Sept. 6, 2025
EXPERIENCE 236 | Inspirational Compassion and Following God’s Call with Roxene (Roxy) Tines-Brewton, Founder of Safe Families for Children, Northern Colorado
I met Roxy Tines-Brewton back in 2021, when I emcee’d the “Ordinary Extraordinary Awards” organized by the amazing Ann Baron and her Northern Colorado Community organization for several years, recognizing the behind-the-scenes do-ers that make Northern Colorado such a special place. At the time, Roxy was less than a year into her journey with Safe Families for Children, NoCo Chapter. Still flying solo, and working full-time at her day job and “part-time” activating churches and community groups to volunteer their time to help families in crisis - and marching alongside them in doing so.
I remember being inspired by her story back then - and oooh baby - has it only become more inspiring since!
Roxy has now built a purpose-driven team of 5 mostly part-timers, and activates dozens of volunteers monthly to provide family coaching, short-term housing, a community network of support, or tangible needs for families navigating challenging times. It’s an inspiring journey involving a near-audible call from God and many stories of providence - and so I hope you’ll join me in getting to know and love, Roxy Tines-Brewton of Safe Families for Children.
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Music By: A Brother's Fountain
Transcript
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I met Roxy Tines Brewton back in 2021 when I emceed the ordinary extraordinary awards organized by the amazing Anne Baron and her Northern Colorado Community Organization, recognizing the behind the scenes doers that make Northern Colorado such a special place.
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At the time, Roxy was less than a year into her journey with Safe Families for Children Northern Colorado chapter, still flying solo and working full time at her day job, and.
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Quote unquote part-time activating churches and community groups to volunteer their time to help families in crisis and marching alongside them and doing so.
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I remember being inspired by her story back then and, Ooh, baby has it only become more inspiring since.
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Roxy has now built a purpose-driven team of five mostly part-timers, and activates dozens of volunteers monthly to provide family coaching, short-term housing, a community network of support or tangible needs for families navigating challenging times.
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It's an inspiring journey involving a near audible call from God and many stories of Providence.
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And so I hope you'll join me in getting to know and love Roxy Tins Bruton of Safe Families for Children.
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Welcome back to the Loco Experience Podcast.
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My guest today is Roxy.
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Yes.
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Tines Brewton.
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Hi.
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And she is the founder of, um, the Northern Colorado Chapter of Safe Families for Children.
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Thanks for being here.
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Happy to be here.
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It's good to, good to sit down and have a nice conversation about, I guess, myself.
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I don't, mostly kinda, yeah.
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Well, and what you're up to, you know, some of the impacts you've making.
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Yeah.
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Um, you and I met at the Sun Sunrise Ranch when you were being celebrated as a ordinary extraordinary award winner.
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I was, that was what, 2021.
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That would be my guess.
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Yeah.
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Yeah, I think so.
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It was kind of edgy to be, you know, at an in-person event, uh, unmask even.
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Right.
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We wouldn't, we weren't even wearing masks there.
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Yeah, I think we even shook hands, which I think had dinner together.
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I think.
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Was it when the mask mandate went back on?
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I think we were Maybe, were we breaking rules?
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We might been, if people were kind of over it by then.
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A lot people were breaking rules.
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I don't people'll get arrested anyway.
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Yeah, whatever.
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Bite it.
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Stick to the band.
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That's Roxy.
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Hardly.
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I'm really a rebel.
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What kind of a rebel, um, against the trends of society to overlook.
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Kids and help struggling families in a better way.
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Absolutely.
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Absolutely.
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Yeah.
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Talk to me about it.
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Really passionate about that.
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So, um, I don't know how far you want me to go in, but I, um, started a career over a decade ago, um, in child protection.
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Um, so I'd gotten my degree in psychology.
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I was a bit of a late bloomer, um, finishing my college education.
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Um, but started in child protection here in Lermer County, um, and started that.
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So like working for the county?
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Yep.
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Yep.
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Worked.
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And you were hoping for just a cush job kind of thing.
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Actually, at first I was like, I just wanna get my feet wet.
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Okay.
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So see where I wanna be.
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I had been in sales for a long time before that, so.
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Okay.
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And then you went back to college for like, uh, social work or psychology?
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Psychology actually.
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Okay.
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Yep.
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And, uh, ended up, uh, landing a job with Lerer County and Child Protection and, um, had always wanted to make an impact in the lives of families and children, even since I was a little girl.
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My dad will tell you that I said I wanted to work with families back when I was really young.
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Hmm.
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Um, and so ended up there, um, spent eight years there when I finally kind of stepped away fully and did Safe Families and learned a lot there.
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Um, well, and you did it, you double timed it for a while, right?
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I did.
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Like you were working full-time for Safe Families and full-time for Larrick County.
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Yeah.
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It was give or take, it was part-time Safe families, technically in a part-time nonprofit world.
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Right.
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If you know what I mean.
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Right.
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Where every hour is Magnifi five by two.
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Yeah, yeah, exactly.
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So I did about two years both.
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Okay.
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Um, and then I remember my husband and I were coming home from church when afternoon and he looked at me and he goes, uh, do you think God would grow safe families if you just trusted him and.
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Focused on just safe families.
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And I was like, yes, that's what he's been telling me.
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I'm like, I, I never quite wanted to listen'cause I'm still scared a little bit, but Well, and you, you know, the nonprofit world is lucrative pay.
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Oh yeah.
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So I was, it was juicy, you know, so, well, government work isn't all that great either.
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Uh, it is, it is a bit better than non-profits.
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Well, that just means you need to grow a little more.
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Yeah, exactly.
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And make a little more impact because, uh, basically your salary should be whatever it would take to pay somebody to replace you in that role that you've created for yourself.
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So like.
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I bet you're getting paid less than that.
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And if you are Yeah.
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You're not being a good steward.
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Yeah.
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That's true to the organization.
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Ultimately.
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That's true.
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If you wanna donate 20 grand back to the organization every year,'cause they're overpaying you by 20 grand.
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Be, but you can't leave'em in a place where they would have to increase the salary by 40,000 if they lost you.
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Oh yeah.
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Yeah.
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Well just that's a, that's a good, good thought.
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That's a good argument for your board anyway.
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Yeah.
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And you, I'll go ahead and chop that out for you people out there with money, right?
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If we could I would pay my more.
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If we could.
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If we could.
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That's, you know, I had a staff member tell me once, you know, you should increase your hours, be full-time in salary.
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And I was like, and that means I fundraise for that position.
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Right.
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I'm basically FCA or something.
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Yeah.
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Well, but you're always the fundraiser.
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Tell me about who is your staff?
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What is your team and what are you, who are you serving?
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What are you doing?
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Yeah, so when I, when we launched say families, um, and was.
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2021, then how long has this been going around?
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That's an interesting story.
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So in 2019.
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Okay.
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Um, I brought, I actually sat down, we were on our team at the county, and our team at the county had talked about, dreamt about like this host home idea.
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Hmm.
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So I worked on the after hours team, so we would be nights and weekends.
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So a lot of times if we needed a safe place for a child to go and there was no family or support, you were bringing those critters home.
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That.
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Yeah.
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Well, or sleeping in an office.
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Oh, wow.
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Um, you know, that, that could look like, you know, making phone calls until we could find an appropriate place.
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Yeah.
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Um, and then also that just immediately meant foster care if there wasn't a safe alternative.
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Sure.
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Which, um, hard to get out of sometimes.
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Yeah.
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Once you go down that path, that's court involvement for a family that's already in crisis, that's a bunch of other added steps to go ahead and stabilize and reunify with their child.
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Yeah.
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Yeah.
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Yeah.
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So interesting enough that came up that we needed host homes.
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That would be a great stop gap for those families that didn't have really the best network.
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Yeah.
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Um, and so me and another gentleman got together.
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He actually works for Kingdom Way.
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His name's Greg Berger.
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Okay, sure.
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I know Greg.
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And he, I call him an in, he's either an inst inspirator or an instigator.
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Instigator.
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Yeah.
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Um, and, uh, we were like, what could we do?
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Like, do we wanna look at what it would look like to start, you know.
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Figuring out the next steps.
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A network kind of thing.
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Yeah.
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I did a Google search host homes near me just to see if there was anything out there like this, you know, that we were dreaming of and found safe families in Denver.
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Okay.
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And was really blown away.
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I am like, this resource is just down, you know, just down the interstate from us.
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Yeah.
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Um, Greg reached out to the state director and then I coordinated with Larimer County to bring the state director in.
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Um, and she came up, did a presentation for all of the powers that be in Larimer County and told them what we do and how we can host children.
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And we're the only one in the state that's allowed to do that outside of foster care.
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You know, shared all the, yeah.
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The good we could do for the county.
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Um, and COVID happened.
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Right.
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You know, and shut pretty much any, anything down.
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Um, yeah, and I want, can I back up for just a second?
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Yeah.
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Because Jill and I, my wife and I were along the route of kind of becoming a potential host home for the Matthews House at the time.
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Yeah.
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And it was gonna be for like, mostly for single moms and a kid or something.
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Mm-hmm.
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Or two kids.
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Mm-hmm.
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Or two kids or something like that.
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Mm-hmm.
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Did that program.
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Had fizzled or something and wasn't around, I never really quite understood.
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Like, I, I forget, I probably got too busy and got sidetracked, but, well, maybe it never continued.
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Hopefully I quote this the correct way.
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So, um, from my understanding,'cause it was before my time, safe Families was around and the Matthews house was around, there were programs the, the Matthews House was doing for hosting and they also did a program called Dash, which would host children.
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So they didn't set in detention facilities.
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Right.
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Um, and at the same time, and I believe it was 2019, um.
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Maybe a little earlier.
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Um, both those programs got a cease and desist by the state of Colorado.
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Oh.
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Um, you don't have the right license for this thing or something.
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Yeah.
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You need, you need to get the right licensing, so, perfect.
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Good job.
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State of Colorado.
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Killing it.
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Yeah.
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Yeah.
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So I was around, creates opportunity though, thankfully.
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Yeah.
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Our Northern Colorado chapter wasn't around, but we had a flourishing Colorado Springs chapter.
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Denver chapter had just set up.
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Um, so tho they all get the cease and desist letter.
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Oh dang.
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And we worked again before my time, so hopefully I'm not quoting facts the wrong way.
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Um, our director at the time worked with Rocky Mountain Children's Law to go ahead and then get some legislation PLA passed called The Safe Families Option for Children.
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Mm.
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Not named after us.
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Yeah.
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'cause the states like you're putting these kids in people's houses that aren't a approved foster parent.
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Yeah.
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You're not going through the right.
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Process or whatever, and you're like, well, that's kind of the point.
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We just want a little space.
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Yeah.
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We wanted to be a little grassroots and Yeah.
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You know, holistic.
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Um, so you went, they became a lobbyist, your Denver chapter person kind of bless their hearts.
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Yes.
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Um, glad it was before my time.
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Right.
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And so they, they got all that law passed.
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Um, so now we say families is considered a licensed CPA in the state of Colorado.
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Mm-hmm.
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So certified placement agency.
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Okay.
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So somewhat similar to Lutheran Family Services.
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Yep.
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Yep.
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You know, maple Star, things like that.
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Jill worked at Hope and Home in Oh yes.
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Colorado Springs.
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Yeah.
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Yeah.
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Yeah.
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She, it's funny, we, they did cross paths.
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Yeah.
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Well next time we hang out, we'll, uh, you guys have a lot to talk about.
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Yeah, no kidding.
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Um, but so all that came about and we were able to start hosting and, and the beauty in that is we are audited by the state now, so the state has that oversight, um, to make sure we've got our i's dotted or t's crossed, you know, volunteers are fully checked.
00:11:18.212 --> 00:11:24.602
Um, Colorado, rightfully so, is very, very good about making sure that they're putting kids in safe spots.
00:11:24.633 --> 00:11:24.842
Yeah.
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Yeah.
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And that makes sense.
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And probably there's extra resources even for making sure people are mm-hmm.
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Vetted all the way and stuff.
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'cause yeah.
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Like one thing about bad people is sometimes they don't present that way.
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Yes.
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Yeah.
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You know, unfortunately some of'em are very smart.
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Yeah.
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Sneaky get in sneaky situations they shouldn't be.
00:11:42.273 --> 00:11:43.143
Yeah, exactly.
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Uhhuh.
00:11:43.383 --> 00:11:49.202
So, okay, so, and when did the Northern Colorado chapter officially launch?
00:11:49.383 --> 00:11:51.927
I, so Greg instigated you into this great instated.
00:11:51.927 --> 00:11:55.982
So we came up and toured and you're this just happy person working at the county.
00:11:56.072 --> 00:12:01.173
Well, you know, and when it dropped off in 2019, life as usual kind of went on for me.
00:12:01.232 --> 00:12:09.332
And if I'm being completely honest, kind of when I initially thought of it about bringing it here is I'll continue down my merry road with the county.
00:12:09.993 --> 00:12:13.082
Maybe I would get a raise and, and get it, you know.
00:12:13.413 --> 00:12:13.773
Oh, right.
00:12:13.802 --> 00:12:19.472
You know, a caseworker level three, because I started a new program, brought a new resource maybe on that.
00:12:20.312 --> 00:12:23.283
Um, I'm, I'm a firm believer in God sometimes.
00:12:23.957 --> 00:12:25.067
He has different plans.
00:12:25.072 --> 00:12:25.383
Right, right.
00:12:25.383 --> 00:12:30.648
So, uh, you know, after that didn't happen, um, well then COVID happened.
00:12:30.648 --> 00:12:32.057
You said COVID happened.
00:12:32.057 --> 00:12:33.408
You know, it slowed it down.
00:12:33.707 --> 00:12:44.298
Um, for me, what triggered me to bring it up again, um, was actually, uh, kind of a, a moving story for me.
00:12:44.298 --> 00:12:50.118
So I had, you know, being on the afters team, a lot of times the things we went out on couldn't wait till the next day.
00:12:50.118 --> 00:12:51.378
So they were pretty urgent.
00:12:51.498 --> 00:12:51.677
Yeah.
00:12:52.158 --> 00:12:55.518
Um, and so I had done a lot of.
00:12:55.982 --> 00:13:06.543
Removals, you know, where I had, uh, placed, had to place children in different spots for safety reasons, and I went out, um, oh, you had placed there and then you had to remove'em from there?
00:13:06.783 --> 00:13:07.682
Yeah, yeah.
00:13:07.682 --> 00:13:12.332
So I'd have to put kiddos in foster care, put'em with other safe family members, you know.
00:13:12.393 --> 00:13:14.072
Um, and I had done that.
00:13:14.133 --> 00:13:25.232
Uh, I mean, at that point I was with the county for six years, so I'd done it, uh, you know, a hand enough times to where, you know, it's still, it still moves you, it still, uh, impacts you.
00:13:25.352 --> 00:13:25.472
Yeah.
00:13:25.562 --> 00:13:32.373
Um, and probably for me, which I'm an empath a little bit more than some, you know, I will honestly say it was hard to sleep.
00:13:32.883 --> 00:13:32.972
Mm-hmm.
00:13:33.212 --> 00:13:40.982
Um, but I went out and, uh, had this mother, and it was during COVID, so you can't, you know, you are wearing a mask.
00:13:40.982 --> 00:13:44.312
Nobody can tell what you really think and feel, and they can't tell that you're.
00:13:45.018 --> 00:13:47.687
You know, there's a lot in a person's smile in their face.
00:13:47.687 --> 00:13:47.927
Right, right.
00:13:47.932 --> 00:13:48.888
And, and how they're feeling.
00:13:48.947 --> 00:13:54.707
And they, historically, people could always see that you were a safe person and now you got this mask covering you besides Yeah.
00:13:55.128 --> 00:14:02.298
Well, and I went out to meet this, meet this, um, parent and just could sense that.
00:14:02.732 --> 00:14:04.173
Life for her had been tough.
00:14:04.202 --> 00:14:10.232
And I can't go into a ton of details just because of confidentiality, but brand new baby.
00:14:10.232 --> 00:14:19.322
And always when you, when you do these things, you know that parents absolutely adore their children and children adore their parents.
00:14:19.322 --> 00:14:22.413
There's that mother, mother daughter bond.
00:14:22.442 --> 00:14:28.503
Um, there's actually research and statistics on all the bonding that happens between a mother and child.
00:14:28.832 --> 00:14:37.383
Um, Kurt, I don't know if you know, but if a mother and a child have been separated for years, if they come back in close contact, their hearts immediately sync up.
00:14:37.442 --> 00:14:37.592
Hmm.
00:14:37.743 --> 00:14:39.812
I mean, just this chemistry that they have.
00:14:39.812 --> 00:14:42.692
So, you know, just knowing that, that moved me.
00:14:42.692 --> 00:14:56.523
And then of course, COVID is going on and the riots are going on, and I went home that night and my husband, uh, you know, he's sleeping and I am praying and crying and upset and you know, why can't, why?
00:14:56.523 --> 00:14:58.802
You know, I prayed after every, every.
00:14:59.312 --> 00:15:03.932
Time I met a family that God would just, you know, guide that and take over.
00:15:04.743 --> 00:15:10.562
Um, and I heard God clearly tell me, I've saved you for this time.
00:15:10.562 --> 00:15:12.393
I need you to do more than just pray.
00:15:12.572 --> 00:15:12.873
And.
00:15:13.623 --> 00:15:18.393
So, uh, it led me to, to take a pause.
00:15:18.423 --> 00:15:18.513
Yeah.
00:15:19.472 --> 00:15:24.423
And, uh, call that state director back and ask her, what do I do?
00:15:24.812 --> 00:15:25.863
What do I gotta do?
00:15:26.283 --> 00:15:33.092
Um, and she basically said, well, if you find a church, I'll find some funding a little bit.
00:15:33.212 --> 00:15:34.503
Uh, what do they say?
00:15:34.503 --> 00:15:36.842
Cart in front of the horse, or a horse in front of the cart.
00:15:36.847 --> 00:15:37.057
Yeah.
00:15:37.143 --> 00:15:37.202
Yeah.
00:15:37.472 --> 00:15:39.722
I mess up that analogy way too often.
00:15:40.173 --> 00:15:44.403
But she, she said that, you know, that I could start there.
00:15:44.462 --> 00:15:48.812
And so while that option, and she also told me, were you part of church already?
00:15:48.812 --> 00:15:51.633
And did they say yes or were they the right ones to ask?
00:15:51.692 --> 00:15:58.352
You know, the hard part is I had just switched churches and I was, I, I had just started to go to foundations in Windsor.
00:15:58.383 --> 00:15:58.503
Okay.
00:15:58.923 --> 00:16:01.503
And we had participated mostly Windsor.
00:16:02.467 --> 00:16:09.967
Uh, yeah, I'm, I live in severance, so it was a little bit closer and, and then we were participating a lot online'cause a, our churches would closed.
00:16:09.998 --> 00:16:16.268
I always make a joke that the Denver director might've been thinking, haha, you go ahead and find a church.
00:16:16.273 --> 00:16:16.442
Good luck.
00:16:17.528 --> 00:16:20.077
Because a lot of our churches at that time were closed.
00:16:20.107 --> 00:16:20.347
Yeah.
00:16:20.437 --> 00:16:26.018
And here's a caseworker that's primarily spent all of her time working at the county.
00:16:26.317 --> 00:16:26.888
Um.
00:16:27.227 --> 00:16:29.533
That's, that's not heavily networked in the community.
00:16:29.893 --> 00:16:34.852
Probably not heavily networked within the community, although you were in sales, but probably a specific product or whatever too been.
00:16:34.852 --> 00:16:34.863
Yeah.
00:16:34.863 --> 00:16:35.837
While ago.
00:16:36.107 --> 00:16:38.748
That's just blindly reaching out to churches.
00:16:38.748 --> 00:16:41.477
Started with foundations since it was where I was going.
00:16:41.837 --> 00:16:46.638
Um, and started networking through email, you know, through email.
00:16:46.697 --> 00:16:46.908
Sure.
00:16:46.937 --> 00:16:50.357
Did some lot of, thankfully everybody had a lot of time in their hands in those days.
00:16:50.533 --> 00:16:58.008
I, I always say that the time was great because launching a chapter, I was able,'cause there's a lot that goes into that.
00:16:58.368 --> 00:17:01.967
Um, not just your church partners, but also your community partners.
00:17:02.057 --> 00:17:02.327
Yeah.
00:17:02.418 --> 00:17:04.667
And knowing what everybody else is doing in the community.
00:17:04.698 --> 00:17:12.317
And ironically working for Larimer County, I knew there were resources out there, but I didn't know like.
00:17:12.738 --> 00:17:19.458
What they, all of'em, who did what so much and stuff, you know, and I spent eight years with, you know, I laugh, but I didn't, I didn't shake hands with these people.
00:17:19.458 --> 00:17:23.688
I just would send people to the, you know, whatever resources that I had heard of.
00:17:23.958 --> 00:17:26.268
So, you know, making those connections.
00:17:26.298 --> 00:17:26.417
Yeah.
00:17:26.567 --> 00:17:26.988
How fun.
00:17:27.528 --> 00:17:34.817
Um, our first partner church was actually a really SAA small church that was located in the Loveland Life Center.
00:17:35.117 --> 00:17:35.478
Okay.
00:17:35.597 --> 00:17:39.528
Um, we had talked to h and s House of Neighborly Services.
00:17:39.557 --> 00:17:39.738
Oh yeah.
00:17:39.978 --> 00:17:41.988
Um, and Ben, Greg was in that building.
00:17:41.988 --> 00:17:43.337
Building, which was, yeah, I was gonna say I, yeah, yeah.
00:17:43.337 --> 00:17:44.508
He was a navigator there.
00:17:44.508 --> 00:17:58.157
So he was doing some, sending out the feelers and we went out on a Wednesday night and the state director at that time, uh, did about a 10 minute presentation and about 12 people signed up to volunteer.
00:17:58.667 --> 00:17:58.728
Wow.
00:17:59.238 --> 00:18:01.307
And I was like, job done.
00:18:02.567 --> 00:18:02.657
Right.
00:18:02.657 --> 00:18:06.468
We got 12 and, and I looked at the state director and I'm like, there you go.
00:18:06.798 --> 00:18:15.018
And she was like, and I'd like you to work for us, which, and I was like, I don't have a degree in nonprofit management.
00:18:15.018 --> 00:18:16.788
I don't have Right a leader.
00:18:16.847 --> 00:18:20.928
You know, I'm a glorified caseworker Christian, first and foremost.
00:18:21.377 --> 00:18:28.488
Um, but I trusted what God was doing and, uh, just followed it and still do.
00:18:28.577 --> 00:18:30.798
So this is like the summer of 2020 basically.
00:18:31.607 --> 00:18:36.137
It was actually we in the fall, we went out there in September and we started doing things.
00:18:36.137 --> 00:18:40.157
October, we had boots on the ground serving families in January.
00:18:40.817 --> 00:18:43.877
So tell me, what are you, how are you serving these families?
