A Safe Home. A New Beginning.
Foster Care Services Through Griffith Centers—Serving Colorado for Nearly a Century
Providing Stability When It Matters Most
Supporting Children and Youth Facing Crisis and Systemic Challenges
Each year, thousands of children and teens in Colorado enter foster care—most due to circumstances no child should have to navigate. National data from the AFCARS FY2021 report highlights the root causes:
- 63% Neglect
- 36% Parental Drug Use
- 14% Caregiver Unable to Cope
- 12% Physical Abuse
- 9% Housing Instability
- 7% Child Behavior Concerns
- 6% Parental Alcohol Abuse
- 5% Abandonment
- 4% Sexual Abuse
- 2% Child Abuse
- 2% Child Substance Use
- 1% Death of Parent
- 1% Voluntary Relinquishment
At Griffith Centers, we partner with foster families and child welfare systems to ensure that children in crisis are placed in safe, nurturing homes. Our focus is on long-term healing and creating a stable foundation for children — whether that means supporting family reunification, helping families to find permanency, or preparing youth for their next chapter.
A Critical Role for Foster Parents
Becoming a Source of Stability, Connection, and Care
When a child’s home environment becomes unsafe or unsustainable, foster care steps in as a lifeline. These transitions are deeply disruptive and emotionally complex. The need for calm, compassionate, and trauma-informed foster parents has never been greater.
Griffith Centers has walked alongside families and children in transition for nearly 100 years. As a mission-driven, nonsectarian agency with offices in Denver and Colorado Springs, we license and support foster parents across the state.
We offer:
- Comprehensive training and home study services
- Ongoing support from experienced professionals
- A no-cost licensing process for eligible families
We work with people who are ready to show up for children who are waiting—for structure, for connection, and for someone they can count on.
Why Partner with Griffith Centers?
Trusted, Compassionate Care with a Legacy of Service
Choosing to become a foster parent is a courageous step. Choosing the right agency to support you matters. Here’s what sets Griffith Centers apart:
Individualized Support
Personalized guidance at every stage.
All Costs Covered
We pay for your training, background checks, and home study.
Inclusive & Affirming
We welcome foster parents of all backgrounds, identities, and family structures.
Legacy of Impact
Nearly 100 years of service built on healing relationships.
Reliable Staff
Our dedicated team stays with you long-term for trust and continuity.
Specialized Training
Trauma-responsive tools to help you support every child’s unique journey.
What You’ll Receive as a Foster Parent
Ongoing Training, Support, and Services at Every Stage
Foster care is rewarding—and at times, challenging. No one should have to navigate it alone. At Griffith Centers, we provide:
- Trauma-informed training tailored to real-world situations
- 24/7 access to on-call and crisis response professionals
- Connections to therapeutic services and community supports
- Supervised visitation and wraparound support services to encourage safe and healthy relationships
- Continued education to grow as a caregiver
You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be present. We’ll help you build the skills and support network to foster with confidence and care.
How to Become a Foster Parent
Clear Guidance, Compassionate Process, No-Cost Licensing
Becoming a foster parent can feel overwhelming—but it doesn’t have to be. Griffith Centers has supported hundreds of families through the process, providing both practical steps and emotional support along the way.
To qualify in Colorado, you must:
Be 21 years or older
Own or rent a home with a designated child’s bedroom
Be single, married, or part of an unmarried couple
Demonstrate financial stability
Complete background checks, health screenings, and required training
We cover training and licensing costs (excluding medical co-pays) and remain with you every step of the way.
Hope and Healing Begin Here
A Legacy of Family-Centered Care for Nearly 100 Years
Foster care is more than a system—it’s an act of hope. When you open your home to a child in crisis, you’re not just providing shelter. You’re offering consistency, compassion, and the foundation for lifelong healing.
At Griffith Centers, we’ve spent the last 97 years walking alongside Colorado families and children—supporting family reunification, helping families find permanency, and strengthening our communities one home at a time. Whether you’re ready to begin or just exploring what fostering could mean for your family, we’re here to help you take the next step.
Let’s build a better future—together.
I am not married. Can I still foster?
Yes. Foster parents can be single, divorced, or widowed. You must be over age 21 to qualify in most states. GCC also welcomes unmarried partners wanting to foster.
How much does training cost?
There is no monetary cost for training in most locations, however a fee for CPR/First Aid training is sometimes required. The investment primarily involves your time and emotional commitment. Some online training classes are offered in most locations.
Do I have to own my home?
No. As long as you have space for a foster child, you can qualify.
How do I know if I qualify to be a foster parent?
Griffith Centers conducts informational sessions outlining the foster care licensing process. Following the initial session, adults wishing to proceed will receive training on topics including support systems, trauma, safety, and behavior management.
How are medical visits covered for foster children?
As a foster parent, you are responsible for ensuring children in your care receive medical attention and treatment when needed. Medicaid covers all foster youth medical costs.
What types of children should we expect as foster parents?
Although no child is the same, we typically work with children who are:
- Between the ages of 0-18 years old
- Scared of coming into a stranger’s home
- From all different backgrounds, ethnicity, and religions
- Recovering from trauma due to abuse and/or neglect
- Grieving due to being apart from their family and family members
- Maybe in your home for a day up to a year
- Experiencing their first placement
- Coming to you after having been in multiple placements
- In need of a safe place to stay until able to return home or find placement with relatives
- By themselves or coming with siblings
- Coming with nothing or with everything they own
Can I adopt a child by doing foster care and what does that process look like?
The answer is yes, however, if your main goal is to adopt a baby or very young child, you may want to look towards a private adoption or look at adopting older children or children with special needs. The priority in foster care is to work towards the goal of reunification with their biological parents or with other family members. If the child/children cannot be reunited with their parents or placed with a family member, then the foster parents for that child/children will be asked if they would like to adopt. Foster-to-adopt parents may have multiple placements go through their home before the right children become available for them to adopt.
Frequently Asked Questions
Begin Your Journey
Step 1. Fill Out The Application & Complete Background Checks
Step 2. Meet with a Griffith Centers' Team Member to Discuss Next Steps
Step 3. Complete Necessary Training (CORE, First Aid, & CPR)
Step 3. Complete Home Study with a Griffith Centers' Team Member
Start Your Journey
Ready to Take the First Step?
Reach out to Griffith Centers today.
Hope and healing start here.
Contact Info
10190 Bannock St. Suite 120
Northglenn, CO 80260
EIN: 84-0404251
Important Links
Connect With Us
Griffith Centers holds the following licenses and certifications:
Council on Accreditation (COA) of Services for Families and Children, Inc.
Behavioral Health Administration (BHA)
Colorado Department of Education (CDE)
COGNIA (formerly known as AdvancED)
North Central Association of Schools
Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS)
For inquiries regarding our licenses and certifications, please contact us at info@griffithcenters.org.