a GAL isn’t warranted; it gives the child more voice in court. A CASA is a volunteer advocate who may be requested but isn’t on every case.

Yes. See the Types of Foster Care section above for a full overview.

Ariel works exclusively with certified kinship families. Uncertified kin placements are handled directly by the county. Getting certified means Ariel can provide the full support package: case management, training, and clinical team access for kinship families navigating a placement.

>> Unless otherwise noted, all images and names represent real foster children and parents but actual images and names have not been used for privacy reasons. <<