00:18:43.877 --> 00:18:47.028
What, what are you, what are you doing for them?
00:18:47.028 --> 00:18:50.928
These, these volunteers are hosting kids only.
00:18:51.167 --> 00:18:51.887
Yeah, we do.
00:18:51.887 --> 00:18:55.458
We, it's been, there's a little bit of feeding them, mentoring them.
00:18:55.458 --> 00:18:55.817
Yeah.
00:18:55.877 --> 00:18:56.928
Tell me a little bit.
00:18:57.077 --> 00:19:08.387
So, um, save families, our mission statement is to host vulnerable children temporarily and to create extended family-like relationships to families in crisis.
00:19:08.417 --> 00:19:08.478
Wow.
00:19:08.867 --> 00:19:17.117
Um, for our chapter especially, we are heavily focused on really the family friend and the family coach.
00:19:17.117 --> 00:19:17.208
Mm-hmm.
00:19:17.448 --> 00:19:23.597
So, I, I think I may have told you this when we initially talked Kurt, a lot of families don't come to us and say, here, take my kids.
00:19:23.597 --> 00:19:24.498
I'm in a crisis.
00:19:24.498 --> 00:19:24.738
Yeah.
00:19:24.738 --> 00:19:25.518
I don't know you.
00:19:25.522 --> 00:19:25.782
Yeah.
00:19:25.938 --> 00:19:27.663
Um, but they'll come to us and they'll.
00:19:28.113 --> 00:19:29.942
They'll say, I don't have anybody.
00:19:30.242 --> 00:19:34.893
And we'll connect them to a family friend volunteer, which is exactly the way it sounds.
00:19:34.893 --> 00:19:39.843
It's somebody they can call if they need to vent and have a cup of coffee they can give.
00:19:39.843 --> 00:19:44.343
We're we're one of few nonprofits, they can offer transportation.
00:19:44.732 --> 00:19:52.772
So as you know, a lot of senior, it's almost like a partners or a Boys and Girls club, but for adults that are struggling at a time Yeah.
00:19:52.772 --> 00:19:53.278
To some extent that program.
00:19:53.627 --> 00:19:58.863
Well, and we've done rides to school, we try to stay temporarily'cause we don't wanna be a cab driver service.
00:19:58.893 --> 00:19:58.952
Yeah.
00:19:58.952 --> 00:20:01.442
There's so short term to get to your next.
00:20:01.803 --> 00:20:04.232
Stability, whether that's fixing a car or Yeah.
00:20:04.262 --> 00:20:09.153
Getting a car, walk through a season, going through how to ride the bus, you know, whatever that looks like or whatever.
00:20:09.153 --> 00:20:12.123
It can get you to, um, daytime childcare.
00:20:12.123 --> 00:20:17.762
So a lot of that looks like one, we're not daycare, but yes, we will temporarily help with childcare.
00:20:17.762 --> 00:20:26.942
Will you figure out, um, unfortunately, CA and these are volunteers mostly through the church that have been trained by you guys and, and prepared to do this stuff?
00:20:26.972 --> 00:20:27.452
Yes.
00:20:27.452 --> 00:20:29.403
So that's your boots on the ground mostly?
00:20:29.462 --> 00:20:29.762
Yeah.
00:20:29.762 --> 00:20:32.643
All our volunteers except for a resource friend.
00:20:32.643 --> 00:20:34.143
So there's four different roles.
00:20:34.143 --> 00:20:35.373
So there's the host home.
00:20:35.702 --> 00:20:35.823
Okay.
00:20:35.853 --> 00:20:39.182
Then we'll host children temporarily while families get back on their feet.
00:20:39.212 --> 00:20:41.853
Usually average about six weeks, so, okay.
00:20:42.093 --> 00:20:44.103
So we're not trying to be foster care.
00:20:44.192 --> 00:20:44.343
Yep.
00:20:44.643 --> 00:20:48.752
Um, also we can only host up to six months per the bill that was passed.
00:20:48.843 --> 00:20:48.873
Okay.
00:20:49.173 --> 00:20:55.383
Um, unless there's extenuating circumstances, maybe we've got a family in the military and it went beyond six months.
00:20:55.893 --> 00:20:59.383
Um, and do these families get some, uh, money to help?
00:20:59.587 --> 00:21:01.057
Cover baby food or anything like that?
00:21:01.057 --> 00:21:03.458
Or it's fully volunteer, like hosting an exchange kid.
00:21:03.847 --> 00:21:05.317
It is fully volunteer.
00:21:05.317 --> 00:21:05.468
Okay.
00:21:05.498 --> 00:21:12.488
So our core values are radical hospitality, intentional compassion, and disruptive generosity.
00:21:12.847 --> 00:21:15.188
So they do it out of those core values.
00:21:15.248 --> 00:21:17.198
Um, and they're biblical values.
00:21:17.198 --> 00:21:17.208
Yeah.
00:21:17.258 --> 00:21:18.488
Um, we're faith-based.
00:21:18.847 --> 00:21:21.278
Um, and so they live by those.
00:21:21.278 --> 00:21:21.307
Okay.
00:21:21.307 --> 00:21:22.387
And we live by those.
00:21:22.657 --> 00:21:22.688
Okay.
00:21:22.688 --> 00:21:24.732
So this is the, that's the host homes host, volunteers.
00:21:24.732 --> 00:21:25.387
You the host home.
00:21:25.387 --> 00:21:26.492
And then we have, sorry, you make me cry.
00:21:26.593 --> 00:21:27.853
I'm sensitive sometimes.
00:21:30.198 --> 00:21:30.692
I am sorry.
00:21:30.692 --> 00:21:32.478
I used to the story I told you, you a baby.
00:21:32.557 --> 00:21:33.782
I used to ball like a baby.
00:21:33.782 --> 00:21:35.563
I've told it now a hundred times, so I get tough.
00:21:35.563 --> 00:21:35.792
It getting better.
00:21:35.798 --> 00:21:36.038
How did you geter?
00:21:36.042 --> 00:21:36.452
Okay, that's good.
00:21:37.232 --> 00:21:40.053
I'll just have you listen to it over and over again for You'll get better.
00:21:40.803 --> 00:21:40.893
I'll put it back.
00:21:40.893 --> 00:21:40.903
Yeah.
00:21:40.903 --> 00:21:43.712
Just play it back and forth and work myself out.
00:21:43.803 --> 00:21:45.242
Give you, you'll be tough as nails.
00:21:45.242 --> 00:21:45.633
Yeah.
00:21:45.633 --> 00:21:45.643
Yeah.
00:21:45.873 --> 00:21:46.262
Right.
00:21:47.577 --> 00:21:51.932
And so host, the host, host family is able to host temporarily.
00:21:51.962 --> 00:21:53.702
We wrap everybody in this circle.
00:21:53.702 --> 00:21:55.143
We call it a circle of support.
00:21:55.173 --> 00:21:55.232
Okay.
00:21:55.232 --> 00:21:57.663
So, and then we go edit the family coach.
00:21:57.752 --> 00:22:02.403
Um, and they are going to connect the family to the resources they need.
00:22:02.432 --> 00:22:02.553
Yep.
00:22:02.613 --> 00:22:03.512
Go over needs and goals.
00:22:03.512 --> 00:22:05.038
They know all those resources that you didn't know.
00:22:05.067 --> 00:22:07.472
They're kind of like a volunteer case worker.
00:22:07.472 --> 00:22:07.482
Yep.
00:22:07.502 --> 00:22:07.712
Yep.
00:22:07.712 --> 00:22:08.522
Case manager.
00:22:08.732 --> 00:22:11.732
They'll do the placement checks just like happened in foster care Wow.
00:22:11.732 --> 00:22:13.202
To make sure children are safe.
00:22:13.232 --> 00:22:13.323
Yep.
00:22:13.323 --> 00:22:16.742
The host home looks safe and families are connected.
00:22:17.163 --> 00:22:18.932
Um, and then, um, cool.
00:22:18.932 --> 00:22:18.992
They.
00:22:20.282 --> 00:22:23.643
You know, develop needs and goals and work with the parents.
00:22:23.913 --> 00:22:43.623
The one thing that I always enjoyed about our FA family coaches and that I really wanted didn't steal is while we don't wanna, handhold always, sometimes families are in so much crisis that, and they're given so many resources, it's almost like an overload and they don't know where to start.
00:22:43.623 --> 00:22:43.682
Yeah.
00:22:43.712 --> 00:22:46.803
So if somebody can maybe start by, yeah.
00:22:47.373 --> 00:22:48.962
Making those phone calls with them.
00:22:48.968 --> 00:22:49.218
Yeah.
00:22:49.218 --> 00:22:51.542
Let's do these first two, three steps and then I'm gonna let you do it.
00:22:51.633 --> 00:22:51.843
Yeah.
00:22:51.903 --> 00:22:55.383
And then we're gonna check in, you know, somebody to just walk alongside.
00:22:55.383 --> 00:23:14.673
And then the family friend I kind of told you about their, you know, they can help with transportation for the host, act like family, like fake family, but, well, and, and the goal is of all that, Kurt, is that we'll connect them to this team of volunteers and safe families goes away after a few months.
00:23:14.732 --> 00:23:16.413
Longest we stay open is a year.
00:23:16.593 --> 00:23:16.712
Mm.
00:23:16.772 --> 00:23:19.472
Um, or try to, sometimes we're open a little longer.
00:23:19.563 --> 00:23:19.712
Right.
00:23:19.803 --> 00:23:23.432
But the hope is we close out and these families stay connected.
00:23:23.553 --> 00:23:23.732
Yeah.
00:23:23.913 --> 00:23:25.817
For, for a long term unified term.
00:23:25.817 --> 00:23:26.133
Remain unified.
00:23:26.137 --> 00:23:26.377
Yeah.
00:23:26.383 --> 00:23:26.583
Yeah.
00:23:26.587 --> 00:23:31.353
And we have, and so it's kind of a coaching through crisis with additional support.
00:23:31.778 --> 00:23:32.288
Kind of program.
00:23:32.498 --> 00:23:37.688
Well, and then, and a lot of times is it, is it like domestic abuse, flees and stuff like that?
00:23:37.688 --> 00:23:38.077
A lot?
00:23:38.137 --> 00:23:40.087
Or We've seen domestic violence.
00:23:40.117 --> 00:23:42.307
Um, we've seen, um, addiction.
00:23:42.667 --> 00:23:42.788
Sure.
00:23:42.817 --> 00:23:44.678
Um, families struggling with that or needing mm-hmm.
00:23:45.097 --> 00:23:46.117
To do some rehab.
00:23:46.117 --> 00:23:47.258
Mommies went through rehab.
00:23:47.377 --> 00:23:47.617
Yep.
00:23:47.617 --> 00:23:48.758
Can't take kids.
00:23:48.788 --> 00:23:49.208
Yeah.
00:23:49.208 --> 00:23:49.218
Yeah.
00:23:49.298 --> 00:23:50.978
Um, homelessness.
00:23:51.008 --> 00:23:54.998
Um, unfortunately we have a growing population of homelessness Sure.
00:23:55.268 --> 00:23:56.587
In Northern Colorado.
00:23:56.587 --> 00:24:01.897
So those families that don't wanna take young children into the shelter, but maybe would consider doing a host home mm-hmm.
00:24:02.407 --> 00:24:03.877
Um, respite.
00:24:04.238 --> 00:24:11.438
So, um, adopted families, even biological families that are doing it by themselves or worn out.
00:24:11.708 --> 00:24:11.917
Yep.
00:24:12.008 --> 00:24:13.567
That need a weekend off.
00:24:13.867 --> 00:24:14.288
Oh, really?
00:24:14.288 --> 00:24:14.692
So break.
00:24:14.692 --> 00:24:17.557
So it even, even can be 10 days Yeah.
00:24:17.678 --> 00:24:17.948
Or something.
00:24:17.948 --> 00:24:18.248
Sure.
00:24:18.637 --> 00:24:21.728
And here's another one that, can I put my exchange student with you guys Absolutely.
00:24:21.728 --> 00:24:23.212
For a week while Julie, I go on vacation.
00:24:24.048 --> 00:24:25.188
Yeah, for real.
00:24:25.188 --> 00:24:26.538
We could talk like, would I qualify?
00:24:27.103 --> 00:24:28.053
She's a, she's a joy.
00:24:28.212 --> 00:24:40.067
I mean, I'm sure any of your families would find it way easier than hosting a Well, and one really crazy thing that I don't think the average Joe knows is, uh, if a single mom, single dad needs a surgery.
00:24:40.067 --> 00:24:40.788
Mm-hmm.
00:24:41.242 --> 00:24:41.452
Oh yeah.
00:24:41.452 --> 00:24:43.823
And they have nobody And their family's in Boston.
00:24:44.002 --> 00:24:44.393
Yeah.
00:24:44.393 --> 00:24:44.403
Right.
00:24:44.403 --> 00:24:55.643
And they have nobody here or has to, you know, we had a mom, um, one year that was married and, and wanted to go have her baby and wanted her husband there, but they had nobody to watch their two other children.
00:24:55.643 --> 00:24:55.702
Wow.
00:24:56.488 --> 00:24:59.133
So those are the easier ones we step in for.
00:24:59.202 --> 00:25:01.133
Yeah, we got'em for three days, either or a week.
00:25:01.133 --> 00:25:02.548
Uhhuh, or two weeks even.
00:25:02.548 --> 00:25:03.958
You know, let you have a little time with them anymore.
00:25:04.107 --> 00:25:08.998
Well, we're hoping to get more advanced into more of a footprint in Weld County too.
00:25:08.998 --> 00:25:12.748
But we had a physician there at our info night in Weld County.
00:25:12.748 --> 00:25:12.807
Okay.
00:25:12.837 --> 00:25:13.948
At the Link Library.
00:25:13.948 --> 00:25:19.617
And he mentioned something I hadn't even thought about, but that refugee families that are here.
00:25:19.798 --> 00:25:20.877
Oh, seeking asylum.
00:25:21.028 --> 00:25:21.117
Sure.
00:25:21.117 --> 00:25:23.948
That have no family, no resources.
00:25:23.948 --> 00:25:24.252
They may be living in a car.
00:25:24.313 --> 00:25:24.772
No resources.
00:25:25.053 --> 00:25:26.097
Resources, cultural change.
00:25:26.097 --> 00:25:27.327
Take my kid for a few weeks or months.
00:25:27.807 --> 00:25:39.387
They, well, and he said that they'll come into to the ER to, to there at NCMC to the hospital and they'll leave, um, against medical advice because they have nobody to watch their children.
00:25:39.448 --> 00:25:39.748
Right.
00:25:39.928 --> 00:25:43.228
So, you know, I just, I Crazy.
00:25:43.347 --> 00:25:43.932
Things you don't think of.
00:25:43.932 --> 00:25:44.012
Yeah.
00:25:44.012 --> 00:25:48.028
So just having more people know that you guys exist is probably one of your biggest missions.
00:25:48.147 --> 00:25:53.637
Know that we exist both on the, both on the front of families knowing we're out there to call.
00:25:53.637 --> 00:25:53.698
Yeah.
00:25:53.728 --> 00:25:58.413
So they don't have to turn to somebody they don't trust or feel like they can't.
00:25:59.057 --> 00:26:02.298
They can't do the things they need to do for their own wellbeing.
00:26:02.627 --> 00:26:06.887
And then also the people that are called to do this work, right?
00:26:06.887 --> 00:26:12.403
Like the volunteers, uh, um, I always say that can do more stuff if you've got more people.
00:26:12.633 --> 00:26:12.923
Yeah.
00:26:13.873 --> 00:26:14.563
More volunteers.
00:26:14.567 --> 00:26:16.728
What's the, what's the quote about the light?
00:26:16.728 --> 00:26:18.167
If we all hold, maybe.
00:26:18.198 --> 00:26:20.057
Oh, I was gonna say, many hands make light work.
00:26:20.087 --> 00:26:20.178
Yes.
00:26:20.178 --> 00:26:21.978
But it's a different Yes.
00:26:22.067 --> 00:26:24.528
Same analogy, different, just different phrasing.
00:26:25.188 --> 00:26:25.458
Yeah.
00:26:25.458 --> 00:26:26.597
Many small lights together.
00:26:26.613 --> 00:26:28.188
Big a big glow or something.
00:26:28.472 --> 00:26:29.268
Yeah, something like that.
00:26:29.897 --> 00:26:30.708
Light up the night.
00:26:31.488 --> 00:26:33.347
Um, did, did we get four?
00:26:33.347 --> 00:26:35.238
I I re hosts friends.
00:26:35.238 --> 00:26:35.248
Coaches.
00:26:35.248 --> 00:26:35.387
The coaches.
00:26:35.387 --> 00:26:37.518
The last one is the only one we don't have.
00:26:37.518 --> 00:26:38.688
Go through background checks.
00:26:38.688 --> 00:26:41.807
And this might answer your one question about are they paid?
00:26:41.807 --> 00:26:43.847
How do they, you know, get they supplies?
00:26:44.178 --> 00:26:48.407
So resource friends, we have people sign on just to donate resources.
00:26:48.738 --> 00:26:54.077
And so like last night I was out, uh, helping facilitate a child being hosted.
00:26:54.407 --> 00:27:04.038
Um, and I actually didn't have time to navigate our resource friends, but I had to run out and grab, um, a car seat and a sippy cup and some diapers and Yeah.
00:27:04.127 --> 00:27:06.587
You know, so they can donate those things.
00:27:06.647 --> 00:27:10.488
If we have a little more leeway, I throw it out to all our resource friends.
00:27:10.548 --> 00:27:10.998
Okay.
00:27:11.057 --> 00:27:14.087
We've done, so they just kind of signed up, Hey, let me know when you need a resource.
00:27:14.087 --> 00:27:14.988
Yeah, maybe I got one.
00:27:15.363 --> 00:27:18.393
And we've done some, or I'll go get one really cool things with that.
00:27:18.512 --> 00:27:21.363
Uh, we had a mom, we've got her permission to share.
00:27:21.363 --> 00:27:25.143
So, um, here about a year, a little over a year ago, okay.
00:27:25.502 --> 00:27:29.222
Um, through her baby shower, seven different churches were involved.
00:27:29.823 --> 00:27:30.633
She never had one.
00:27:31.383 --> 00:27:31.472
Right.
00:27:31.472 --> 00:27:34.113
And they packed a picnic table full of gifts for her.
00:27:34.178 --> 00:27:34.468
Yeah.
00:27:34.772 --> 00:27:35.222
Yeah.
00:27:35.282 --> 00:27:36.573
It was just beautiful.
00:27:36.603 --> 00:27:36.692
Yeah.
00:27:36.692 --> 00:27:37.292
What a blessing.
00:27:37.292 --> 00:27:38.913
I don't know where kind of, yeah.
00:27:38.972 --> 00:27:41.643
Um, and so then you have a staff too, right?
00:27:41.647 --> 00:27:41.827
Oh, yeah.
00:27:41.827 --> 00:27:43.022
Like, and what do they do?
00:27:43.653 --> 00:27:46.413
Um, I was, and, and how many are there and stuff like that.
00:27:46.502 --> 00:27:50.492
I was singly staffed for a long time, for almost two years by myself.
00:27:50.492 --> 00:27:51.932
Part, part-time.
00:27:52.397 --> 00:27:53.147
Air quotes.
00:27:53.567 --> 00:28:00.377
Um, and then, uh, ran into somebody that I went out to coffee with and she, she, she has the coolest story.
00:28:00.377 --> 00:28:01.518
I wish she was here to tell it.
00:28:01.847 --> 00:28:05.807
She said, after talking to me, she went home and told her husband, I'm gonna work for Safe Families.
00:28:06.528 --> 00:28:10.877
And then she had asked me about that and I was like, if I had money, that would be great.
00:28:10.907 --> 00:28:11.387
Right, right.
00:28:11.448 --> 00:28:16.728
Um, and she apparently paying me, she went home and she prayed fervently.
00:28:16.907 --> 00:28:19.337
Um, and actually crazy time.
00:28:19.337 --> 00:28:22.877
That was a time where, say families, our chapter almost closed.
00:28:23.178 --> 00:28:23.448
Oh, wow.
00:28:23.478 --> 00:28:28.008
Um, because we were just, I mean, we were so new, nobody knew about us.
00:28:28.008 --> 00:28:29.688
I didn't know much about fundraising.
00:28:29.718 --> 00:28:29.837
Right.
00:28:30.258 --> 00:28:36.228
Um, and Oh, and'cause the, the Denver chapter kind of seeded you with a little bit of Yeah.
00:28:36.228 --> 00:28:39.258
Initially go, they started with the Tenon Center grant.
00:28:39.258 --> 00:28:39.857
Gotcha.
00:28:40.182 --> 00:28:42.468
And uh, and they're like, you're on your own now.
00:28:42.468 --> 00:28:43.907
A little, little, yeah.
00:28:43.998 --> 00:28:45.282
Basically my little bird.
00:28:45.532 --> 00:28:45.883
Right.
00:28:47.057 --> 00:28:52.758
Um, but she's praying fervently and I'm thinking, I, I just talked about this today.
00:28:52.758 --> 00:28:54.768
I'm thinking, oh no, we're gonna close.
00:28:54.768 --> 00:29:00.048
And I'm just kind of following, following what, wherever I need to go.
00:29:00.048 --> 00:29:04.248
And I went out and I did a presentation at Child Safe.
00:29:05.057 --> 00:29:13.157
Um, and when I did that, there just so happened to be somebody that heard it and they shared it with, uh, somebody they knew with a family foundation.
00:29:13.157 --> 00:29:13.218
Hmm.
00:29:13.698 --> 00:29:15.752
And they literally gifted us.
00:29:15.752 --> 00:29:16.673
We like foundations.
00:29:16.982 --> 00:29:24.593
They gifted us enough money for not only to keep us stable, but for me to hire my dear friend Katie, who was our second employee.
00:29:24.593 --> 00:29:24.952
Hi Katie.
00:29:24.952 --> 00:29:25.728
You'll probably listen to this.
00:29:25.728 --> 00:29:26.718
Yes, she probably will.
00:29:26.807 --> 00:29:29.208
She's, she's one of my dear, dear friends.
00:29:29.208 --> 00:29:29.298
Cool.
00:29:29.357 --> 00:29:32.567
She is, so, she's adopted from Uganda.
00:29:32.807 --> 00:29:32.897
Oh, wow.
00:29:32.958 --> 00:29:36.617
Um, she did a ministry similar to this one in Uganda.
00:29:37.307 --> 00:29:39.738
Oh, I'm not gonna butcher it by sharing too much about it.
00:29:39.917 --> 00:29:41.538
That's maybe her podcast.
00:29:41.837 --> 00:29:46.127
Um, and so she hired on, gosh, it's been.
00:29:46.847 --> 00:29:48.258
Oh, Katie, please forgive me.
00:29:48.258 --> 00:29:53.478
It's been, she's going on, this will be her second year, um, October-ish, I think.
