Bipartisan Zenzinger Bill to Improve Care for Foster Children Passes Committee

SB24-008 would support kinship placement and care for foster children

DENVER, CO – Today the Senate Health and Human Services Committee unanimously voted to advance Senator Rachel Zenzinger’s, D-Arvada, bipartisan bill to improve kinship care options for foster children in Colorado.

SB24-008, co-sponsored by Barbara Kirkmeyer, R-Weld County, would provide additional resources to families and kin who are willing to care for a child involved in the child welfare system. The bill would extend foster care certification to kinship placements, allowing families to access training, resources, and financial assistance to help meet the basic needs of children in their care. 

“We know that relatives are often the best placement option for children involved in the child welfare system,” Zenzinger said. “This bill will help close the kinship gap by giving families and kin access to similar resources as other foster placements. Ultimately, this bill is about providing the support and stability that our children and youth in care deserve.”

Kinship placements maintain family connections and provide normalcy for children who have been removed from their homes. Kinship care can promote safer and faster reunification with parents, and prevent further long-term involvement in the child welfare system. The bill is a result of recommendations from the 2023 Colorado's Child Welfare System Interim Study Committee Report.

SB24-008 now heads to the Appropriations Committee for further consideration. You can follow the bill’s progress HERE.