00:29:53.478 --> 00:29:54.498
Yeah, sounds about right.
00:29:54.587 --> 00:29:59.597
Um, and she's part-time, she does church and community engagement here in Fort Collins.
00:29:59.657 --> 00:29:59.867
Okay.
00:30:00.107 --> 00:30:05.117
Um, and then after that, and so she's recruiting more churches.
00:30:05.117 --> 00:30:07.428
So you have more volunteers for these Yep.
00:30:07.847 --> 00:30:09.782
Three things, but also a bigger network for the.
00:30:10.827 --> 00:30:11.768
The, the, yep.
00:30:12.347 --> 00:30:13.167
The, the gifters.
00:30:13.742 --> 00:30:14.103
Yeah.
00:30:14.103 --> 00:30:16.952
So she goes out, she's, she helps us fundraise.
00:30:16.952 --> 00:30:17.972
She does things like that.
00:30:17.972 --> 00:30:21.633
She does, uh, connection with different people in the community so they know what we're doing.
00:30:21.633 --> 00:30:21.843
Yeah.
00:30:22.083 --> 00:30:23.462
You need to come to my rotary club.
00:30:23.673 --> 00:30:24.212
I do.
00:30:24.212 --> 00:30:24.512
I do.
00:30:25.383 --> 00:30:27.032
You can come visit any time.
00:30:27.182 --> 00:30:27.782
That would be great.
00:30:27.782 --> 00:30:29.252
It's every Thursday morning at seven.
00:30:29.252 --> 00:30:30.992
Just for anybody listening you can visit too.
00:30:31.833 --> 00:30:31.893
Yeah.
00:30:31.923 --> 00:30:38.288
But also we have programs regularly and you know, we kind of, you know, it can't be a nonprofit every week looking for money'cause we already.
00:30:38.883 --> 00:30:40.593
Give a lot through Rotary and whatever else.
00:30:40.593 --> 00:30:40.682
Mm-hmm.
00:30:40.923 --> 00:30:44.972
But it's such a fascinating program and different than most people have experienced.
00:30:44.972 --> 00:30:47.492
So I'll, I'll put in a good word for you again.
00:30:47.492 --> 00:30:47.807
That blessed.
00:30:47.807 --> 00:30:48.393
That would be really cool.
00:30:48.423 --> 00:30:48.603
Yeah.
00:30:48.932 --> 00:30:49.863
Anyway, sorry to detract.
00:30:49.863 --> 00:30:50.373
Where do we go?
00:30:50.762 --> 00:30:51.367
Where do we jump off?
00:30:51.367 --> 00:30:52.262
So we have Katie.
00:30:52.428 --> 00:30:52.847
Oh yeah, Katie.
00:30:52.867 --> 00:30:53.087
Yep.
00:30:53.087 --> 00:30:54.048
Then and then, uh, hi Katie.
00:30:54.053 --> 00:30:57.692
Uh, another blessing, uh, Andrea McFarland.
00:30:57.782 --> 00:31:01.053
So she is actually a dear, dear friend of mine.
00:31:01.053 --> 00:31:04.232
We work together at Larimer County on the AF hours team.
00:31:04.532 --> 00:31:04.653
Yeah.
00:31:04.653 --> 00:31:04.682
Okay.
00:31:04.712 --> 00:31:10.413
Um, and I just so happened when we were looking for somebody to be a family coach supervisor, so they do all our intakes.
00:31:10.413 --> 00:31:10.833
Oh, yep.
00:31:10.923 --> 00:31:12.542
And they vet all our volunteers.
00:31:12.542 --> 00:31:12.692
Yeah.
00:31:12.692 --> 00:31:14.008
These are your volunteer case workers.
00:31:14.028 --> 00:31:14.448
Mm-hmm.
00:31:14.528 --> 00:31:14.887
Effectively.
00:31:15.383 --> 00:31:15.772
Yeah.
00:31:15.772 --> 00:31:18.442
And she supervises all our family coaches.
00:31:18.653 --> 00:31:18.712
Yeah.
00:31:18.923 --> 00:31:21.982
Um, so she is our family coach supervisor.
00:31:22.012 --> 00:31:22.133
Awesome.
00:31:22.133 --> 00:31:27.022
And she's been a huge blessing'cause she comes to us with 15 years experience and a master's in social work.
00:31:27.083 --> 00:31:27.292
Very cool.
00:31:27.653 --> 00:31:28.343
Which is hard for her.
00:31:28.343 --> 00:31:29.182
And she's part-time too?
00:31:29.182 --> 00:31:29.363
Or?
00:31:29.363 --> 00:31:30.472
She's, she is part-time.
00:31:30.563 --> 00:31:30.623
Okay.
00:31:30.682 --> 00:31:32.932
Maybe I'll went over to full-time one of these years.
00:31:32.992 --> 00:31:33.202
Got it.
00:31:33.202 --> 00:31:33.502
Sorry.
00:31:33.502 --> 00:31:34.163
Larimer County.
00:31:34.163 --> 00:31:34.613
I'm gonna try.
00:31:35.708 --> 00:31:36.198
Awesome.
00:31:36.637 --> 00:31:39.353
I feel like I've met Andrea somewhere as well.
00:31:39.353 --> 00:31:40.732
So if Andrea, I seem.
00:31:40.803 --> 00:31:42.212
Like, you sound familiar.
00:31:42.212 --> 00:31:43.053
That's because it's true.
00:31:44.222 --> 00:31:45.482
Um, and so a small team.
00:31:45.692 --> 00:31:46.232
Yeah.
00:31:46.232 --> 00:31:46.472
Yeah.
00:31:46.472 --> 00:31:48.048
Well, you and two part-time there is more still.
00:31:48.048 --> 00:31:49.053
Well, when we, okay.
00:31:49.083 --> 00:31:50.403
When we got our footprint going in.
00:31:50.403 --> 00:31:59.042
Well, thanks to, well, community Foundation, um, last year I was able to hire a part-time community and church engagement and Marie Root.
00:31:59.252 --> 00:31:59.373
Okay.
00:31:59.553 --> 00:32:03.153
Um, she used to work for Real Hope so in the adoption side of things.
00:32:03.182 --> 00:32:03.272
Mm-hmm.
00:32:03.962 --> 00:32:07.502
Um, and then we've hired a contractor, Jill de Gentry Oh wow.
00:32:07.593 --> 00:32:10.992
Who's 35 years in Greeley Weld area Connect.
00:32:10.992 --> 00:32:12.452
So connect with children and families.
00:32:12.452 --> 00:32:13.232
Yes, I do.
00:32:13.367 --> 00:32:16.768
I I love to be, uh, that's one thing I do love is connecting connect.
00:32:16.768 --> 00:32:16.968
Yes.
00:32:17.282 --> 00:32:18.063
Connecting the dots.
00:32:18.093 --> 00:32:19.292
It's clear that you're good at it.
00:32:19.442 --> 00:32:25.502
Um, and so we've got a team of, uh, five with the contractor.
00:32:25.563 --> 00:32:26.012
Very cool.
00:32:26.462 --> 00:32:34.442
And do you go like, Larimer and Weld is there, there's probably no services like this in Eastern Colorado or whatever, but you wouldn't really?
00:32:34.772 --> 00:32:35.042
Yeah.
00:32:35.042 --> 00:32:36.633
So right now you can't go there, but.
00:32:37.188 --> 00:32:41.837
We're looking at, um, potentially we're in the talks of a hub, Boulder ish area.
00:32:41.843 --> 00:32:42.053
Mm-hmm.
00:32:42.133 --> 00:32:42.143
Mm-hmm.
00:32:42.167 --> 00:32:44.627
We have a few sprinkled volunteers that way.
00:32:44.627 --> 00:32:48.798
So when we get a referral for families like Longmont Firestone, we try to help.
00:32:49.248 --> 00:32:51.468
Um, so we're in talks now.
00:32:51.472 --> 00:32:51.613
Yeah.
00:32:51.792 --> 00:32:54.317
Um, you need to find a U in Boulder is what you need.
00:32:54.528 --> 00:32:54.738
Yeah.
00:32:54.738 --> 00:32:56.448
We would get some staff for Boulder.
00:32:56.448 --> 00:32:59.268
I can't, I think my stretch is right.
00:32:59.538 --> 00:33:00.768
'cause I don't know if you knew this, Kurt.
00:33:00.768 --> 00:33:04.337
I'm also, uh, this work has called me into caring for.
00:33:04.742 --> 00:33:07.113
Three extra little boys in this season of life.
00:33:07.113 --> 00:33:07.502
So I missed No.
00:33:08.222 --> 00:33:08.732
Yeah.
00:33:08.762 --> 00:33:13.712
You're hosting them or you've adopted them, or you're in the middle of deciding Well, deciding.
00:33:14.972 --> 00:33:18.603
They, they, they were children that we worked with, with safe families.
00:33:18.663 --> 00:33:18.692
Okay.
00:33:18.782 --> 00:33:21.752
Um, and they kind of exited our program.
00:33:21.752 --> 00:33:25.923
And then things, things weren't, they didn't stay stable.
00:33:25.982 --> 00:33:27.333
They didn't stay stable.
00:33:27.393 --> 00:33:34.383
Um, and so when that happened, I had had the, the kids had gone to our church for eight months.
00:33:34.532 --> 00:33:34.682
Hmm.
00:33:34.742 --> 00:33:37.143
So there was this added relationship.
00:33:37.143 --> 00:33:40.262
I was actually the prayer partner for the oldest.
00:33:40.262 --> 00:33:40.323
Hmm.
00:33:40.952 --> 00:33:43.053
And so that was just really hard for me.
00:33:43.053 --> 00:33:45.752
I'm like, man, uh, so they're siblings?
00:33:45.843 --> 00:33:47.313
They are all brothers.
00:33:47.313 --> 00:33:47.462
All right.
00:33:47.553 --> 00:33:49.893
Uh, 10, nine, and, uh, seven.
00:33:49.893 --> 00:33:50.583
And how old are you?
00:33:50.643 --> 00:33:51.813
Do you have kids or your two?
00:33:52.228 --> 00:33:53.147
I have a lot of kids.
00:33:55.008 --> 00:33:55.367
You're crazy lady.
00:33:56.117 --> 00:33:57.498
I am a crazy lady.
00:33:57.498 --> 00:33:59.778
So we have six together, me and my husband.
00:33:59.867 --> 00:34:00.317
Okay.
00:34:00.377 --> 00:34:01.758
Um, and now nine.
00:34:01.877 --> 00:34:04.488
And now we we're working on quite a baseball team.
00:34:05.327 --> 00:34:05.657
Right.
00:34:05.657 --> 00:34:07.337
And how's the oldest?
00:34:07.337 --> 00:34:11.688
Uh, two youngest of your So Caitlyn, I'm sorry if I butchered this at 32.
00:34:12.137 --> 00:34:12.318
Okay.
00:34:12.438 --> 00:34:21.347
Um, and, uh, she's my stepdaughter and then it goes Camie and Calvin and Camie is 28, 26 for Calvin.
00:34:21.648 --> 00:34:28.007
And then my oldest is 26, and then my next is 21 and it's CSU.
00:34:28.847 --> 00:34:34.788
And then we have little Zoe who is ours together, me and my husband's together, and she is about to turn 12.
00:34:35.297 --> 00:34:39.527
Um, and how's she feel about having, uh, three fresh brothers?
00:34:39.617 --> 00:34:40.907
Oh, she adores them.
00:34:41.237 --> 00:34:42.378
Yeah, she adores them.
00:34:42.378 --> 00:34:42.797
That's cool.
00:34:43.097 --> 00:34:47.898
Um, the only thing that, that I worry for her is the, the ability to.
00:34:48.737 --> 00:34:49.668
Love and then let go.
00:34:49.668 --> 00:34:49.757
Mm-hmm.
00:34:50.088 --> 00:34:57.737
Um, I mean we, we are totally blessed'cause we've got to see a good season and we've got to But you don't know if you'll be able to keep'em?
00:34:57.737 --> 00:34:59.268
Kind of, or we don't know what God's doing with it.
00:34:59.277 --> 00:35:06.297
You know, it's been interesting because we, I could, I, being safe Families director, um, I can't host with safe families.
00:35:06.297 --> 00:35:08.157
That's just a state, state rule.
00:35:08.188 --> 00:35:08.487
Makes sense.
00:35:08.697 --> 00:35:12.748
Um, because I had been look overseeing the placement and really involved.
00:35:12.748 --> 00:35:16.918
So when that came about, I actually became a certified kinship provider.
00:35:17.007 --> 00:35:17.038
Oh.
00:35:17.038 --> 00:35:18.748
Since I had a relationship with the boys.
00:35:18.867 --> 00:35:19.047
Mm-hmm.
00:35:19.858 --> 00:35:25.887
Um, and it has been almost like an extended safe families thing for us.
00:35:26.157 --> 00:35:26.217
Yeah.
00:35:26.307 --> 00:35:30.358
Um, we have a very good relationship with the parent.
00:35:30.688 --> 00:35:35.577
Um, I think that's helped with the resiliency of the children for sure.
00:35:35.637 --> 00:35:39.088
Um, and we just kind of hope that we can always be there.
00:35:39.148 --> 00:35:52.978
We, we wanna, uh, be that family, that extended family for me, like I was a single mom for a while and I had support, but it's still, there were times where crisis came and I was like in panic.
00:35:53.038 --> 00:35:53.217
Yeah.
00:35:53.427 --> 00:35:56.007
And for single, single parents.
00:35:56.652 --> 00:35:57.853
That don't have support.
00:35:58.483 --> 00:35:59.563
Um, it's ingrained in me.
00:35:59.563 --> 00:36:01.603
I really want to be that support.
00:36:01.603 --> 00:36:02.262
You can't.
00:36:02.652 --> 00:36:02.773
Yeah.
00:36:02.773 --> 00:36:06.793
It's like tying your hands behind your back and trying to do the most important job in the world.
00:36:06.882 --> 00:36:07.092
Yeah.
00:36:07.782 --> 00:36:08.563
That's interesting.
00:36:09.432 --> 00:36:10.273
Well, bless you.
00:36:10.512 --> 00:36:16.603
That's quite a, uh, a set of obligations and opportunities you've said yes to Yeah.
00:36:16.663 --> 00:36:20.682
Over the last few years and, and great to see a team building around that.
00:36:21.163 --> 00:36:29.233
Can you tell me a story of like an anonymized story of tremendous success that really stands out to you?
00:36:31.242 --> 00:36:34.693
So again, this is one that I have permission to share.
00:36:34.813 --> 00:36:39.432
Um, the fir the, there's a mom that we worked with, she's near and dear to my heart.
00:36:39.523 --> 00:36:41.623
Um, uh, her name's Heather.
00:36:41.983 --> 00:36:45.853
Um, she spoke at our very first gala, um, in 2022.
00:36:46.443 --> 00:36:50.882
Um, and she struggled with homelessness, addiction.
00:36:51.213 --> 00:36:55.023
Um, she, um, we can be, we became involved.
00:36:55.023 --> 00:36:57.273
We have a really good partnership with ERT County.
00:36:57.572 --> 00:36:57.603
Okay.
00:36:57.663 --> 00:37:01.137
Um, probably because of my career there prior and Sure.
00:37:01.143 --> 00:37:03.152
And, and so that's been a blessing too.
00:37:03.512 --> 00:37:05.523
Um, but anyways, back to the topic.
00:37:05.552 --> 00:37:08.402
Uh, she became involved because she wanted support.
00:37:08.492 --> 00:37:13.322
Um, she had got a new home and it had been a while, 10 years I think.
00:37:13.592 --> 00:37:13.623
Okay.
00:37:13.652 --> 00:37:23.657
Um, and so we literally became involved to just connect her to family, friends that could come in, help her get everything moved in help decorate, help baby proof, you know.
00:37:24.043 --> 00:37:25.753
Be there when she needs to talk.
00:37:25.782 --> 00:37:29.563
Volunteers were texting, they were calling, they were hanging out and having dinners.
00:37:29.922 --> 00:37:32.172
Um, everything was going really well.
00:37:32.172 --> 00:37:34.873
And like we see with addiction, sometimes there's relapse.
00:37:34.878 --> 00:37:35.128
Yeah.
00:37:35.413 --> 00:37:36.822
Um, and there was a relapse.
00:37:36.882 --> 00:37:47.143
Um, mom had this, mama had, uh, already been through, um, some of the foster care adoption, lost adoption stories.
00:37:47.143 --> 00:37:49.273
So obviously for her that was.
00:37:49.963 --> 00:37:52.693
Immensely traumatizing to think of that route.
00:37:53.143 --> 00:37:57.853
Um, and we scrambled with her to find a host home.
00:37:58.393 --> 00:38:04.873
Um, and it was just beautiful Originally, it's the winter, it's we're going into winter, and the host home we utilized is in red feathers.
00:38:04.873 --> 00:38:05.563
Oh, perfect.
00:38:05.922 --> 00:38:07.902
I'm like, this could be tough.
00:38:08.293 --> 00:38:12.193
But they made it, I mean, it was just, they did the work.
00:38:12.253 --> 00:38:21.643
They, I, you know, I just got to be on the sidelines watching, watching what they and God did, because they just formed this beautiful relationship.
00:38:21.838 --> 00:38:29.097
Um, it was during the holidays, so we had to utilize other volunteers because our host home wanted to travel Florida, California.
00:38:29.608 --> 00:38:31.527
So we utilized a couple other Wow.
00:38:31.557 --> 00:38:32.998
Um, volunteer.
00:38:32.998 --> 00:38:33.563
It takes a village, right?
00:38:33.623 --> 00:38:34.563
Yes, it takes a village.
00:38:35.217 --> 00:38:41.427
When we closed out her, when we met with DHS to close out, which we closed out super fast.
00:38:41.697 --> 00:38:45.208
One be I wanna, I wanna really highlight the work she did.
00:38:45.268 --> 00:38:45.358
Mm-hmm.
00:38:45.628 --> 00:38:48.807
Because we have families that if they don't wanna change, we don't work.
00:38:48.838 --> 00:38:48.927
Yeah.
00:38:48.932 --> 00:38:49.083
Yeah.
00:38:49.088 --> 00:38:51.057
'cause you've gotta wanna do the work.
00:38:51.088 --> 00:38:51.177
Yep.
00:38:51.447 --> 00:38:52.768
Um, but she really did.
00:38:52.768 --> 00:38:53.818
And, uh.
00:38:54.208 --> 00:38:58.228
Put in a lot of that work, jumped through all the hoops she closed out.
00:38:58.228 --> 00:39:02.217
I wanna say we were only open to host for 90 days, which was quick.
00:39:02.697 --> 00:39:02.757
Wow.
00:39:02.757 --> 00:39:02.938
Yeah.
00:39:03.027 --> 00:39:11.788
Um, and when we went to her, the DHS has family meetings to talk about, like, let's make a plan for how we avoid this happening again.
00:39:11.818 --> 00:39:12.027
Yeah.
00:39:12.418 --> 00:39:22.588
She had a packed house of volunteers, I think at, at that time, I counted 10 safe families, volunteers that were putting down on paper what they would continue to do.
00:39:23.307 --> 00:39:26.217
Um, I have a really beautiful picture, Kurt.
00:39:26.637 --> 00:39:30.688
Um, that happened at our last run that we did, our fundraising run.
00:39:30.688 --> 00:39:30.748
Yeah.
00:39:31.077 --> 00:39:32.007
Of her.
00:39:32.128 --> 00:39:32.998
It's such a baby though.
00:39:33.382 --> 00:39:34.202
You make me cry.
00:39:34.663 --> 00:39:34.963
I'm sorry.
00:39:35.503 --> 00:39:36.717
He don't mean to make you cry.
00:39:37.648 --> 00:39:41.608
Slap me Ava, come in here and slap me.
00:39:43.257 --> 00:39:44.277
Um, but continue.
00:39:44.277 --> 00:39:51.418
But that's so beautiful just to have like, it, it speaks to her heart and dedication to improving, obviously.
00:39:51.422 --> 00:39:51.483
Mm-hmm.
00:39:51.563 --> 00:39:52.123
But also mm-hmm.
00:39:52.813 --> 00:39:55.932
Like to have that many people say yes.
00:39:55.932 --> 00:39:56.112
Mm-hmm.
00:39:56.353 --> 00:39:59.443
You know, 10 people say yes to, I'll help this person.
00:39:59.532 --> 00:39:59.862
You know?
00:40:00.103 --> 00:40:00.822
It's so cool.
00:40:01.362 --> 00:40:03.072
It is truly being make you cry too fall.
00:40:03.072 --> 00:40:03.313
I know.
00:40:03.313 --> 00:40:03.882
I see it.
00:40:03.882 --> 00:40:04.572
I can see it.
00:40:04.572 --> 00:40:05.353
You're pretty close.
00:40:06.643 --> 00:40:08.202
I You probably will get me to cry.
00:40:08.202 --> 00:40:08.833
Uh um.
00:40:08.862 --> 00:40:09.853
Trying my best.
00:40:10.242 --> 00:40:11.143
Yeah, you're doing good.
00:40:11.143 --> 00:40:11.563
Better than me.
00:40:11.568 --> 00:40:11.697
I'm.
00:40:12.222 --> 00:40:13.302
But all over the place here.
00:40:13.422 --> 00:40:18.583
This picture that they took at the fundraiser that we did, the lab, we, it's formally lapsed for Love.
00:40:18.583 --> 00:40:19.992
It was Footsteps for Family.
00:40:20.322 --> 00:40:20.353
Okay.
00:40:20.353 --> 00:40:28.992
It's, it's of her, her daughter, our host family who also recently adopted, which isn't usually the Safe Family story.
00:40:29.023 --> 00:40:30.342
That's not what we usually do.
00:40:30.342 --> 00:40:31.813
But they recently adopted.
00:40:31.873 --> 00:40:32.083
Yeah.
00:40:32.293 --> 00:40:41.833
Um, that hosted her daughter and then, uh, another Safe Families volunteer and all their kids and they're all sitting in the grass together.
00:40:42.193 --> 00:40:50.563
And I was like, that's what it's all about, is like you're extending your family that, um, that's, we call it Circle of Sport, like I said.
00:40:50.652 --> 00:40:50.802
Yeah.
00:40:50.802 --> 00:40:55.003
But it's like that Mother of Theresa like, like how do you make that bigger?
00:40:55.003 --> 00:40:55.152
Yeah.
00:40:55.722 --> 00:41:01.512
How do you, how many, um, hours a month does like a family coach typically volunteer for?
00:41:02.568 --> 00:41:03.708
It can really depend.
00:41:03.708 --> 00:41:07.427
So you can really volunteer and be really intense.
00:41:07.427 --> 00:41:08.838
Like you've got a lot to get done.
00:41:08.838 --> 00:41:09.858
You've got several cases going at the same time.
00:41:09.858 --> 00:41:14.117
You've got several cases we try right now to give them one to two.
00:41:14.297 --> 00:41:14.327
Okay.
00:41:14.478 --> 00:41:17.088
Um, our like policies and procedures.
00:41:17.088 --> 00:41:22.007
Say a part-time volunteer coach could do up to four and a like full-time.
00:41:22.007 --> 00:41:24.623
One that want, you know, maybe retired and wants to do Right.
00:41:24.623 --> 00:41:24.632
Right.
00:41:24.632 --> 00:41:26.717
This a lot can do up to 12.
00:41:26.898 --> 00:41:27.197
Okay.
00:41:27.257 --> 00:41:34.788
Um, really too, like we have traditionally too when it comes to placement checks, a lot of times staff do those just to make sure.
00:41:34.788 --> 00:41:34.878
Mm-hmm.
00:41:34.878 --> 00:41:39.947
At least the initial ones are really, you know, we're checking all the boxes, but how interesting.
00:41:39.978 --> 00:41:43.367
That's what they, my wife has uh, been doing Casa for a couple of years now.
00:41:43.487 --> 00:41:43.788
Oh, really?
00:41:43.793 --> 00:41:44.327
Really loves it.
00:41:44.657 --> 00:41:47.717
Um, but she would be super qualified for your Yes, she would.
00:41:48.077 --> 00:41:51.527
So anyway, I try, try to set her up with any more volunteer.
00:41:51.643 --> 00:41:52.182
We love casa.
00:41:52.188 --> 00:41:54.137
We have a, an amazing casa.
00:41:54.822 --> 00:42:00.643
Miss Shelly, so well, I'm gonna call for a break and try to get my composure back and stop crying.
00:42:01.242 --> 00:42:04.572
Uh, and we'll talk a little bit more about say families.
00:42:04.572 --> 00:42:07.092
We'll talk about this book and we'll jump in the time machine.
00:42:07.693 --> 00:42:08.083
Awesome.
00:42:08.083 --> 00:42:08.623
Sounds good.
00:42:58.163 --> 00:43:04.012
And so when we jumped off, we were, uh, kind of talking about a little bit of the vision for the future.
00:43:04.043 --> 00:43:05.092
It could be a bolder thing.
00:43:05.092 --> 00:43:10.373
So you think that could be just a, a branch of your organization for Northern Colorado?
00:43:10.882 --> 00:43:10.943
Yeah.
00:43:10.943 --> 00:43:10.952
Or.
00:43:11.663 --> 00:43:14.782
We're thinking it would go under the Northern Colorado chapter.
00:43:14.782 --> 00:43:18.052
Like I said earlier, we have three chapters across the state.
00:43:18.052 --> 00:43:18.112
Yeah.
00:43:18.112 --> 00:43:21.862
So we're farthest, farthest south we go is Colorado Springs.
00:43:21.922 --> 00:43:22.132
Right.
00:43:22.342 --> 00:43:25.342
Um, and then we have Denver Metro that covers five counties.
00:43:25.342 --> 00:43:25.432
Right.
00:43:25.432 --> 00:43:27.382
Colorado Springs is El Paso primarily.
00:43:27.382 --> 00:43:28.733
Tell are a little bit Right.
00:43:28.733 --> 00:43:29.353
Was big and far away.
00:43:29.543 --> 00:43:32.753
I mean, I think their future goal is probably Pueblo and a little bit further.
00:43:32.753 --> 00:43:32.842
Sure.
00:43:33.293 --> 00:43:39.472
Um, and then for us, it has started in Larimer was always intended to go into Weld.
00:43:39.503 --> 00:43:53.032
Um, and then now last year we've started going into Weld, partnering with agencies there, working out a relationship with the county team members, HS added team members teach us, add a team members, um, and then you're like an entrepreneur.
00:43:53.213 --> 00:43:55.913
Oh man, I didn't think so, but I guess God does.
00:43:58.492 --> 00:43:59.123
Very cool.
00:43:59.123 --> 00:44:01.523
Well, and I imagine there's some benefits of scale too.
00:44:01.777 --> 00:44:02.068
Yeah.
00:44:02.072 --> 00:44:02.242
Yeah.
00:44:02.302 --> 00:44:02.693
Right.
00:44:02.693 --> 00:44:10.282
When you're too small, you're just too small to be effective and you gotta run these, you know, outreach campaigns, getting gathering resources mm-hmm.
00:44:10.523 --> 00:44:15.262
And matching new clients with, with volunteers and what's the right volunteer.
00:44:15.592 --> 00:44:15.742
Mm-hmm.
00:44:15.983 --> 00:44:16.943
A lot of stuff to do.
00:44:17.063 --> 00:44:20.782
And we always joke that matching volunteers and families kind of feels like.
00:44:21.503 --> 00:44:22.432
Uh, matchmaking.
00:44:22.672 --> 00:44:22.943
Yeah.
00:44:23.213 --> 00:44:24.172
And here's your blind date.
00:44:24.172 --> 00:44:25.402
Hope your guys are good friends.
00:44:25.492 --> 00:44:31.583
Well, like I do this, you know, we, we haven't really talked much about what local Think Tank does, and I don't know if you've ever No, I'd love to hear that.
00:44:31.583 --> 00:44:37.253
Snoop us or what, but so we have these chapters of business owners, um, occasionally nonprofits.
00:44:37.253 --> 00:44:38.693
They get half price, half price.
00:44:38.693 --> 00:44:39.052
Mm-hmm.
00:44:39.059 --> 00:44:50.063
Um, but they, uh, they meet together for a half day, once a month and kind of take turns put in their challenges and opportunities on the table for a 10 person group of people to kind of process through.
00:44:50.722 --> 00:44:50.992
Oh, nice.
00:44:51.052 --> 00:45:00.443
So it's like your board of directors basically, but they're all invested in doing their own business, but they have a perspective and skills and talents to share into the sauce, if you will.
00:45:00.802 --> 00:45:01.103
Oh, yeah.
00:45:01.163 --> 00:45:12.023
Um, and like figuring out where a new prospect for local think tank chapter should go is a little bit of a, you know, okay, well, like maybe this one, you know, you gotta kinda have a sense for.
00:45:12.757 --> 00:45:13.568
Relationships.
00:45:13.688 --> 00:45:15.307
Uhhuh, who's gonna vibe with who?
00:45:15.307 --> 00:45:16.838
And it sounds like that's Yeah.
00:45:16.867 --> 00:45:17.467
Same for you.
00:45:17.612 --> 00:45:17.902
Yeah.
00:45:18.128 --> 00:45:18.577
Yeah.
00:45:18.637 --> 00:45:18.998
Can I get ice?
00:45:18.998 --> 00:45:21.757
We're probably more similar than, uh, we would imagine.
00:45:21.818 --> 00:45:22.117
Yes.
00:45:22.117 --> 00:45:22.358
Probably.
00:45:24.157 --> 00:45:27.637
We, we do a thing called hallow relational intelligence.
00:45:28.057 --> 00:45:28.208
Really?
00:45:28.447 --> 00:45:28.597
Okay.
00:45:28.597 --> 00:45:28.898
Yeah.
00:45:28.898 --> 00:45:32.438
And I'm full of ideas and I'm full of love for people.
00:45:32.438 --> 00:45:33.128
Basically.
00:45:33.128 --> 00:45:35.858
I'm the, the thinker and the social relational type.
00:45:36.277 --> 00:45:37.297
It sounds a lot like me.
00:45:37.297 --> 00:45:39.637
I like to, I joke that I kind of fly with the birds.
00:45:39.637 --> 00:45:40.418
I'm a visionary.
00:45:40.418 --> 00:45:41.827
I'm like, Ooh, I like that.
00:45:41.827 --> 00:45:42.518
I wanna do that.
00:45:42.577 --> 00:45:42.847
Right.
00:45:43.043 --> 00:45:43.342
You know?
00:45:43.362 --> 00:45:45.818
And you prefer other people do a lot of the things.
00:45:45.818 --> 00:45:45.878
Yeah.
00:45:46.297 --> 00:45:49.268
I try to get my people together so we can work on project.
00:45:49.268 --> 00:45:55.688
Like one thing that we've been trying to work on, uh, not to digress, is a transportation type ministry.
00:45:55.688 --> 00:45:59.228
Because biggest needs in Colorado is housing and transportation.
00:45:59.228 --> 00:45:59.407
Totally.
00:45:59.407 --> 00:46:00.757
When those things fall apart.
00:46:00.878 --> 00:46:01.177
Yep.
00:46:01.237 --> 00:46:02.182
Or just people that live.
00:46:02.762 --> 00:46:03.632
Off the bus route.
00:46:03.753 --> 00:46:04.237
Yeah, right.
00:46:04.338 --> 00:46:04.557
Wow.
00:46:04.592 --> 00:46:08.132
And getting kids to school and, and not having buses to take'em.
00:46:08.132 --> 00:46:12.063
And, um, so, you know, when that came about, I'm like, it can't be me.
00:46:12.063 --> 00:46:16.918
I've got a handful, but what, what do you guys, so we're still working on who that lucky winner might be.
00:46:17.217 --> 00:46:18.597
Tag it's you, Katie.
00:46:20.782 --> 00:46:23.813
Sorry, Katie's sitting at home going, no, no more Roxy.
00:46:25.282 --> 00:46:33.742
Um, so if in the future you're able to kind of expand in the Weld County Boulder, that would be kind of the, the northern front range.
00:46:34.103 --> 00:46:34.193
Mm-hmm.
00:46:34.943 --> 00:46:35.932
What would that look like?
00:46:35.932 --> 00:46:42.262
Then you would maybe have, uh, another four, five people mostly full-time and then a network of volunteers.
00:46:42.262 --> 00:46:44.003
How many volunteers Right now?
00:46:44.123 --> 00:46:49.132
So we have a 65 active that was active in our last fiscal year.
00:46:49.253 --> 00:46:49.373
Okay.
00:46:49.373 --> 00:46:53.333
That actually were, you know, uh, green on our list to go and match.
00:46:53.632 --> 00:46:57.862
There's probably more like a hundred when you consider our resource friends and things like that.
00:46:57.862 --> 00:46:57.873
Yep.
00:46:57.873 --> 00:47:01.432
That maybe, you know, that aren't lightening on actively engaged, but in different ways.
00:47:01.677 --> 00:47:01.947
Yeah.
00:47:01.947 --> 00:47:05.038
And then we've got quite a few in the, in the process now.
00:47:05.068 --> 00:47:05.188
Hmm.
00:47:05.427 --> 00:47:07.527
Um, so, so we're getting up there.
00:47:07.527 --> 00:47:10.768
It's my goal to be at least 150.
00:47:11.097 --> 00:47:15.177
Um, I would love that if we could be at that end of this time next year.
00:47:15.237 --> 00:47:15.447
Yeah.
00:47:15.538 --> 00:47:19.947
Um, especially now that we are trying, we're meeting needs in Weld County too.
00:47:20.038 --> 00:47:20.217
Yeah.
00:47:20.398 --> 00:47:27.117
Um, and then we served last year for our fiscal year, we were able to serve 35 families, 88 children.
00:47:27.447 --> 00:47:27.867
That's been our.
00:47:28.793 --> 00:47:30.353
Kind of where we sit at.
00:47:30.353 --> 00:47:30.382
Okay.
00:47:30.713 --> 00:47:35.813
And, and I'm kind of good with that because there's a lot of things percolating, like as we expand.
00:47:35.813 --> 00:47:45.563
I didn't realize that you've gotta train new workers and you've got to, you know, really replicate what you're doing in Larimer, in Wild Now and then maybe now in Boulder.
00:47:45.893 --> 00:47:56.003
And so, like as I was looking at too, at the grants that we did and kind of explaining things that, uh, yeah, well we wanna serve more families every year, that's fantastic.
00:47:56.003 --> 00:47:57.922
But we also need more volunteers.
00:47:57.922 --> 00:47:59.422
And that's a whole lot of work too.
00:47:59.483 --> 00:47:59.813
Yeah.
00:48:00.202 --> 00:48:02.813
Taking, yeah, just organizing that many volunteers is a huge job.
00:48:03.077 --> 00:48:03.682
Yeah, it is.
00:48:03.682 --> 00:48:03.887
It is.
00:48:04.188 --> 00:48:04.907
Who does that right now?
00:48:04.907 --> 00:48:10.097
Is that Um, so it is technically the way the process should work.
00:48:10.097 --> 00:48:11.387
I'm having a little hard time.
00:48:11.387 --> 00:48:13.757
'cause when I used to do everything now it's like okay.
00:48:13.757 --> 00:48:13.847
Right.
00:48:13.847 --> 00:48:16.608
You got the team leads kind of, because you got the coach lead and the stuff like that.
00:48:16.608 --> 00:48:17.208
Yeah.
00:48:17.478 --> 00:48:22.097
So we're really getting the processes down to where our church engagement goes out.
00:48:22.097 --> 00:48:24.947
They do the, what we call a launch at a church.
00:48:24.978 --> 00:48:25.068
Mm-hmm.
00:48:25.338 --> 00:48:29.657
Um, and then our volunteer organizations, we can work outside of that too, but, right.
00:48:29.807 --> 00:48:31.643
The Rotary Club could have a launch even potentially.
00:48:31.643 --> 00:48:32.088
Yes, they could.
00:48:32.088 --> 00:48:36.737
We've even talked about other nonprofits that may have volunteers that wanna also work with us.
00:48:36.768 --> 00:48:37.878
Then we can partner and Sure.
00:48:38.208 --> 00:48:38.717
Share.
00:48:38.987 --> 00:48:45.737
Um, but anyways, they go out, they do the launch, they take the volunteer all the way through the process, which looks like training.
00:48:45.858 --> 00:48:48.438
We now do live trainings, which is fantastic.
00:48:48.918 --> 00:48:50.717
Um, we have online training as well.
00:48:50.958 --> 00:48:54.378
Um, and then they do all the background checks.
00:48:54.438 --> 00:48:56.418
Um, they collect all the documents.
00:48:56.418 --> 00:48:56.958
We have like.
00:48:57.012 --> 00:49:01.663
Firearm safety, water safety, you know, the same documents that a foster family would almost go through.
00:49:01.663 --> 00:49:01.753
Sure.
00:49:02.052 --> 00:49:05.503
You know, we're a lot less, a lot less work than that.
00:49:05.563 --> 00:49:05.623
Yeah.
00:49:05.628 --> 00:49:05.708
Yeah.
00:49:05.713 --> 00:49:08.322
Um, but still a lot of the same safety measures.
00:49:08.652 --> 00:49:17.833
Um, and then we hand it over to Andrea, our family coach supervisor, when we need to go out and do like the final interview and what we call, we call it a home screen.
00:49:17.922 --> 00:49:18.012
Yep.
00:49:18.248 --> 00:49:18.467
Yep.
00:49:18.472 --> 00:49:21.342
Um, so we make sure the home looks safe, if they're gonna have children there.
00:49:21.342 --> 00:49:27.788
If it's a family friend and they're not, we can meet in the community, do a hour and a half interview with them to know who they are and Yeah.
00:49:28.032 --> 00:49:31.362
What might trigger them or, or what they'd be excel at.
00:49:31.902 --> 00:49:46.063
The beauty, and what I did it by myself is I have God's gifted me with this ability to, when I hear what Kurt is all about and I hear a story and everything about him, that when I got a referral that would be perfect for Kurt, I'd be like.
00:49:46.293 --> 00:49:46.862
Just like that.
00:49:46.867 --> 00:49:48.222
I know the person, you know?
00:49:48.228 --> 00:49:48.427
Yeah.
00:49:48.427 --> 00:49:53.708
And it just would come so quickly, and now that I'm not so hands on, I'm like, Ooh, this is gonna be a good one.
00:49:53.708 --> 00:49:54.342
I hope so.
00:49:54.347 --> 00:49:54.487
Yeah.
00:49:54.487 --> 00:49:57.668
How do I match these up if I don't know'em so well, but Yeah.
00:49:57.668 --> 00:49:57.907
Ooh.
00:49:57.967 --> 00:49:58.447
Maybe.
00:49:58.478 --> 00:50:07.208
Well, I think to some extent, even if it didn't seem like the perfect person, you know, the person that says yes sometimes is the perfect person.
00:50:07.447 --> 00:50:07.867
Yeah.
00:50:08.077 --> 00:50:08.498
Yeah.
00:50:08.503 --> 00:50:10.628
Um, I don't always know that, right?
00:50:10.657 --> 00:50:11.197
Yeah.
00:50:11.197 --> 00:50:11.208
Yeah.
00:50:11.918 --> 00:50:16.268
I want to jump in the time machine and meet little Roxy.
00:50:16.507 --> 00:50:16.717
Okay.
00:50:16.748 --> 00:50:18.608
Were you Roxy Right from five years old?
00:50:18.998 --> 00:50:20.918
My dad called me Teen Teens.
00:50:20.918 --> 00:50:21.938
Don't ask me why.
00:50:22.422 --> 00:50:22.583
Interesting.
00:50:23.047 --> 00:50:24.097
And do you have a middle name?
00:50:24.338 --> 00:50:25.063
Um, Rochelle.
00:50:25.643 --> 00:50:27.083
Roxane, Rochelle.
00:50:27.202 --> 00:50:27.382
Mm-hmm.
00:50:27.623 --> 00:50:28.132
Interesting.
00:50:28.132 --> 00:50:28.853
Different name.
00:50:28.853 --> 00:50:29.422
Yeah, it is.
00:50:29.782 --> 00:50:32.782
Uh, where were you, when were you born?
00:50:32.842 --> 00:50:34.643
I was born in Mitchell, South Dakota.
00:50:34.702 --> 00:50:36.083
Oh, um, east The corn capital.
00:50:36.143 --> 00:50:36.382
Yes.
00:50:36.382 --> 00:50:37.103
Corn Palace.
00:50:37.132 --> 00:50:38.663
World's largest bird feeder.
00:50:42.052 --> 00:50:43.913
I've never heard it called that before, but that's pretty fun.
00:50:44.032 --> 00:50:44.302
Yeah.
00:50:44.302 --> 00:50:44.932
If you live there.
00:50:45.472 --> 00:50:47.063
And is that where you were grown up as well?
00:50:47.213 --> 00:50:48.413
That's where I grew up.
00:50:48.443 --> 00:50:48.532
Okay.
00:50:48.623 --> 00:50:55.282
Um, yeah, so, and, and I say some in my heart for, for this work comes from that.
00:50:55.643 --> 00:50:59.753
My parents were very, you know, my grandparents were really hard workers.
00:50:59.753 --> 00:51:01.733
My grandparents on one, my mom's side.
00:51:01.737 --> 00:51:01.998
Farmers.
00:51:02.032 --> 00:51:06.083
Farmers and, you know, really, really had a few cows.
00:51:06.083 --> 00:51:06.773
Yes.
00:51:07.313 --> 00:51:08.722
There were six children there.
00:51:08.902 --> 00:51:08.963
Wow.
00:51:08.992 --> 00:51:10.943
Um, and, uh.
00:51:11.543 --> 00:51:16.072
Just worked really good, strong work ethic worth, work ethic.
00:51:16.313 --> 00:51:16.943
Easy for you to say.
00:51:17.032 --> 00:51:18.532
Yeah, I was tongue twister for a minute.
00:51:18.862 --> 00:51:21.083
And then my dad's side's similar.
00:51:21.143 --> 00:51:27.862
Um, his mom was a teacher and his dad a veteran and, uh, diagnosed at mess.
00:51:27.862 --> 00:51:32.032
And so spent some, many years later, about years, years, um, in a wheelchair.
00:51:32.362 --> 00:51:34.523
Um, dad was a very hard worker.
00:51:34.523 --> 00:51:35.963
He was a welder his whole life.
00:51:35.992 --> 00:51:38.182
Um, he was also a veteran in the Navy.
00:51:38.572 --> 00:51:45.023
Um, and my mom and my dad, um, they had to be hard workers.
00:51:45.023 --> 00:51:51.172
So my mom, uh, her career was to be a nurse, but she ended up in home health.
00:51:51.172 --> 00:51:51.262
Mm-hmm.
00:51:51.293 --> 00:51:54.862
Um, she did struggle somewhat with some depression.
00:51:55.193 --> 00:51:59.543
So, you know, I've kind of seen that firsthand and what that feels like.
00:51:59.873 --> 00:51:59.963
Mm-hmm.
00:51:59.963 --> 00:52:03.472
You know, knowing that that's, you know, difficult as a parent.
00:52:03.472 --> 00:52:03.617
How, how did that.
00:52:04.463 --> 00:52:05.782
Translate to you?
00:52:05.782 --> 00:52:08.693
Was it kind of a separation of relationship kind of, or?
00:52:08.693 --> 00:52:11.603
I don't think as a kid I really understood.
00:52:11.753 --> 00:52:11.782
Okay.
00:52:11.782 --> 00:52:11.932
Alright.
00:52:11.963 --> 00:52:18.202
Um, probably the biggest impact on me as a child, and it was when my parents divorced.
00:52:18.503 --> 00:52:18.532
Okay.
00:52:18.592 --> 00:52:21.322
I always thought, you know, my parents.
00:52:21.862 --> 00:52:25.853
They kind of flew by in the middle of the night, kind of probably like a lot of parents have to now.
00:52:25.882 --> 00:52:25.943
Yeah.
00:52:26.092 --> 00:52:26.693
'cause they work.
00:52:26.693 --> 00:52:29.242
My dad worked days, my mom worked nights.
00:52:29.452 --> 00:52:29.543
Yep.
00:52:29.603 --> 00:52:34.432
You know, and I, he talks about he also struggled with alcohol until Right.
00:52:34.612 --> 00:52:36.952
He stopped drinking when he met my mother.
00:52:36.952 --> 00:52:39.922
It's a funny, not a funny story, but it's neat story.
00:52:39.983 --> 00:52:40.253
Yeah.
00:52:40.313 --> 00:52:42.652
He met my mother in his detox.
00:52:43.012 --> 00:52:43.043
Oh.
00:52:43.043 --> 00:52:44.722
So my mother was a detox counselor.
00:52:44.842 --> 00:52:44.932
Oh, wow.
00:52:45.773 --> 00:52:49.373
Um, and he never drank a drop of alcohol again.
00:52:49.413 --> 00:52:49.503
Hmm.
00:52:49.983 --> 00:53:14.882
Um, he has I think 50 some years sober and they still struggled in their relationship despite that kind of, or Well, he, when he did, he recently did a testimony at his church on his story, um, and he said, you know, when I talked to him about it afterwards, um, what probably caused their drift was getting so busy in life and so busy with work, um, and stepping away from their AA family.
00:53:14.972 --> 00:53:15.063
Mm-hmm.
00:53:15.063 --> 00:53:15.782
My mom was a mm-hmm.
00:53:15.842 --> 00:53:18.873
Went to Al-Anon and he went to a, had just kind an attachment from community.
00:53:18.873 --> 00:53:19.592
Solid group.
00:53:19.623 --> 00:53:20.132
Yeah.
00:53:20.132 --> 00:53:20.143
Yeah.
00:53:20.193 --> 00:53:21.753
The social isolation part.
00:53:21.782 --> 00:53:21.963
Yeah.
00:53:21.967 --> 00:53:25.472
Because you are busy and you're raising children and you're, and they didn't really have any friends.
00:53:25.472 --> 00:53:26.043
Hardly.
00:53:26.043 --> 00:53:26.103
Yeah.
00:53:26.612 --> 00:53:29.913
Looking in on em much, you know, mom and dad or whatever around, but.
00:53:30.382 --> 00:53:31.643
Well, the older dad's got ms.
00:53:32.302 --> 00:53:32.603
Yeah.
00:53:32.603 --> 00:53:35.333
Well, and we see this, you know, today.
00:53:35.393 --> 00:53:35.543
Yeah.
00:53:35.543 --> 00:53:38.333
You know, families are having to work really, really hard.
00:53:38.572 --> 00:53:44.242
I had somebody recently tell me that, Colorado, gosh, I just, it kind of shook me.
00:53:44.512 --> 00:53:49.733
Colorado is inhumane to families because of how expensive it is.
00:53:49.967 --> 00:53:50.168
Right.
00:53:50.333 --> 00:53:57.682
And how, how housing is and the resources and, um, she's like, it's a beautiful place to live.
00:53:57.893 --> 00:53:58.012
Yeah.
00:53:58.193 --> 00:54:01.672
But for a single mom or a single dad, it just is tough.
00:54:01.762 --> 00:54:02.813
Well, super tough.
00:54:02.813 --> 00:54:10.132
Even for a pair of$50,000 income earners, having two kids is like, holy crap, how are we gonna do that?
00:54:10.193 --> 00:54:10.612
You know?
00:54:10.612 --> 00:54:10.762
Yeah.
00:54:10.762 --> 00:54:11.543
What did they say?
00:54:11.873 --> 00:54:16.132
You have to have 160 or 170,000 to be middle class now.
00:54:16.132 --> 00:54:18.023
That sounds about right for a couple.
00:54:18.083 --> 00:54:19.432
Yeah, that sounds about right.
00:54:19.523 --> 00:54:20.483
That's just nuts.
00:54:20.572 --> 00:54:22.193
So I'm stuck in lower middle class.
00:54:22.193 --> 00:54:23.842
I've been in lower middle class for a long time.
00:54:23.842 --> 00:54:24.233
One minute.
00:54:26.438 --> 00:54:29.347
Good thing about my house when they were relatively affordable in oh nine.
00:54:29.347 --> 00:54:29.887
Oh yeah.
00:54:29.918 --> 00:54:30.188
Yeah.
00:54:30.188 --> 00:54:31.762
That was us for our first house too.
00:54:31.782 --> 00:54:33.097
So when did your folks split?
00:54:33.487 --> 00:54:35.108
So they split in my teen years.
00:54:35.228 --> 00:54:35.347
Okay.
00:54:35.347 --> 00:54:36.608
And I really struggled with that.
00:54:36.608 --> 00:54:37.688
And you have siblings too?
00:54:37.838 --> 00:54:44.648
Um, I had an older, um, half brother and, um, my sister is younger than me, four years younger than me.
00:54:44.648 --> 00:54:44.677
Okay.
00:54:45.157 --> 00:54:54.757
Um, and I kind of went, we, another really poignant thing about my family is both my, both my grandparents were very, very faith oriented.
00:54:55.112 --> 00:54:55.402
Yeah.
00:54:55.507 --> 00:54:55.777
Yeah.
00:54:55.777 --> 00:54:59.108
My one grandmother was Methodist, my other grandmother was Baptist.
00:54:59.527 --> 00:54:59.557
Okay.
00:54:59.617 --> 00:55:03.097
And for me, a naive young child, I was like, well, we don't do this.
00:55:03.097 --> 00:55:03.608
Like what?
00:55:03.847 --> 00:55:04.088
Right.
00:55:04.088 --> 00:55:06.518
It kind of put a divide in our family.
00:55:06.577 --> 00:55:06.697
Hmm.
00:55:06.818 --> 00:55:10.538
Like we had, you know, my parents divorced, nobody was talking.
00:55:10.568 --> 00:55:16.083
My grandparents are mad at each other, other, neither mom nor dad really had, I'm like, isn't in a faith thing.
00:55:16.083 --> 00:55:16.802
While you were growing up?
00:55:17.103 --> 00:55:19.447
My mom more my, my dad.
00:55:19.492 --> 00:55:21.773
Uh, somewhat.
00:55:22.132 --> 00:55:35.972
Um, he'll, he like now he'll tell me that it kind of shoot him away from the church when they kind of talk to him about his failures in the marriage and, you know, you know, kind of like the, the religious church sometimes dives in, okay, bye.
00:55:35.972 --> 00:55:37.342
Uh, yeah.
00:55:37.342 --> 00:55:37.777
Thanks asshole.
00:55:37.777 --> 00:55:38.018
Yeah.
00:55:38.213 --> 00:55:43.583
But, you know, uh, went through that, that was really a shook my foundation.
00:55:43.913 --> 00:55:43.972
Yeah.
00:55:44.063 --> 00:55:53.152
I, you know how we sometimes, you know, we have this strong faith foundation, but then something in life kinda shakes that up a little bit and you go the opposite direction.
00:55:53.483 --> 00:55:54.132
Were you like a.
00:55:54.818 --> 00:56:03.847
Connector and have a lot of friends in school and things like that, or was that something later to develop for you as a 12 or 14-year-old or whatever?
00:56:03.967 --> 00:56:05.617
Well, we moved around a lot.
00:56:05.617 --> 00:56:07.628
My sister would tell you I was really connected.
00:56:07.628 --> 00:56:08.498
I didn't see it.
00:56:08.648 --> 00:56:11.168
I didn't think so, but maybe I was.
00:56:11.498 --> 00:56:11.557
Yeah.
00:56:11.557 --> 00:56:15.188
You know, sometimes you're just like, eh, my sister more kept to herself.
00:56:15.188 --> 00:56:17.288
So you moved around a lot around the country, around Mitchell?
00:56:17.293 --> 00:56:19.773
Well, or just around the region kind of, or whatever.
00:56:19.773 --> 00:56:22.268
When, when I was younger, we moved out to Gillette, Wyoming.
00:56:22.268 --> 00:56:22.297
Oh.
00:56:22.447 --> 00:56:24.007
Um, we're out there for a little bit.
00:56:24.007 --> 00:56:24.188
Oh wow.
00:56:24.188 --> 00:56:24.577
My dad.
00:56:24.577 --> 00:56:29.228
And then we moved back to Mitchell, um, and, uh, bounced around.
00:56:29.228 --> 00:56:30.697
There's smaller communities there.
00:56:30.728 --> 00:56:30.878
Yep.
00:56:30.878 --> 00:56:30.887
Yep.
00:56:30.967 --> 00:56:32.588
So we kind of went to different schools.
00:56:32.588 --> 00:56:34.568
I went to a Christian school for a while.
00:56:34.568 --> 00:56:37.657
I think my parents were like, oh, she's probably gonna, we need to keep her.
00:56:40.012 --> 00:56:45.788
I, but, uh, ended up honestly, uh, leaving school after my junior year.
00:56:45.818 --> 00:56:46.838
I was like, I'm done.
00:56:46.842 --> 00:56:47.172
I Oh, wow.
00:56:47.172 --> 00:56:48.487
I was upset with my family.
00:56:48.547 --> 00:56:48.577
Okay.
00:56:48.728 --> 00:56:53.737
Um, I ended up, uh, going out to the Twin Cities in Minnesota.
00:56:53.737 --> 00:56:54.608
I started working.
00:56:54.608 --> 00:56:56.318
So, did you emancipate or you just took off?
00:56:56.407 --> 00:57:00.248
No, I just, my mom's, my mom was actually supportive of it.
00:57:00.487 --> 00:57:00.938
Okay.
00:57:00.938 --> 00:57:05.708
Uh, you know, and I ended up later on getting my GED and going back to college and getting a bachelor's.
00:57:06.007 --> 00:57:06.038
Okay.
00:57:06.637 --> 00:57:18.367
Um, but had a rocky few years there where I was, I think honestly, I would've told you I wasn't angry with my family or God, but I now looking back as an adult, I was, I was angry.
00:57:18.367 --> 00:57:22.867
Oh, and were you like, boozing it, clubbing it, drugging it, any of that kind of stuff?
00:57:22.867 --> 00:57:26.257
Or you were just like, you know, in my twenties, I, I, you know, I know children.
00:57:26.257 --> 00:57:30.697
I definitely partied and, and did what the 20 year olds do.
00:57:31.027 --> 00:57:33.637
Um, but you know, it's interesting because.
00:57:34.012 --> 00:57:36.262
Always knew what my foundation was.
00:57:36.413 --> 00:57:36.472
Yeah.
00:57:36.833 --> 00:57:43.222
My, I still remember one of my favorite memories as a child is my grandmother teaching me the Lord's Prayer on the porch.
00:57:43.822 --> 00:57:50.242
Um, and sitting out there with her, she was, she was one of my biggest advocates and my mom too.
00:57:50.422 --> 00:57:50.512
Yeah.
00:57:50.842 --> 00:57:56.932
Um, another thing, um, when I was a little bit older that kind of rocked me is I lost my mom instantly.
00:57:57.083 --> 00:57:57.172
Mm-hmm.
00:57:57.472 --> 00:57:59.663
Um, almost instantly from a brain aneurysm.
00:57:59.753 --> 00:57:59.842
Oh wow.
00:58:00.413 --> 00:58:03.382
Um, when I was six months pregnant with my son.
00:58:03.532 --> 00:58:04.132
Oh, wow.
00:58:04.132 --> 00:58:04.853
So.
00:58:05.677 --> 00:58:10.358
I always say that attributes to what I do now, because I know how that crisis Yeah.
00:58:10.358 --> 00:58:17.467
And loss of, I mean, your relationship, I mean the, your mom is like your, for me, that was my person.
00:58:17.557 --> 00:58:17.797
Yeah.
00:58:18.007 --> 00:58:22.447
Um, she helped me with my, my son was four years old at the time.
00:58:22.447 --> 00:58:22.507
Wow.
00:58:22.958 --> 00:58:25.237
Um, and I was six months pregnant with my second son.
00:58:25.507 --> 00:58:28.148
Um, little to No, she was like your main support.
00:58:28.177 --> 00:58:29.047
She was.
00:58:29.047 --> 00:58:30.007
She was.
00:58:30.007 --> 00:58:30.998
And now she was gone in a heartbeat.
00:58:31.177 --> 00:58:33.427
Um, yeah, she was gone quick.
00:58:33.532 --> 00:58:36.697
Who, who did anybody step in to fill your void in that time?
00:58:36.813 --> 00:58:37.592
Oh, my dad's.
00:58:38.208 --> 00:58:39.737
Pretty awesome in his own right.
00:58:39.768 --> 00:58:44.358
Um, he is not the like, oh, I'm gonna hold you while you cry, dad.
00:58:44.358 --> 00:58:47.777
But he's like, I'm gonna tell you to pull up your bootstraps and tough it out dad.
00:58:48.228 --> 00:58:54.318
Um, but he actually moved to Colorado for a short time and came out and helped support me'cause I didn't wanna go back home.
00:58:54.318 --> 00:58:55.518
I had settled here.
00:58:55.668 --> 00:58:55.847
Yeah.
00:58:55.967 --> 00:58:58.608
Um, so he actually did that for a while for me.
00:58:58.612 --> 00:58:58.733
That's cool.
00:58:58.757 --> 00:58:59.297
That's really neat.
00:58:59.748 --> 00:59:01.217
But some really good parents.
00:59:01.248 --> 00:59:06.768
Um, like I said, really that was probably the biggest thing that kind of shook me as a child.
00:59:06.768 --> 00:59:09.947
My grandmother was another rock for me, the women in my life.
00:59:09.978 --> 00:59:10.068
Yeah.
00:59:10.458 --> 00:59:12.797
Um, and she, my sister will tell me.
00:59:12.873 --> 00:59:18.842
Tell you that I was her favorite, but I think she loved everybody just the same seems more Jesus like.
00:59:19.547 --> 00:59:22.893
Um, um, but she also passed not too long after my mom.
00:59:22.893 --> 00:59:22.952
Wow.
00:59:22.952 --> 00:59:24.302
So that, those things are hard.
00:59:24.302 --> 00:59:24.362
Wow.
00:59:24.362 --> 00:59:31.623
So like I think that feeds into why I know, like the need for, for people to have Yeah.
00:59:31.623 --> 00:59:39.963
You know, these added supports because even you and I are one bank account, 401k, um, bad situation away.
00:59:39.963 --> 00:59:40.052
Oh yeah.
00:59:40.052 --> 00:59:40.862
From needing.
00:59:41.402 --> 00:59:55.862
Well and support, you know, having been on the board at Matthew's house and involved with that organization a long time and other nonprofits, I know that poverty is, yes, it's financial, but a lot of it is just poverty of social capital, of relationships of.
00:59:56.307 --> 01:00:00.597
Connections to resource and, and the belief that I can get outta this muck.
01:00:00.657 --> 01:00:00.838
Mm-hmm.
01:00:01.438 --> 01:00:09.418
You know, and just having a bunch of people surround you and pray for you and encourage you, you know, the, the, the belief could get a lot stronger through that.
01:00:09.597 --> 01:00:26.728
Well, and I don't know if you know this, but in August of 2024, kind of after COVID,'cause we were well aware of social isolation during, during COVID, the Surgeon General actually issued a warning about social isolation and the impact it has on parent and children mental health.
01:00:26.788 --> 01:00:26.967
Totally.
01:00:26.967 --> 01:00:28.108
Children's mental health.
01:00:28.617 --> 01:00:32.217
Um, and so that's just kind of what Safe Families is doing.
01:00:32.487 --> 01:00:36.628
We're trying to resource resource families in relationship.
01:00:36.628 --> 01:00:36.927
Mm-hmm.
01:00:37.557 --> 01:00:37.797
Yeah.
01:00:37.858 --> 01:00:44.458
Um, like a restoration of relationship, even for most cases or many cases, which goes back to the love your neighbor.
01:00:44.463 --> 01:00:44.672
Yeah.
01:00:44.893 --> 01:00:46.112
And, and dig it.
01:00:46.498 --> 01:00:46.947
Yeah.
01:00:47.038 --> 01:00:47.338
Um.
01:00:48.172 --> 01:00:49.253
Let's touch real quickly.
01:00:49.253 --> 01:00:50.632
You said you were in the break.
01:00:50.632 --> 01:00:54.532
You said you were a bang up sales girl back in the day, and so let's talk about this, right?
01:00:54.563 --> 01:00:54.773
Right.
01:00:54.952 --> 01:00:58.583
After the first college stretch, uh, early career mm-hmm.
01:00:59.123 --> 01:00:59.693
Season.
01:00:59.693 --> 01:01:02.902
And obviously you had two kids by a first marriage.
01:01:03.353 --> 01:01:05.483
I actually wasn't married.
01:01:05.483 --> 01:01:05.523
Her's not even married.
01:01:05.523 --> 01:01:05.728
Okay.
01:01:06.143 --> 01:01:06.322
Yeah.
01:01:07.043 --> 01:01:07.972
What'd grandma think about that?
01:01:08.782 --> 01:01:12.967
She probably didn't love it, but she, she still wasn't judged, but I was her favorite.
01:01:13.157 --> 01:01:14.007
That was the way she was.
01:01:15.643 --> 01:01:16.902
Um, no.
01:01:16.902 --> 01:01:28.038
So, and it, it, another thing, the, the sales career gave me the freedom to be able to, uh, be able to raise kids, go to school and figure out when your childcare was and work all sweat.
01:01:28.307 --> 01:01:28.597
Yeah.
01:01:28.597 --> 01:01:32.262
And I realized that early on, because I had a really good career.
01:01:32.262 --> 01:01:37.663
I was an event manager at a, they were business conferencing, uh, organization.
01:01:37.722 --> 01:01:37.873
Okay.
01:01:37.878 --> 01:01:37.887
Yeah.
01:01:38.023 --> 01:01:48.402
Um, premier Global Services and got fired from that job af and I was climbing the ladder, got fired from that job because I, my daycare fell through.
01:01:48.402 --> 01:01:50.103
I had a son that was sick and I was like, oh damn.
01:01:50.623 --> 01:01:52.512
I can't, what am I gonna do?
01:01:52.512 --> 01:01:52.882
Can't take this risk.
01:01:52.967 --> 01:01:53.257
Yeah.
01:01:53.443 --> 01:01:57.043
And so I kind of fell into a door to door sales.
01:01:57.163 --> 01:01:58.992
It was actually almost like swan's.
01:01:59.262 --> 01:01:59.382
Oh yeah.
01:01:59.413 --> 01:02:02.322
Um, steak, chicken, seafood, pork Now.
01:02:02.322 --> 01:02:03.463
Town and country foods.
01:02:03.492 --> 01:02:03.762
Yeah.
01:02:03.762 --> 01:02:06.672
Town and country's one of, I have, my freezer is still rocking.
01:02:06.702 --> 01:02:07.242
Yeah.
01:02:07.242 --> 01:02:07.813
That I bought, sold.
01:02:07.813 --> 01:02:08.262
You bought a town?
01:02:08.382 --> 01:02:08.922
Country.
01:02:08.922 --> 01:02:10.452
And my cookware set too.
01:02:10.782 --> 01:02:11.952
We did it in Colorado Springs.
01:02:11.952 --> 01:02:12.492
You weren't there.
01:02:12.612 --> 01:02:13.213
Yeah.
01:02:13.273 --> 01:02:14.773
But I knew town and Country.
01:02:14.773 --> 01:02:14.833
Yeah.
01:02:14.893 --> 01:02:20.742
Um, we were, the first uh, place I did it with was actually one of my good friend's, um, brother's business.
01:02:20.742 --> 01:02:21.822
It was called the Cut Above.
01:02:21.972 --> 01:02:22.273
Okay.
01:02:22.333 --> 01:02:25.333
And I started with him and was like, I'm gonna hate this.
01:02:25.617 --> 01:02:30.177
I, you know, going on somebody's door and knocking, hey, you know, maybe, but people like you.
01:02:31.347 --> 01:02:32.668
But I was good at it.
01:02:32.668 --> 01:02:37.527
And so then after a few years I was like, wow, I could do this on my own.
01:02:37.918 --> 01:02:38.307
Yeah.
01:02:38.487 --> 01:02:40.737
And so I really built a good business.
01:02:40.737 --> 01:02:44.608
I remember in oh eight when kind of the bottom fell out for people.
01:02:44.608 --> 01:02:49.617
That's when I realized kind of like my, my, I wanted to give back.
01:02:49.648 --> 01:02:49.737
Mm-hmm.
01:02:49.737 --> 01:02:53.697
Because I was watching all these families that struggling in different ways.
01:02:53.697 --> 01:02:53.818
Yeah.
01:02:53.822 --> 01:02:59.757
Supported my family that then, and I served a lot of families that were in the oil and gas industry.
01:02:59.847 --> 01:02:59.938
Mm-hmm.
01:02:59.943 --> 01:03:00.273
Mm-hmm.
01:03:00.277 --> 01:03:03.807
Um, that, you know, that's kind of the area, the one that convenience function in different groups.
01:03:03.807 --> 01:03:04.168
Yeah.
01:03:04.172 --> 01:03:04.353
Yeah.
01:03:04.733 --> 01:03:05.353
And, uh.
01:03:06.157 --> 01:03:09.217
Was just basically given stuff to them for a while.
01:03:09.307 --> 01:03:09.637
Wow.
01:03:09.697 --> 01:03:14.918
You know, so I could, and that right there going through that made me realize, you know, this is how the world works.
01:03:14.918 --> 01:03:14.943
You know?
01:03:14.943 --> 01:03:16.927
So you got a lot of social capital in the bank too.
01:03:17.617 --> 01:03:26.947
I have a little bit, but a lot of, you know, me and my friend joke that God takes us through different types of suffering so we can help other people through theirs.
01:03:27.038 --> 01:03:27.248
Yeah.
01:03:27.458 --> 01:03:32.108
And he's taken me through a different, you know, different stories, different timelines.
01:03:32.108 --> 01:03:32.168
Yeah.
01:03:32.197 --> 01:03:36.757
That I've been able to not just sympathize, but empathize with some situations.
01:03:36.847 --> 01:03:36.907
Yeah.
01:03:36.907 --> 01:03:37.807
Single moms.
01:03:38.378 --> 01:03:45.637
Uh, kids that are, you know, watching parents struggle or, you know, maybe just have, you know, the divorce situation or Sure.
01:03:45.637 --> 01:03:47.737
They only have mom, they don't have dad.
01:03:47.797 --> 01:03:57.487
You know, and one thing people, couples don't always often realize is that when, when you divorce, unless you're like super rich, both people's standard of living is gonna drop.
01:03:57.487 --> 01:03:58.208
Mm-hmm.
01:03:58.268 --> 01:04:05.318
You know,'cause your housing costs, your grocery costs, your utilities, everything's gonna be higher priced and there ain't any more revenue.
01:04:05.318 --> 01:04:08.527
If anything, you had less revenue'cause you have been distracted by two years of.
01:04:09.382 --> 01:04:10.463
Trying not to get a divorce.
01:04:10.643 --> 01:04:11.242
Yeah.
01:04:11.393 --> 01:04:11.873
Yeah.
01:04:11.932 --> 01:04:13.402
So anyway, I digress.
01:04:13.762 --> 01:04:15.592
So you found love again though.
01:04:16.103 --> 01:04:16.463
Yeah.
01:04:16.463 --> 01:04:20.152
I, where was this in the journey and is that part of getting into case work stuff or?
01:04:20.273 --> 01:04:23.932
I always tease that I had a bad picker for a lot of years.
01:04:24.773 --> 01:04:26.393
I, I think it comes with my career too.
01:04:26.393 --> 01:04:27.862
I wanted to fix people.
01:04:27.862 --> 01:04:28.057
You fix em.
01:04:28.447 --> 01:04:28.737
Yeah.
01:04:28.737 --> 01:04:32.302
So, so I found the people that needed, needed me and I wanted to fix them.
01:04:32.302 --> 01:04:34.463
And I realized that that's not what, how that works.
01:04:34.523 --> 01:04:34.583
Yeah.
01:04:34.697 --> 01:04:34.818
Yeah.
01:04:34.818 --> 01:04:38.978
They have to fix themselves ultimately, you know, it usually ends up you having to fix what Yeah, yeah.
01:04:39.592 --> 01:04:40.702
What damage has been done.
01:04:40.702 --> 01:04:51.143
But I took, I took quite some time off and focused on finishing school and, you know, from the dating world and finishing school and focusing on myself, figure out what I want for me.
01:04:51.148 --> 01:04:51.297
Yeah.
01:04:51.302 --> 01:04:56.177
And my two boys, um, I got a dog, which would, you know, that'll keep you outta trouble.
01:04:56.182 --> 01:05:03.682
If you're a woman that wants to maybe just focus on herself and you need, you feel like you need a companion, get a good dog.
01:05:03.862 --> 01:05:03.983
Right.
01:05:04.943 --> 01:05:05.663
They snuggle better.
01:05:05.663 --> 01:05:06.143
Anyway.
01:05:06.172 --> 01:05:06.862
Sorry guys.
01:05:08.873 --> 01:05:10.552
But anyway, much more consistent temperatures.
01:05:10.913 --> 01:05:11.123
Yeah.
01:05:11.452 --> 01:05:14.068
They're very loyal and very loyal.
01:05:14.543 --> 01:05:14.632
Yeah.
01:05:15.143 --> 01:05:18.922
Um, but I got a dog and, you know, it was crazy.
01:05:18.922 --> 01:05:21.413
So I met my husband in Rollins, Wyoming.
01:05:21.682 --> 01:05:22.132
Oh, okay.
01:05:22.253 --> 01:05:25.612
Um, I door to door sales, he was out there.
01:05:25.612 --> 01:05:27.592
He is in the oil and gas industry.
01:05:27.592 --> 01:05:27.773
He.
01:05:28.358 --> 01:05:30.577
Uh, worker in the field at that time.
01:05:30.637 --> 01:05:30.697
Okay.
01:05:31.057 --> 01:05:36.938
Um, and, uh, we started, you know, when you have kids and you want to date, it's really hard.
01:05:36.938 --> 01:05:43.297
Anyway, so we started dating when he was in, in the field, and I could also be in the field and we would go out.
01:05:43.297 --> 01:05:45.637
We started with just cups of coffee and dinners and Yeah.
01:05:46.027 --> 01:05:49.387
Then it was a few months and we introduced, he had two children.
01:05:49.387 --> 01:05:52.657
I had two, well he had three with his older daughter that was away.
01:05:52.748 --> 01:05:53.018
Yeah.
01:05:53.228 --> 01:05:54.157
And you're living here?
01:05:54.157 --> 01:05:55.027
And he's living there.
01:05:55.027 --> 01:05:56.257
And so I was in Denver.
01:05:56.257 --> 01:05:56.288
Okay.
01:05:56.318 --> 01:06:00.038
He was actually, um, based outta Greeley, Colorado.
01:06:00.248 --> 01:06:00.398
Oh, okay.
01:06:00.458 --> 01:06:07.717
Um, and ironically at that time I was getting done with my associates and going to transfer, and I transferred to UNC for my bachelor's.
01:06:07.717 --> 01:06:07.807
Mm-hmm.
01:06:08.398 --> 01:06:13.108
Um, and we coincidentally, yeah, well, coincidentally ish.
01:06:13.168 --> 01:06:15.568
Um, and he was just amazing.
01:06:15.568 --> 01:06:22.197
I just remember watching how he was with his children and even though he was by himself and worked really hard, yeah.
01:06:22.228 --> 01:06:25.887
He still put his children first and foremost, and that was really important to me.
01:06:26.248 --> 01:06:28.617
Um, and he is my rock.
01:06:28.978 --> 01:06:29.547
Does he have a name?
01:06:29.967 --> 01:06:30.387
Yeah.
01:06:30.538 --> 01:06:30.867
Mr.
01:06:30.867 --> 01:06:31.288
Bruton.
01:06:31.887 --> 01:06:32.367
Steve.
01:06:32.373 --> 01:06:32.563
Hi, Mr.
01:06:32.563 --> 01:06:32.922
Bruton.
01:06:32.927 --> 01:06:34.467
Steve And he'll laugh at this.
01:06:34.467 --> 01:06:36.478
I call him a my IOA guy.
01:06:36.838 --> 01:06:37.347
You who?
01:06:37.583 --> 01:06:38.603
My IOA guy.
01:06:38.603 --> 01:06:38.697
I know a guy.
01:06:39.507 --> 01:06:40.047
Yeah.
01:06:40.047 --> 01:06:45.208
We, uh, often at say, families get asked to help do this or do that.
01:06:45.208 --> 01:06:53.043
And I said, for those that know, I usually say, ah, I might know a guy might, I know a guy is, uh, the guy that shares my bed.
01:06:53.353 --> 01:07:02.547
When I, when I first, uh, started Safe Families, there was probably a vehicle in our garage almost every single weekend that he was fixing.
01:07:04.012 --> 01:07:05.213
God bless you, Steve.
01:07:05.213 --> 01:07:05.813
He is.
01:07:05.813 --> 01:07:06.472
He is.
01:07:06.623 --> 01:07:08.182
He is very wonderful.
01:07:08.188 --> 01:07:11.873
And what's he do with his, uh, is he still in the oil and gas industry?
01:07:11.873 --> 01:07:12.503
He is.
01:07:12.503 --> 01:07:12.532
Okay.
01:07:12.563 --> 01:07:14.873
So he works in Denver now in sales.
01:07:14.932 --> 01:07:15.322
Oh, okay.
01:07:15.382 --> 01:07:19.012
So he works for Universal Fluids, which is also one of our donors.
01:07:19.012 --> 01:07:19.402
Thank you.
01:07:19.402 --> 01:07:20.393
Universal Fluids.
01:07:20.393 --> 01:07:20.512
Awesome.
01:07:20.963 --> 01:07:22.762
Um, they support the work that we do.
01:07:22.793 --> 01:07:25.702
Um, and so yeah, he's made a career of that.
01:07:25.702 --> 01:07:28.702
He's got kind of a family line of that.
01:07:28.702 --> 01:07:30.563
His uncle was in oil and gas.
01:07:30.563 --> 01:07:32.152
His dad was in oil and gas.
01:07:32.182 --> 01:07:32.333
Yeah.
01:07:32.603 --> 01:07:34.552
Um, and those networks are strong too.
01:07:34.612 --> 01:07:35.003
They're right.
01:07:35.003 --> 01:07:39.498
Like that's, he's got a lot of social capital just from the fact that his grandpa was in oil gas.
01:07:39.757 --> 01:07:39.978
Yes.
01:07:40.557 --> 01:07:41.452
In some ways.
01:07:41.873 --> 01:07:41.932
Yeah.
01:07:41.938 --> 01:07:42.952
So he was a good guy.
01:07:43.432 --> 01:07:52.552
Um, I wanted to touch on, before we leave, uh, this chapter of the conversation, the, the, the founder of this whole thing, when did Safe Families.
01:07:52.943 --> 01:07:54.893
Uh, originate.
01:07:55.523 --> 01:07:58.672
So Dave and, and who is this guy with the book?
01:07:59.632 --> 01:08:00.472
David Anderson.
01:08:00.563 --> 01:08:01.012
Yeah.
01:08:01.072 --> 01:08:01.472
Dr.
01:08:01.472 --> 01:08:02.273
David Anderson.
01:08:02.273 --> 01:08:04.103
He's got a PhD in psychology.
01:08:04.523 --> 01:08:08.782
Um, he founded Safe Families over 20 years ago in 2003 in Chicago.
01:08:08.782 --> 01:08:08.813
Okay.
01:08:09.592 --> 01:08:11.932
Um, I really, if we have a second Yeah.
01:08:11.932 --> 01:08:13.228
We can take, we can take, I love his story.
01:08:13.807 --> 01:08:14.748
Six minutes, something like that.
01:08:15.007 --> 01:08:27.353
His story was, um, and I'm sorry Dave if I butchered this, but his story was, he was working with children, um, and he, uh, uh, was a working for a child protection, I do believe.
01:08:27.622 --> 01:08:34.912
And he, um, had a child that he had, he ran across in his line of work that had been injured severely.
01:08:34.912 --> 01:08:34.972
Hmm.
01:08:35.422 --> 01:08:39.262
Um, and he, well, he was upset by that.
01:08:39.292 --> 01:08:42.773
He was moved by that, that how, how this child could have got injured like that.
01:08:42.893 --> 01:08:52.552
And when he sat down to talk to mom, it was one of those situations where mom was about to lose her job, which then, you know, the cascading effect of that and.
01:08:52.972 --> 01:08:56.752
Chose to call an ex-boyfriend, and the ex-boyfriend abused her child.
01:08:57.262 --> 01:09:05.783
Um, and he, he said, you know, I, he thought to himself, why wait until a child is abused before we do something?
01:09:05.903 --> 01:09:06.023
Hmm.
01:09:06.262 --> 01:09:15.682
Why not have something in place that if that mom needed to go to work, she would have somewhere to call and she could try, you know, those would be those vetted back check.
01:09:15.682 --> 01:09:17.698
So she called the ex-boyfriend for childcare, effectively for childcare.
01:09:17.698 --> 01:09:19.103
And how many single moms do that?
01:09:19.162 --> 01:09:19.283
Right.
01:09:19.283 --> 01:09:25.703
You know, I know as a single mom that there were some things that I was like, oh, just Lord, please, you know this.
01:09:25.853 --> 01:09:27.743
I want you watch over my children.
01:09:27.743 --> 01:09:29.453
I'm gonna have to you to go to work today.
01:09:29.993 --> 01:09:30.082
Yeah.
01:09:30.082 --> 01:09:34.073
You know, um, luckily, like I said, I had a great support network.
01:09:34.073 --> 01:09:35.033
I had lots of good friends.
01:09:35.033 --> 01:09:35.122
Right.
01:09:35.122 --> 01:09:38.057
I had my dad, you know, family far away, and you got fired.
01:09:38.768 --> 01:09:39.037
Yeah.
01:09:39.037 --> 01:09:39.698
And I got fired.
01:09:39.698 --> 01:09:42.042
'cause you didn't always have that network available at a moment's notice.
01:09:42.427 --> 01:09:42.787
Yeah.
01:09:42.787 --> 01:09:44.828
And that happens all too often as well.
01:09:44.828 --> 01:09:44.887
Yeah.
01:09:45.278 --> 01:09:48.757
But anyway, so he started Safe Families over 20 years ago.
01:09:49.057 --> 01:09:56.797
Um, he was told, you know, we can't even pay people to do this by, I think the Chicago Department of Human Services.
01:09:56.797 --> 01:09:58.118
Oh, you're gonna get into volunteer.
01:09:58.177 --> 01:09:58.688
Yeah.
01:09:58.778 --> 01:10:04.658
And so he worked to get this rolling and we are at 80,000 hostings.
01:10:04.778 --> 01:10:05.257
Wow.
01:10:05.318 --> 01:10:07.537
Um, that's, you know, our overnight arrangements.
01:10:07.537 --> 01:10:11.347
I think it's one, 2.2 million nights of overnight childcare Wow.
01:10:11.768 --> 01:10:12.547
For families.
01:10:12.547 --> 01:10:16.002
We, and all faith-based through that network across the country kind of thing.
01:10:16.007 --> 01:10:18.368
Started throughout the churches.
01:10:18.427 --> 01:10:21.337
Um, we have about a hundred chapters in the United States.
01:10:21.368 --> 01:10:21.427
Yeah.
01:10:21.818 --> 01:10:27.667
We're Hong Kong, uh, Canada, the uk we're working to move into the Philippines.
01:10:27.938 --> 01:10:27.997
Wow.
01:10:28.177 --> 01:10:28.962
Um, you know.
01:10:29.618 --> 01:10:34.807
Just I, if I think, you know, what I've grown is sub he, yeah.
01:10:34.807 --> 01:10:35.167
He sparked it.
01:10:35.438 --> 01:10:39.158
Uh, first he sparked and he'll call it a movement, you know?
01:10:39.188 --> 01:10:39.427
Yeah.
01:10:39.457 --> 01:10:41.707
We don't wanna be a program, we don't wanna be a service.
01:10:41.707 --> 01:10:43.328
We wanna wanna be a movement.
01:10:43.627 --> 01:10:52.148
So that, like for me, and resulting in safe families for children, I wanna see Fort Collins and Loveland in these areas change where our communities naturally just.
01:10:52.523 --> 01:10:57.113
Wrap around these families and there doesn't have to be a safe families to, to coordinate that.
01:10:57.262 --> 01:10:57.712
Yeah.
01:10:58.162 --> 01:11:05.243
Is there, like, I'd rather have families wrap around these kids than, than government agencies typically.
01:11:05.693 --> 01:11:13.193
Is there, is there federal dollars involved with your funding stream also, or it's kind of like a double-edged sword, right?
01:11:13.193 --> 01:11:16.462
You just, it's get it from the man, then the man can take it back away.
01:11:16.462 --> 01:11:23.182
Well, and I don't know when we first talked, if I even knew this Kurt, but, uh, so to do, to get federal funding is complicated.
01:11:23.212 --> 01:11:23.302
Mm-hmm.
01:11:23.632 --> 01:11:26.813
Um, but we are evidence-based.
01:11:27.052 --> 01:11:37.372
So we had a test done or study done that, that gave us evidence-based research that we are able to lower the number of children entering the foster care and child welfare system.
01:11:37.372 --> 01:11:37.432
Yeah.
01:11:37.432 --> 01:11:39.203
And we are a safe alternative.
01:11:39.682 --> 01:11:46.162
Um, and so in doing that, we also went through what's called the family first prevention.
01:11:46.193 --> 01:11:46.493
Okay.
01:11:46.552 --> 01:11:47.153
Um.
01:11:47.752 --> 01:11:49.582
System, the clearinghouse.
01:11:49.823 --> 01:11:57.563
Um, and we were just now, uh, able to have that stamp that we are eligible for family first funding.
01:11:57.743 --> 01:11:57.773
Oh.
01:11:57.893 --> 01:12:03.922
Um, and that, if you don't know, that's kind of for somebody in child welfare, that's actually what pushed me to do Safe Families.
01:12:03.922 --> 01:12:05.693
I'm like, safe Families is family first.
01:12:05.962 --> 01:12:16.247
When that came out, back in, uh, 2017, 18, I went to a conference at the Embassy Suites where they talked about how this, we were like, why would we recreate this?
01:12:16.613 --> 01:12:16.912
Yeah.
01:12:16.912 --> 01:12:18.023
Well, they talked about this.
01:12:18.023 --> 01:12:22.552
I was a caseworker at the time about how we were gonna do this switch of, and this.
01:12:22.853 --> 01:12:26.872
Of really working to put dollars to keep kids with families.
01:12:26.932 --> 01:12:27.052
Mm-hmm.
01:12:27.832 --> 01:12:32.932
Um, so it was kind of mo gonna move from putting dollars where foster care was to family first.
01:12:33.052 --> 01:12:33.143
Yep.
01:12:33.533 --> 01:12:37.643
Um, and, and that for me, I was like, oh, that's, that's amazing.
01:12:37.703 --> 01:12:39.863
That's a huge shift for uh, totally.
01:12:39.863 --> 01:12:44.573
You know, if you don't know there's 400,000 kids in foster care that's like.
01:12:44.997 --> 01:12:47.908
The population of Loveland, Greeley, Fort Collins.
01:12:47.908 --> 01:12:47.997
Right.
01:12:47.997 --> 01:12:48.837
It was all children.
01:12:48.837 --> 01:12:49.222
Right, right.
01:12:49.917 --> 01:12:50.728
On half of North Dakota.
01:12:50.728 --> 01:12:51.627
More than half of North Dakota.
01:12:51.627 --> 01:12:51.747
Yeah.
01:12:51.807 --> 01:12:53.818
Oh, that's a crazy, crazy.
01:12:53.818 --> 01:12:54.028
Yeah.
01:12:54.028 --> 01:12:55.228
I didn't even think of that one.
01:12:55.528 --> 01:13:11.037
But you know, if say families believes if we could impact that system, if we could take the kids out that just got their, they ended up in the foster care system because of neglect and poverty, we could help alleviate help.
01:13:11.158 --> 01:13:13.557
'cause we wanna help, we wanna partner with child welfare.
01:13:13.858 --> 01:13:16.828
Um, we could help alleviate that system by 70%.
01:13:17.608 --> 01:13:17.728
Wow.
01:13:17.787 --> 01:13:19.738
And it, and it's an overwhelming system.
01:13:20.217 --> 01:13:25.677
It, they, and then they could Well, and everybody existing, everybody that was left could do a really great job.
01:13:25.743 --> 01:13:26.462
'cause they're not so overwhelmed.
01:13:26.493 --> 01:13:26.783
Yeah.
01:13:26.783 --> 01:13:31.797
And the children that really need it, the children that, that and families that really need the system.
01:13:31.858 --> 01:13:31.917
Yeah.
01:13:31.917 --> 01:13:42.028
'cause there is a place, I, there's the most wonderful people I've ever met are the foster families that, that I've ran into at three and four o'clock in the morning that I go drop off kid off.
01:13:42.927 --> 01:13:43.167
Yeah.
01:13:43.432 --> 01:13:44.842
They're angels, I'm sure.
01:13:44.903 --> 01:13:49.162
So I wanna talk about, uh, your, your, your event rhythm.
01:13:49.552 --> 01:13:50.002
Yeah.
01:13:50.002 --> 01:13:54.143
It's possible that we'll have this podcast out in time for the duck race.
01:13:54.773 --> 01:13:55.403
What is that?
01:13:55.792 --> 01:13:59.422
Yeah, so the Rotary Club in Fort Collins is doing a duck race.
01:13:59.783 --> 01:14:03.712
Um, safe Families is signed up along with a bunch of other non-profits.
01:14:04.042 --> 01:14:07.703
Um, very well deserving everybody, but Safe Families is my favorite.
01:14:07.912 --> 01:14:08.002
Right.
01:14:08.063 --> 01:14:13.042
Um, and you can buy a dock for$25 or a quack pack for 125.
01:14:13.792 --> 01:14:15.023
And it's this fun race.
01:14:15.023 --> 01:14:16.552
I believe it's at City Park.
01:14:16.552 --> 01:14:16.792
Is it?
01:14:16.792 --> 01:14:19.823
Or it's second annual Fort Collins Duck Race for charity.
01:14:20.122 --> 01:14:21.743
Fort Collins City Park Pool.
01:14:21.773 --> 01:14:22.222
Yeah.
01:14:22.222 --> 01:14:22.912
And Lazy River.
01:14:23.033 --> 01:14:23.842
And look at the money.
01:14:23.842 --> 01:14:24.203
You can win.
01:14:24.203 --> 01:14:24.382
You win.
01:14:24.563 --> 01:14:26.903
Can win$5,000 for first place.
01:14:26.903 --> 01:14:26.993
Dang.
01:14:27.262 --> 01:14:29.063
$3,000 for second, is it?
01:14:29.063 --> 01:14:29.122
Yeah.
01:14:29.122 --> 01:14:30.443
And then one for third.
01:14:30.502 --> 01:14:32.063
Get your duck race tickets now.
01:14:32.122 --> 01:14:32.453
Yeah.
01:14:32.542 --> 01:14:34.672
Um, so probably can just Google or something, right?
01:14:34.672 --> 01:14:34.733
Yeah.
01:14:34.733 --> 01:14:38.632
Because the QR code, maybe if you can get close to the tv, you can scan that QR code.
01:14:38.903 --> 01:14:40.882
We'll put a link in the uh, description.
01:14:41.153 --> 01:14:41.932
Yeah, you can do.
01:14:42.483 --> 01:14:45.693
I Google search Safe Families, duck Race, Fort Collins'.
01:14:46.443 --> 01:14:49.412
They'll go, there's not that many duck races for safe families around.
01:14:49.438 --> 01:14:49.728
Yeah.
01:14:49.733 --> 01:14:50.012
Yeah.
01:14:50.012 --> 01:14:51.212
Maybe you'll start a trend though.
01:14:51.542 --> 01:14:52.082
Yeah.
01:14:52.472 --> 01:14:59.462
Uh, although it's, it's already a Rotary Club thing, so they can own the Well, and, and thanks to the Rotary Club, it's nice to do a fundraiser where somebody else does.
01:14:59.462 --> 01:14:59.552
Yeah.
01:14:59.613 --> 01:15:02.493
We just get a advertise and then set up a booth.
01:15:02.643 --> 01:15:02.912
Yeah.
01:15:02.912 --> 01:15:03.752
Further don't work a little bit.
01:15:04.172 --> 01:15:04.502
Yeah.
01:15:04.502 --> 01:15:07.047
Um, and then you have a gala in the spring, early spring.
01:15:07.052 --> 01:15:10.023
So we're doing early a gala in February this year.
01:15:10.023 --> 01:15:11.372
We usually do it in November.
01:15:11.493 --> 01:15:11.762
Okay.
01:15:11.853 --> 01:15:13.082
Um, had to postpone.
01:15:13.082 --> 01:15:14.132
Do some, do some, uh.
01:15:14.198 --> 01:15:20.377
A couple other things going on for us personally and, uh, moving it to February.
01:15:20.438 --> 01:15:20.648
Okay.
01:15:20.648 --> 01:15:26.047
And so, we'll, that'll be February 27th, I think we've finalized plans for it to be at the Drake Center.
01:15:26.137 --> 01:15:26.377
Okay.
01:15:26.618 --> 01:15:28.837
Um, it's, is it on your website already too?
01:15:29.108 --> 01:15:30.127
Um, it will be soon.
01:15:30.127 --> 01:15:30.512
Mark, your calendar.
01:15:30.757 --> 01:15:34.268
We just, we just basically signed off on the center.
01:15:34.358 --> 01:15:34.507
Right.
01:15:34.568 --> 01:15:35.438
We signed the contract.
01:15:35.438 --> 01:15:36.007
It's still wet.
01:15:36.007 --> 01:15:36.097
Yeah.
01:15:36.457 --> 01:15:38.768
Um, so that's coming up.
01:15:38.768 --> 01:15:42.757
We have a very unique thing that people love and that we do grab baked.
01:15:43.057 --> 01:15:45.307
So, um, oh, at that event, yeah.
01:15:45.307 --> 01:15:52.597
You, it's not a silent auction, but you can like grab a rose for a hundred dollars, two 50, do 250 or 500.
01:15:52.597 --> 01:15:52.747
Okay.
01:15:53.078 --> 01:15:55.717
And it coordinates to a grab bag that you've been able to.
01:15:55.978 --> 01:15:58.797
Take peeks at as you socialize everything.
01:15:59.188 --> 01:15:59.712
Oh, there's different goodies in there or whatever.
01:15:59.712 --> 01:16:07.738
Different goodies and different prizes that we've gotten donated from a lot of wonderful, wonderful community, you know, businesses and Fort Collins.
01:16:07.743 --> 01:16:07.953
Yeah.
01:16:08.457 --> 01:16:08.757
Yeah.
01:16:08.757 --> 01:16:10.828
So we have fun doing that every year.
01:16:10.828 --> 01:16:19.828
We usually have, uh, last year we had one of our, uh, pastors speak that spoke from the church perspective and how that shaped his church to work with safe families.
01:16:19.858 --> 01:16:19.948
Mm-hmm.
01:16:20.217 --> 01:16:28.828
We had, um, somebody from Lerer County come and speak about how we partner and how that impacts the work that they do, which was really powerful.
01:16:28.828 --> 01:16:28.887
Yeah.
01:16:29.217 --> 01:16:35.007
Um, and then we had a family come share about how how she worked with volunteers.
01:16:35.007 --> 01:16:35.068
Yeah.
01:16:35.457 --> 01:16:37.408
Um, and what that did for her life.
01:16:37.707 --> 01:16:42.568
Um, and we had one of our host family speak, so we had a well-rounded Yeah.
01:16:42.568 --> 01:16:43.033
Sounds like it.
01:16:43.033 --> 01:16:44.578
I don't if we can top it this year.
01:16:44.578 --> 01:16:44.908
So.
01:16:45.932 --> 01:16:48.002
Have you connected with the, uh, St.
01:16:48.002 --> 01:16:51.033
SPI church down in Loveland by chance?
01:16:51.092 --> 01:16:51.603
I haven't.
01:16:51.603 --> 01:16:54.393
It's the Greek Orthodox Church down there, or is it Orthodox Church.
01:16:54.783 --> 01:16:57.813
And I've become a fan of the guy's podcast, father Evan.
01:16:57.813 --> 01:16:57.842
Okay.
01:16:57.962 --> 01:17:04.563
And his, he had a big segment, uh, recently on kind of faith and practice.
01:17:04.972 --> 01:17:05.632
And action.
01:17:05.632 --> 01:17:07.552
And how their churches are pretty good.
01:17:07.552 --> 01:17:08.783
I actually visited there once.
01:17:08.783 --> 01:17:14.302
'cause, uh, long story, my good friend's kid is dating the pastor's daughter.
01:17:14.363 --> 01:17:15.052
Oh, okay.
01:17:15.052 --> 01:17:18.983
And so I was like, I wanted to stick out with this Orthodox church thing is all, but it's beautiful.
01:17:18.983 --> 01:17:23.377
And the, and the experience, the smells and, uh, everything really fascinating.
01:17:23.377 --> 01:17:23.783
Oh, what was it?
01:17:23.783 --> 01:17:26.002
Spirit, Saint Spirit on church.
01:17:26.182 --> 01:17:26.212
Okay.
01:17:26.212 --> 01:17:27.382
I think is what it's called.
01:17:27.382 --> 01:17:37.733
When I was doing my, so I did briefly dabble in a master's degree from CCU and I had to go to different, a different church and write a paper like different from my core.
01:17:37.733 --> 01:17:37.853
Sure.
01:17:38.483 --> 01:17:39.592
And I Did you study Orthodox?
01:17:39.832 --> 01:17:40.403
I didn't.
01:17:40.403 --> 01:17:43.132
I went to a Catholic church just to see what the difference would be.
01:17:43.132 --> 01:17:44.363
That was like an easy one.
01:17:44.363 --> 01:17:46.313
I'm like, oh, there's all kinds of Catholic churches.
01:17:46.582 --> 01:17:47.422
Can't be that weird.
01:17:49.042 --> 01:17:52.057
Turns out it is tea.
01:17:54.938 --> 01:17:55.287
Shame.
01:17:56.243 --> 01:17:57.233
I made you laugh.
01:17:57.292 --> 01:17:57.712
Proper.
01:17:58.252 --> 01:18:01.073
Um, but, so anyway, where did we jump off?
01:18:01.073 --> 01:18:03.382
I guess just with that experience of the event?
01:18:03.382 --> 01:18:04.493
Oh, we did the event, the gala left.
01:18:04.568 --> 01:18:12.113
And, and tell me more, gimme a little nibble on how has it changed some of the churches that have wrapped around your families?
01:18:12.353 --> 01:18:12.953
Um, oh gosh.
01:18:12.953 --> 01:18:18.728
I'm not the best one, but we had, uh, you know, I would love for a church to say that, but for, for, um.
01:18:20.033 --> 01:18:41.332
For like our church specifically when we go out, we, we, we're heavy on the, we love to go out and do, like, we love to move a family or clean a house or do action oriented stuff, but I, I joke that I might be kicked out at some point for getting us involved in some of the things we do, but it's just so neat to go out there with your team from your church that you usually only see on Sunday morning.
01:18:41.332 --> 01:18:43.193
Maybe you talk a little bit in the hallway Sure.
01:18:43.283 --> 01:18:46.042
And do something for somebody else together.
01:18:46.582 --> 01:18:47.497
Um, and sometimes it's.
01:18:48.108 --> 01:18:49.307
Two or three churches.
01:18:49.307 --> 01:18:54.707
So you get to go out with the different, different folks and meet them and do something together to help somebody out.
01:18:55.188 --> 01:19:02.057
Um, we did have a church recently write a letter for us and she said that, you know, they were doing so much in the community.
01:19:02.057 --> 01:19:06.047
They do a popup life Springs Church is amazing over in Loveland.
01:19:06.287 --> 01:19:08.927
Um, they do a popup, they do a carnival.
01:19:08.927 --> 01:19:10.877
They really serve their community.
01:19:11.118 --> 01:19:22.818
But what she wrote was so wonderful and thank you so much, Lisa, but uh, she said that safe families filled the gap for them to be able to have a deeper connection with people in their community.
01:19:23.118 --> 01:19:25.007
So we were able, and that's what we wanna do.
01:19:25.068 --> 01:19:26.988
We wanna be the bridge to the church.
01:19:26.993 --> 01:19:28.393
It's not just a carnival, you know?
01:19:28.393 --> 01:19:28.552
Yeah.
01:19:28.552 --> 01:19:32.712
This is where we show what a church is actually supposed to look like and act like.
01:19:32.717 --> 01:19:32.728
Yeah.
01:19:32.728 --> 01:19:42.377
And so we give them the opportunity because a lot of families that we bring to the volunteers are gonna be a little skittish about walking through the front door of a church.
01:19:42.377 --> 01:19:42.387
Sure.
01:19:42.728 --> 01:19:43.297
Some of them.
01:19:43.387 --> 01:19:43.597
Yeah.
01:19:43.658 --> 01:19:45.097
They might not be when they're done.
01:19:45.217 --> 01:19:45.307
Right.
01:19:45.488 --> 01:19:46.868
You know, they might, might be.
01:19:46.872 --> 01:19:47.103
Hopefully not.
01:19:47.363 --> 01:19:48.023
That's part of it.
01:19:48.023 --> 01:19:48.143
Right.
01:19:48.143 --> 01:19:49.297
Might be part of the family.
01:19:49.297 --> 01:19:49.783
So, yeah.
01:19:49.927 --> 01:19:50.408
I love that.
01:19:50.797 --> 01:19:52.597
We have a game we play here.
01:19:53.047 --> 01:19:59.228
Oh, because we're we're run of time and before too long, but, uh, the great ping pong ball challenge.
01:19:59.228 --> 01:19:59.978
Oh, that's right.
01:19:59.978 --> 01:20:02.707
I thought you were gonna have me talk about my craziest time.
01:20:02.768 --> 01:20:05.377
Well, that's the closing segment, so that's still coming.
01:20:05.377 --> 01:20:09.518
But first, uh, here, let me hand this to you or just grab three of those out of there.
01:20:09.608 --> 01:20:10.898
You can just keep all three.
01:20:11.108 --> 01:20:11.467
Okay.
01:20:12.637 --> 01:20:19.568
And each of those questions, it's tied to, uh, introspective or silly or each of those numbers.
01:20:19.658 --> 01:20:19.807
Okay.
01:20:19.807 --> 01:20:21.188
So I got 18, Kurt.
01:20:21.188 --> 01:20:21.488
Okay.
01:20:21.698 --> 01:20:22.297
Are you ready?
01:20:24.097 --> 01:20:29.828
If you had to pick a smell to describe your personality, what would it be?
01:20:33.068 --> 01:20:36.398
Patchouli, not patchouli.
01:20:37.283 --> 01:20:37.502
Ah.
01:20:38.137 --> 01:20:39.637
Um, hmm.
01:20:39.698 --> 01:20:42.818
I was gonna say like a beach smell, but I'm not that relaxed.
01:20:43.268 --> 01:20:44.257
My husband wouldn't be like, no.
01:20:44.257 --> 01:20:46.342
Well, I think about fish without thinking about the beach.
01:20:46.342 --> 01:20:49.448
Like I'm thinking about like the airy, like yeah.
01:20:49.717 --> 01:20:52.747
Like, I don't know that that salt water smell.
01:20:52.752 --> 01:20:52.863
Okay.
01:20:52.863 --> 01:20:53.023
Yeah.
01:20:53.198 --> 01:20:54.847
But that's probably not me.
01:20:54.847 --> 01:21:02.228
I'm probably more like a hot chili pepper or something like, because my husband will tell you I can't sit still.
01:21:02.228 --> 01:21:03.728
I'm always wanting to do something.
01:21:03.728 --> 01:21:04.507
Be somewhere.
01:21:04.807 --> 01:21:05.377
I see.
01:21:05.467 --> 01:21:05.618
Yes.
01:21:05.618 --> 01:21:12.068
So like that, uh, when you, when you open that can of chilies or whatever, you smell it and you're like, oh, that's spicier than I thought.
01:21:12.337 --> 01:21:12.728
Yeah.
01:21:13.182 --> 01:21:13.582
I guess.
01:21:15.037 --> 01:21:15.398
Just kidding.
01:21:16.898 --> 01:21:18.247
Uh, go ahead with the next question.
01:21:18.247 --> 01:21:18.908
Number five.
01:21:21.608 --> 01:21:25.057
What's the most important lesson you've learned from a failure?
01:21:25.747 --> 01:21:26.198
Mm.
01:21:28.328 --> 01:21:30.337
I think recently I've learned.
01:21:30.938 --> 01:21:31.898
That that's okay.
01:21:32.377 --> 01:21:36.967
It's okay to have the failures because that's what's gonna teach you, teach you all what you need to know.
01:21:37.537 --> 01:21:45.488
Um, you know, I used to really, uh, you know, worry about beat yourself up or beat myself up, be scared to do things.
01:21:45.818 --> 01:21:50.618
Like I would've never started safe families, you know, I wouldn't have coined me for somebody like Yeah.
01:21:50.618 --> 01:21:51.518
That would do that.
01:21:51.908 --> 01:21:59.257
Um, but now I think it's, you know, I'm really trying to, that providence of getting that spun up has taken away a lot of your fear.
01:21:59.528 --> 01:21:59.858
Yeah.
01:21:59.948 --> 01:22:00.398
Yeah.
01:22:01.297 --> 01:22:03.247
And amazed me it wouldn't, yeah.
01:22:03.278 --> 01:22:04.057
It wasn't me.
01:22:04.057 --> 01:22:05.467
It was something, yeah.
01:22:05.467 --> 01:22:06.427
Something bigger than I.
01:22:06.427 --> 01:22:06.858
That's pretty cool.
01:22:06.858 --> 01:22:08.108
So that's pretty neat.
01:22:08.438 --> 01:22:12.037
We got number 16, 16 or 91.
01:22:13.478 --> 01:22:14.257
We don't have 91.
01:22:16.297 --> 01:22:21.847
Who has been the most significant individual influence on your life?
01:22:23.828 --> 01:22:24.488
Hmm.
01:22:24.787 --> 01:22:26.917
Man, that's tough.
01:22:28.478 --> 01:22:29.707
That's why I would put it on the list.
01:22:29.797 --> 01:22:30.457
Jesus.
01:22:30.967 --> 01:22:31.328
For sure.
01:22:31.328 --> 01:22:31.957
That's a good answer.
01:22:31.957 --> 01:22:34.537
Do you want, can we talk about your, your faith journey a little bit?
01:22:34.868 --> 01:22:35.047
Yeah.
01:22:35.047 --> 01:22:41.497
Because you mentioned kind of rambling a little bit and you know, single mom stuff.
01:22:41.497 --> 01:22:41.557
Yeah.
01:22:41.557 --> 01:22:45.578
But was it when the kids started getting older that you re engaged?
01:22:45.578 --> 01:22:48.007
Or how, how, what was that journey like for you?
01:22:48.007 --> 01:22:49.358
Probably in my twenties.
01:22:49.358 --> 01:22:49.448
Okay.
01:22:49.537 --> 01:22:55.148
Um, I really engaged, there was a church, if you know, Colorado Springs, I'm sure you remember New Life Church Sure.
01:22:55.148 --> 01:22:56.108
In Colorado Springs.
01:22:56.467 --> 01:22:56.738
Yeah.
01:22:56.738 --> 01:23:00.278
We live down there when, uh, when the big scandal happened.
01:23:00.307 --> 01:23:00.997
That's prostitute.
01:23:01.358 --> 01:23:02.408
Oh, I was too.
01:23:02.408 --> 01:23:03.953
And that was like, oh, was that right?
01:23:04.052 --> 01:23:05.018
No, right.
01:23:05.018 --> 01:23:05.978
We were going to that one.
01:23:05.978 --> 01:23:08.108
But, uh, yeah, that was tough.
01:23:08.108 --> 01:23:10.387
And, and, and we went to the youth night.
01:23:10.387 --> 01:23:13.387
So Pastor Aaron Stern, who is actually the Mill City pastor here.
01:23:13.387 --> 01:23:13.672
Oh yeah.
01:23:13.672 --> 01:23:14.552
I've met that before.
01:23:14.552 --> 01:23:15.247
He was, he was, he was.
01:23:15.953 --> 01:23:17.182
Down in, at New Life.
01:23:17.182 --> 01:23:23.542
So, um, we went there often, um, and really rebuilt my foundation.
01:23:23.662 --> 01:23:34.493
There was a couple times that I probably wasn't as solid, to be honest, right before, not too long before Safe Families, I really, really started to reconnect.
01:23:34.493 --> 01:23:34.552
Hmm.
01:23:34.972 --> 01:23:41.783
I, you know, and I don't know that everybody has these experiences, you know, but God has spoken to me several times.
01:23:41.842 --> 01:23:41.993
Hmm.
01:23:42.203 --> 01:23:46.643
Um, like into the head or you hear it almost audibly.
01:23:46.762 --> 01:23:49.012
I've seen, I've seen him work, like I've seen his actions.
01:23:49.132 --> 01:23:49.193
Yeah.
01:23:49.198 --> 01:23:49.268
Yeah.
01:23:49.582 --> 01:23:53.212
Um, probably the biggest one that also saved my dad and got him back on his.
01:23:54.158 --> 01:23:59.557
Faith back into faith and back in, uh, into church was my son when he struggled with his addiction.
01:23:59.557 --> 01:23:59.587
Oh.
01:23:59.858 --> 01:24:02.887
So I had a son that struggled with drug addiction throughout high school.
01:24:03.247 --> 01:24:03.278
Okay.
01:24:03.337 --> 01:24:12.547
Um, and I always tell this story, you know, hopefully he doesn't get mad at me, but because it is his story, but I didn't know what I was gonna do.
01:24:12.547 --> 01:24:17.858
And as a mom that is, can I ask addiction to, to what he, uh, drank, whatever.
01:24:17.948 --> 01:24:21.097
And he probably tell you his favorite was cocaine.
01:24:21.278 --> 01:24:21.368
Mm.
01:24:21.457 --> 01:24:32.023
Um, and, you know, as a mom watching your son do that, it just, I mean, uh, like it just rips your soul out.
01:24:32.172 --> 01:24:32.462
Yeah.
01:24:32.648 --> 01:24:34.837
Um, and I remember trying to do everything.
01:24:34.837 --> 01:24:35.618
I was a caseworker.
01:24:35.618 --> 01:24:38.707
I tried to support, plan him and get him to sign things.
01:24:38.707 --> 01:24:38.797
Right.
01:24:38.797 --> 01:24:40.177
Here's a personal improvement plan for you.
01:24:40.177 --> 01:24:40.597
Yeah.
01:24:40.597 --> 01:24:43.542
I'm trying to do all the things, you know, I'll bond you out, but you what?
01:24:43.542 --> 01:24:47.978
You need some new friends, uh, that don't do drugs well and what do he introduce you to?
01:24:47.983 --> 01:24:48.342
Susie's.
01:24:49.417 --> 01:24:57.313
Kurt, I got down on my knees one day on my back porch and I prayed to God like those guttural prayer where you're just, you're just sobbing.
01:24:57.337 --> 01:25:04.957
Sobbing and, and you know, you're just, and I remember saying to him, he's either gonna dead or in prison and I don't know what else to do.
01:25:04.957 --> 01:25:05.217
And it wasn't.
01:25:05.828 --> 01:25:11.677
Two weeks later that he came running up the stairs and he had, one of the things I wanted him to do was to find therapy.
01:25:11.917 --> 01:25:12.068
Hmm.
01:25:12.488 --> 01:25:15.578
And he came running up the stairs and he's like, mom, can I get your insurance card?
01:25:15.578 --> 01:25:16.627
And I was like, what?
01:25:17.047 --> 01:25:20.828
And he's like, well, these guys in Florida, I called this one 800 number.
01:25:20.828 --> 01:25:23.287
And they're, they're, they just need my insurance.
01:25:23.287 --> 01:25:25.898
They'll pay to fly me down, I'm gonna go to treatment.
01:25:25.898 --> 01:25:28.028
And I was like, being a caseworker.
01:25:28.028 --> 01:25:29.768
I'm like, no, you're gonna go get traffic.
01:25:29.768 --> 01:25:30.908
That's not what's gonna happen.
01:25:31.717 --> 01:25:31.868
Right.
01:25:33.007 --> 01:25:36.052
And I actually flew out there with him and all be darned.
01:25:36.097 --> 01:25:50.408
And, uh, he went out there and he was in a detox where he got acupuncture and massages and, and our insurance actually covered It was, which was also amazing because when we were looking for rehabs, they were like in the sixties and$70,000.
01:25:50.917 --> 01:25:54.847
And so I told my husband, I said, if this is not legit.
01:25:55.493 --> 01:25:59.542
It isn't, we're we're gonna do it, we're gonna pay whatever they said.
01:25:59.542 --> 01:26:00.863
It would just be our deductible.
01:26:00.863 --> 01:26:02.903
So we sent him out there, I went out there with him.
01:26:03.353 --> 01:26:07.613
Um, he, to this day, he'll celebrate seven years sober in December.
01:26:08.002 --> 01:26:08.153
Oh, awesome.
01:26:08.153 --> 01:26:10.162
He made it through, he was 19 years old.
01:26:10.162 --> 01:26:11.332
He made it through 21.
01:26:11.332 --> 01:26:11.393
Wow.
01:26:11.993 --> 01:26:16.042
Um, he, like I was just telling you on break, he makes more money than I do.
01:26:16.103 --> 01:26:16.162
Yeah.
01:26:16.162 --> 01:26:21.533
And, uh, you know, that to me, like those things.
01:26:21.537 --> 01:26:24.172
And we, and that was not long before you started Safe Family.
01:26:25.162 --> 01:26:28.912
It wasn't, it was, it wasn't, was one of the first things that helped to magnify your faith.
01:26:29.063 --> 01:26:29.243
Mm-hmm.
01:26:29.483 --> 01:26:31.342
And really, uh, refresh it, it sounds like.
01:26:31.342 --> 01:26:40.972
Well, and when you can see God move, and I'll just close on this, being able to be on the sidelines of what God does, um, with safe families is Yeah.
01:26:41.243 --> 01:26:44.603
Probably the most phenomenal thing ever.
01:26:44.693 --> 01:26:51.773
Uh, I mean, just even yesterday I was like, man, what, what just happened here in this conversation?
01:26:51.773 --> 01:26:52.313
I could have never.
01:26:53.018 --> 01:26:54.523
Done God's at work.
01:26:54.783 --> 01:27:04.658
And so just really blessed to, you know, even on the hard days, the work's hard sometimes, but to be able to see God in it and to glorify him.
01:27:05.287 --> 01:27:08.318
I actually remember we jumped off of your kind of event thing.
01:27:08.318 --> 01:27:10.203
We had the gala in the spring and there was one more.
01:27:10.552 --> 01:27:13.148
Yeah, we do an awesome 5K that we're growing.
01:27:13.148 --> 01:27:14.917
It was our first year this last year.
01:27:14.922 --> 01:27:15.002
Cool.
01:27:15.007 --> 01:27:17.497
And we do it with a concert with Blues Behind Bars.
01:27:17.618 --> 01:27:17.768
Oh yeah.
01:27:17.768 --> 01:27:19.478
So if you know them, they're amazing.
01:27:19.478 --> 01:27:24.363
So we're kind of partnered, I don't know if they, like, they signed on one year and we've just kind of hung on to'em.
01:27:24.368 --> 01:27:29.618
So you don't have a date for that yet, or, but that's gonna gonna be February, I think it's the third weekend.
01:27:29.677 --> 01:27:30.457
Or not third.
01:27:30.457 --> 01:27:31.297
It's not February.
01:27:31.328 --> 01:27:31.957
September.
01:27:31.957 --> 01:27:33.188
I was say the same month as your gala.
01:27:33.188 --> 01:27:33.802
That sounds crazy.
01:27:33.863 --> 01:27:35.108
No, next September.
01:27:35.198 --> 01:27:36.158
Next September.
01:27:36.188 --> 01:27:37.387
So almost like a year from now.
01:27:37.417 --> 01:27:37.988
Yes.
01:27:37.988 --> 01:27:40.507
And we did it this last year at the Windsor Boardwalk Park.
01:27:40.507 --> 01:27:43.837
So we did a, and we coined this last year, our hottest run.
01:27:44.063 --> 01:27:45.143
Speak in Colorado.
01:27:46.162 --> 01:27:46.762
It was like 90'cause it was, whew.
01:27:47.212 --> 01:27:48.582
It was a scorch, it was the hottest day in June.
01:27:48.582 --> 01:27:50.962
That's why we're doing it in September instead.
01:27:51.052 --> 01:27:51.653
Smart man.
01:27:53.212 --> 01:27:56.512
Hey, AI doesn't take me too many lessons before I move on.
01:27:56.632 --> 01:27:56.993
Yeah.
01:27:57.172 --> 01:28:04.342
Um, anything else on the safe families thing or We're gonna, we're gonna jump on the, uh, the local experience conversations shortly.
01:28:04.462 --> 01:28:04.853
Yeah.
01:28:04.853 --> 01:28:07.432
So, just, just kind of a pitch.
01:28:07.432 --> 01:28:18.143
We always need donors, so if you know something today, spoke to you in what we do, um, and you're listening, donors, volunteers, donors, volunteers, um, you know, advocacy.
01:28:18.353 --> 01:28:30.563
If you're a leader or a key stakeholder, we'd love to talk to you in the community and see how we can work to partner together to make sure that we're doing what's best for the families and children here, here in Lermer County, here in Weld County.
01:28:31.042 --> 01:28:31.613
Um.
01:28:32.332 --> 01:28:33.172
Oh, we do.
01:28:33.172 --> 01:28:37.193
We're doing kind of, we're gonna launch soon, a monthly donor campaign for stability.
01:28:37.198 --> 01:28:37.457
Yeah.
01:28:37.462 --> 01:28:37.582
Yeah.
01:28:37.613 --> 01:28:43.658
So even 10 bucks a month, if you wanna sign on to do 10 the bucks a month, that then ensures our chapter, then you can plan on it.
01:28:43.818 --> 01:28:47.302
Stability plan on, uh, you don't have to worry about if next one's we get some donations too.
01:28:47.302 --> 01:28:47.422
Yeah.
01:28:47.422 --> 01:28:49.403
And it's a Starbucks cup of coffee anymore.
01:28:49.462 --> 01:28:49.643
Yeah.
01:28:49.672 --> 01:28:50.483
You could even do 20.
01:28:50.693 --> 01:28:50.962
Yeah.
01:28:51.412 --> 01:28:52.337
Our Or a thousand.
01:28:52.457 --> 01:28:52.898
I don't know.
01:28:54.653 --> 01:28:55.972
I don't know the kind of people really.
01:28:56.483 --> 01:28:57.023
No, neither do I.
01:28:57.028 --> 01:28:58.938
That's why that's, that's why.
01:28:59.122 --> 01:29:00.472
But there's listeners out there.
01:29:00.502 --> 01:29:00.653
Yeah.
01:29:00.922 --> 01:29:02.273
Who knows what's listening.
01:29:02.872 --> 01:29:10.372
Um, I am, I'm suspicious that you have a pretty interesting local experience, uh, story, but I don't know what it is.
01:29:10.372 --> 01:29:11.993
We haven't stumbled across it yet.
01:29:12.172 --> 01:29:12.382
Oh man.
01:29:12.382 --> 01:29:15.893
I don't think wonder, I, so the, we see the craziest story that you're willing to share.
01:29:59.707 --> 01:30:00.278
Okay.
01:30:00.877 --> 01:30:03.307
Well maybe some of these ones are brushing against it already.
01:30:03.307 --> 01:30:03.818
I don't know.
01:30:03.818 --> 01:30:08.408
I think probably, you know, the first one I told you was, uh, the one where I.
01:30:08.722 --> 01:30:13.403
Got invited to jump out of an airplane and I thought it would be tandem.
01:30:13.403 --> 01:30:14.273
Skydiving.
01:30:14.332 --> 01:30:14.962
Oh yeah.
01:30:15.023 --> 01:30:19.912
And ended up in Penrose Canyon City at an air, air hanger.
01:30:20.542 --> 01:30:25.823
And let's, you can't just like give me like the outline of a story like that.
01:30:25.823 --> 01:30:30.052
Well, it was, it, it was many, many years ago.
01:30:30.172 --> 01:30:35.393
I was in my twenties and, and it was a date and it was like, let's go skydiving.
01:30:35.393 --> 01:30:35.512
Okay.
01:30:35.542 --> 01:30:38.722
And I, I, I still to this day have a fair heights.
01:30:38.722 --> 01:30:40.733
You can't catch me on the Ferris Will Shields.
01:30:41.033 --> 01:30:41.063
Okay.
01:30:41.122 --> 01:30:45.052
Um, and I was like, but skydiving, you know, I was impressionable.
01:30:45.052 --> 01:30:46.523
I was like, okay, I'll try it.
01:30:46.943 --> 01:30:51.832
Um, and so ended up going out there and.
01:30:51.903 --> 01:30:54.483
Found out I'm not tandem, I'm not strapped to anybody.
01:30:54.483 --> 01:30:57.302
I'm a static di dive out of this little plane.
01:30:57.422 --> 01:30:57.783
Okay.
01:30:57.783 --> 01:31:01.307
So that means like when you jump out of it, it like automatically triggers the automatically thing.
01:31:01.307 --> 01:31:01.382
Automat pulls.
01:31:01.382 --> 01:31:02.672
You're all by yourself.
01:31:02.733 --> 01:31:02.792
Okay.
01:31:02.823 --> 01:31:05.313
Uh, they have little headset in your ear.
01:31:05.403 --> 01:31:06.122
Oh, really?
01:31:06.662 --> 01:31:09.693
I remember sitting there and I'm like, I can't believe I'm doing this.
01:31:09.693 --> 01:31:12.783
And I'm talking to this other lady and she's like, we're together in this.
01:31:12.783 --> 01:31:14.703
I'm scared, you know, we're together.
01:31:14.972 --> 01:31:17.372
Uh, and we're talking about how we'll do it together.
01:31:17.372 --> 01:31:20.943
We're, you know, camaraderie and we're going to face our fears.
01:31:20.943 --> 01:31:26.132
And she jumps out of the plane before me and she pulls.
01:31:26.132 --> 01:31:28.233
I don't know if you know much about skydiving, but nothing.
01:31:28.233 --> 01:31:32.823
If you pull the brakes too soon, you can't continue to hold them.
01:31:32.823 --> 01:31:36.182
And so you have to let go because it's a lot of pressure to keep the brakes on.
01:31:36.182 --> 01:31:39.453
And she, the brakes being the the shoot.
01:31:39.453 --> 01:31:39.662
Oh, right.
01:31:39.662 --> 01:31:40.068
Yep, yep.
01:31:40.073 --> 01:31:41.582
To slow you down to land.
01:31:41.733 --> 01:31:41.943
Yeah.
01:31:42.002 --> 01:31:44.703
And she ended up letting go and that then.
01:31:45.233 --> 01:31:46.493
Slams you into the ground.
01:31:46.733 --> 01:31:46.762
Oh.
01:31:46.762 --> 01:31:48.203
And she ended up getting hurt.
01:31:48.412 --> 01:31:48.622
Oh, damn.
01:31:48.622 --> 01:31:50.693
I don't know how bad, because everybody's like, Nope.
01:31:50.698 --> 01:31:50.868
Yeah.
01:31:51.028 --> 01:31:54.262
'cause you let the brakes off and all of a sudden you're like, mm-hmm.
01:31:54.502 --> 01:31:54.592
Ah.
01:31:54.773 --> 01:31:59.063
So I was the next one up and they were like, you don't wanna go check on her?
01:31:59.063 --> 01:31:59.363
Nope.
01:31:59.453 --> 01:32:01.222
Get, you know, just get on in.
01:32:01.582 --> 01:32:07.762
And so I got into the plane and I'm up there and I'm petrified and I jump out of this plane.
01:32:07.972 --> 01:32:09.467
They want you to reach out and they watch.
01:32:09.467 --> 01:32:10.762
Oh, like you weren't in the plane with her.
01:32:10.762 --> 01:32:12.427
She went up first and then you were, were the next one.
01:32:12.427 --> 01:32:13.108
She went up first and then I was the next.
01:32:13.127 --> 01:32:16.313
You had to be on the ground watching her get her legs all crumpled and stuff.
01:32:16.313 --> 01:32:18.262
Watch that whole story come down.
01:32:18.262 --> 01:32:18.292
Okay.
01:32:19.212 --> 01:32:23.382
And so I go next and they're screaming in her ears, no, don't put the brakes on yet.
01:32:23.382 --> 01:32:24.462
You gotta let some slack out.
01:32:24.462 --> 01:32:25.698
Well, probably, yeah.
01:32:25.818 --> 01:32:26.818
I don't know what is going on.
01:32:26.898 --> 01:32:26.938
Whatever.
01:32:26.938 --> 01:32:30.493
She panicked between her, she panics and I'm like, I'm a gunner.
01:32:30.853 --> 01:32:41.052
Um, but you go up and, and at least this, this experience they have, you reach out and grab onto a metal bar, which I think is a joke because I'm like, is the minute I did that?
01:32:41.052 --> 01:32:42.703
It's like, woo, it sucked you right out.
01:32:42.943 --> 01:32:43.813
Sucked me out.
01:32:44.262 --> 01:32:47.563
And uh, I just had this thing in my ear.
01:32:47.563 --> 01:32:48.943
They said I had a perfect landing.
01:32:48.943 --> 01:32:50.682
They're like, you did beautiful.
01:32:50.863 --> 01:32:52.153
That was amazing.
01:32:52.153 --> 01:32:56.023
I'm like, I just listened to your voice and didn't look down.
01:32:56.057 --> 01:32:56.337
Really?
01:32:57.057 --> 01:32:57.578
I didn't look.
01:32:57.957 --> 01:32:58.497
I'm just Okay.
01:32:58.962 --> 01:32:59.978
Left your heights was the material.
01:32:59.997 --> 01:33:03.523
You just, I'm just like praying to God and listening.
01:33:07.478 --> 01:33:09.158
That outside of Safe Families.
01:33:09.158 --> 01:33:19.507
'cause you know, when Launch in Safe Families was, and, and every similar experience in a lot of ways to jumping out of place, kind of like you had a little grant basically from the Denver chapter.
01:33:19.512 --> 01:33:19.823
Mm-hmm.
01:33:20.948 --> 01:33:24.247
And would you like to, uh, credit the person that runs that as still the same?
01:33:24.247 --> 01:33:25.957
So is who got you into this mess?
01:33:25.988 --> 01:33:28.688
Marcy Klinger was the director at the time.
01:33:28.807 --> 01:33:29.047
Okay.
01:33:29.108 --> 01:33:31.057
Um, and she is amazing.
01:33:31.057 --> 01:33:34.743
She actually was also the one that helped with the So you don't hold a grudge or anything?
01:33:34.882 --> 01:33:35.943
Oh, no, no.
01:33:36.143 --> 01:33:38.557
I, she's, she became the lobbyist and everything got approved.
01:33:38.743 --> 01:33:39.542
She was a lobbyist officially.
01:33:39.667 --> 01:33:40.868
She got us approved.
01:33:40.868 --> 01:33:43.868
She, she's a cut them outta hot water obviously too or whatever.
01:33:43.868 --> 01:33:45.368
Tough start tough rates I'm sure.
01:33:45.488 --> 01:33:45.757
Yeah.
01:33:45.757 --> 01:33:47.198
It got us to where we needed to be.
01:33:47.257 --> 01:33:47.318
Yeah.
01:33:47.318 --> 01:33:50.557
And, and Ling you know, so she's amazing.
01:33:50.618 --> 01:33:55.778
Uh, she's not with us anymore, but she did a great job getting everything rolling, so.
01:33:55.778 --> 01:33:55.787
Yep.
01:33:55.787 --> 01:33:55.943
Yep.
01:33:56.597 --> 01:33:57.618
And who's the director now?
01:33:58.037 --> 01:34:04.698
Um, we have, uh, the Denver chapter director is also our state director, and her name is CTA Tami.
01:34:05.268 --> 01:34:05.658
Okay.
01:34:05.658 --> 01:34:05.667
Tobani.
01:34:05.898 --> 01:34:08.898
And then our, we have a new, uh, and you don't like her very much.
01:34:09.438 --> 01:34:09.497
Oh, I love her.
01:34:10.453 --> 01:34:12.432
I'm glad because it would've been Oxford if you didn't.
01:34:13.337 --> 01:34:13.757
I do.
01:34:13.757 --> 01:34:15.108
I, I, I adore her.
01:34:15.677 --> 01:34:22.608
I think, you know what's so cool about Safe Families is, you know, we all come from the same, same cloth almost.
01:34:22.608 --> 01:34:22.792
Right, right.
01:34:23.108 --> 01:34:26.167
Like I say, when you go to a safe family's event and you're nervous.
01:34:26.167 --> 01:34:26.228
Yeah.
01:34:26.377 --> 01:34:28.358
'cause you don't know, like we have a chapters all over.
01:34:28.358 --> 01:34:29.377
I haven't met everybody.
01:34:29.408 --> 01:34:29.868
Yeah, yeah.
01:34:29.948 --> 01:34:33.877
It's like you're at home because it's all people that just have the same heart.
01:34:33.938 --> 01:34:34.778
So what an interesting thing.
01:34:35.078 --> 01:34:41.587
My dad encouraged me a few years ago to get like a job or something like outside of Loco think Tank is like, this is pretty sweet gig.
01:34:41.587 --> 01:34:53.917
Well, it is, but he's like you, you just kind of hang around with successful business people and interesting podcast guests and you don't really have a normal, like what it's like in the real world kind of a perspective.
01:34:53.917 --> 01:34:56.018
And I was like, like, keep it that way, dad.
01:34:57.368 --> 01:34:57.757
I don't know.
01:34:58.537 --> 01:34:59.837
Anyway, I think it's a pretty stupid thing, but it is.
01:34:59.837 --> 01:35:00.967
It's kind of Well, and yours is.
01:35:01.432 --> 01:35:02.122
Different.
01:35:02.182 --> 01:35:06.773
You know, certainly, you know, businesses struggle and sometimes fail and things like that.
01:35:06.778 --> 01:35:06.787
Mm-hmm.
01:35:06.868 --> 01:35:07.762
And, you know, I'm good to see them.
01:35:07.762 --> 01:35:13.707
And, and sometimes you see amazing successes and your work is not remarkably different where mm-hmm.
01:35:13.912 --> 01:35:17.752
You know, and sometimes just like a family that can go through a hard time.
01:35:17.752 --> 01:35:19.762
Sometimes a business goes through a hard time.
01:35:19.762 --> 01:35:20.962
It has to make some changes.
01:35:21.172 --> 01:35:21.592
Yeah.
01:35:21.653 --> 01:35:22.252
Yeah.
01:35:22.252 --> 01:35:23.422
You know, and you can do it if you try.
01:35:23.783 --> 01:35:24.023
Yeah.
01:35:24.023 --> 01:35:29.182
You can, you just gotta put your boots in the ground and heels down sometimes and, and sometimes be surrounded by community.
01:35:29.332 --> 01:35:29.573
Yeah.
01:35:29.932 --> 01:35:30.262
Yeah.
01:35:30.592 --> 01:35:31.162
I couldn't do it.
01:35:31.372 --> 01:35:35.332
I will just shout out to Northern Colorado, we have the best community ever.
01:35:35.393 --> 01:35:35.573
True.
01:35:35.903 --> 01:35:40.073
I mean, we partner like none other to, to, to do this work.
01:35:40.073 --> 01:35:48.292
So do you have a, uh, a, a a Bible verse or a quote or anything that is meaningful that you would like to share as part of our closing?
01:35:50.512 --> 01:35:51.502
That's a good one too.
01:35:52.417 --> 01:35:58.297
Um, you know, today on the way here, and, and I think it's just fresh in my mind.
01:35:58.778 --> 01:36:05.078
Um, you know how you talk about the dish needs to be clean, the plate needs to be cleaned on both the inside and the outside.
01:36:05.318 --> 01:36:05.347
Mm.
01:36:05.677 --> 01:36:07.568
And that's just the Christian I wanna be.
01:36:07.568 --> 01:36:13.688
I want my, my bowl to be clean on the outside, on the inside first, and then the outside.
01:36:14.047 --> 01:36:31.597
Um, and you know, for me, um, I just wanna really, I know I could never ever be that, but I wanna strive to be just the hands and feet of Jesus and, and just to be more, more like him.
01:36:31.988 --> 01:36:32.257
Yeah.
01:36:32.377 --> 01:36:33.188
By what I do.
01:36:33.188 --> 01:36:39.547
I hope that my, I hope that I never, ever am a bad example of his work.
01:36:39.547 --> 01:36:46.177
I hope that everything that I can do will always glorify with, you know what's really cool about that too is, uh, like.
01:36:46.733 --> 01:36:50.842
I just was reading, uh, the feeding of the 5,000 parable mm-hmm.
01:36:50.842 --> 01:36:51.502
With my wife.
01:36:51.533 --> 01:36:55.672
Uh, and uh, that was really the first story where he was like, no, you feed them.
01:36:56.573 --> 01:36:57.743
He was empowering others.
01:36:57.743 --> 01:36:58.568
So that's kind of mm-hmm.
01:36:58.573 --> 01:37:06.832
The transition you've become a part of, whereas you were directly applying the, the, the service to so many, and, and you had a, I know a guy mm-hmm.
01:37:07.073 --> 01:37:15.412
Directly applying service to so many, and yes, you recruited volunteers and stuff, but you're in that space and time right now where you're equipping others to serve because.
01:37:16.028 --> 01:37:17.408
It's how you can magnify your impact.
01:37:17.887 --> 01:37:22.597
Well, and it's so interesting'cause in this world we get scared to do that sometimes.
01:37:22.597 --> 01:37:22.658
Yeah.
01:37:22.658 --> 01:37:25.057
We, you know, what if they don't do it as good as you?
01:37:25.057 --> 01:37:36.967
Or what if I put that kid in my car and something happens and, and I'm like, I, I so many memories of like, what if, but then the blessing that, that I get from being able to go out and help somebody Yeah.
01:37:37.448 --> 01:37:38.707
Uh, is just done.
01:37:38.797 --> 01:37:41.137
Did it again, we're we're designed to serve others.
01:37:41.137 --> 01:37:41.648
We are.
01:37:42.068 --> 01:37:43.028
That's what we're called to do.
01:37:43.268 --> 01:37:43.927
Thanks for sharing time.
01:37:44.257 --> 01:37:44.497
Yeah.
01:37:44.497 --> 01:37:45.457
Thanks for, it's been a joy.
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Welcome back to the Loco Experience Podcast.
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My guest today is Roxy.
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Yes.
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Tines Brewton.
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Hi.
00:01:49.353 --> 00:01:54.153
And she is the founder of, um, the Northern Colorado Chapter of Safe Families for Children.
00:01:54.489 --> 00:01:55.222
Thanks for being here.
00:01:55.427 --> 00:01:56.328
Happy to be here.
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It's good to, good to sit down and have a nice conversation about, I guess, myself.
00:02:01.097 --> 00:02:03.048
I don't, mostly kinda, yeah.
00:02:03.048 --> 00:02:06.018
Well, and what you're up to, you know, some of the impacts you've making.
00:02:06.078 --> 00:02:06.647
Yeah.
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Um, you and I met at the Sun Sunrise Ranch when you were being celebrated as a ordinary extraordinary award winner.
00:02:19.758 --> 00:02:21.858
I was, that was what, 2021.
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That would be my guess.
00:02:23.268 --> 00:02:23.657
Yeah.
00:02:23.657 --> 00:02:24.288
Yeah, I think so.
00:02:24.318 --> 00:02:29.298
It was kind of edgy to be, you know, at an in-person event, uh, unmask even.
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Right.
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We wouldn't, we weren't even wearing masks there.
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Yeah, I think we even shook hands, which I think had dinner together.
00:02:34.832 --> 00:02:35.133
I think.
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Was it when the mask mandate went back on?
00:02:37.233 --> 00:02:39.002
I think we were Maybe, were we breaking rules?
00:02:39.212 --> 00:02:43.293
We might been, if people were kind of over it by then.
00:02:43.293 --> 00:02:44.552
A lot people were breaking rules.
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I don't people'll get arrested anyway.
00:02:45.073 --> 00:02:45.543
Yeah, whatever.
00:02:45.782 --> 00:02:46.143
Bite it.
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Stick to the band.
00:02:48.122 --> 00:02:48.752
That's Roxy.
00:02:51.332 --> 00:02:51.752
Hardly.
00:02:51.752 --> 00:02:52.953
I'm really a rebel.
00:02:54.002 --> 00:03:00.092
What kind of a rebel, um, against the trends of society to overlook.
00:03:00.143 --> 00:03:04.432
Kids and help struggling families in a better way.
00:03:04.437 --> 00:03:04.587
Absolutely.
00:03:04.733 --> 00:03:05.513
Absolutely.
00:03:05.573 --> 00:03:05.962
Yeah.
00:03:06.293 --> 00:03:06.742
Talk to me about it.
00:03:07.073 --> 00:03:08.423
Really passionate about that.
00:03:08.423 --> 00:03:16.853
So, um, I don't know how far you want me to go in, but I, um, started a career over a decade ago, um, in child protection.
00:03:17.002 --> 00:03:19.342
Um, so I'd gotten my degree in psychology.
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I was a bit of a late bloomer, um, finishing my college education.
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Um, but started in child protection here in Lermer County, um, and started that.
00:03:28.133 --> 00:03:28.913
So like working for the county?
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Yep.
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Yep.
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Worked.
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And you were hoping for just a cush job kind of thing.
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Actually, at first I was like, I just wanna get my feet wet.
00:03:35.543 --> 00:03:35.573
Okay.
00:03:35.573 --> 00:03:36.622
So see where I wanna be.
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I had been in sales for a long time before that, so.
00:03:38.772 --> 00:03:39.173
Okay.
00:03:39.233 --> 00:03:42.592
And then you went back to college for like, uh, social work or psychology?
00:03:42.598 --> 00:03:43.223
Psychology actually.
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Okay.
00:03:43.432 --> 00:03:43.883
Yep.
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And, uh, ended up, uh, landing a job with Lerer County and Child Protection and, um, had always wanted to make an impact in the lives of families and children, even since I was a little girl.
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My dad will tell you that I said I wanted to work with families back when I was really young.
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Hmm.
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Um, and so ended up there, um, spent eight years there when I finally kind of stepped away fully and did Safe Families and learned a lot there.
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Um, well, and you did it, you double timed it for a while, right?
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I did.
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Like you were working full-time for Safe Families and full-time for Larrick County.
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Yeah.
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It was give or take, it was part-time Safe families, technically in a part-time nonprofit world.
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Right.
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If you know what I mean.
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Right.
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Where every hour is Magnifi five by two.
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Yeah, yeah, exactly.
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So I did about two years both.
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Okay.
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Um, and then I remember my husband and I were coming home from church when afternoon and he looked at me and he goes, uh, do you think God would grow safe families if you just trusted him and.
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Focused on just safe families.
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And I was like, yes, that's what he's been telling me.
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I'm like, I, I never quite wanted to listen'cause I'm still scared a little bit, but Well, and you, you know, the nonprofit world is lucrative pay.
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Oh yeah.
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So I was, it was juicy, you know, so, well, government work isn't all that great either.
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Uh, it is, it is a bit better than non-profits.
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Well, that just means you need to grow a little more.
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Yeah, exactly.
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And make a little more impact because, uh, basically your salary should be whatever it would take to pay somebody to replace you in that role that you've created for yourself.
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So like.
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I bet you're getting paid less than that.
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And if you are Yeah.
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You're not being a good steward.
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Yeah.
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That's true to the organization.
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Ultimately.
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That's true.
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If you wanna donate 20 grand back to the organization every year,'cause they're overpaying you by 20 grand.
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Be, but you can't leave'em in a place where they would have to increase the salary by 40,000 if they lost you.
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Oh yeah.
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Yeah.
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Well just that's a, that's a good, good thought.
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That's a good argument for your board anyway.
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Yeah.
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And you, I'll go ahead and chop that out for you people out there with money, right?
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If we could I would pay my more.
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If we could.
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If we could.
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That's, you know, I had a staff member tell me once, you know, you should increase your hours, be full-time in salary.
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And I was like, and that means I fundraise for that position.
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Right.
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I'm basically FCA or something.
00:06:02.702 --> 00:06:02.913
Yeah.
00:06:02.942 --> 00:06:04.983
Well, but you're always the fundraiser.
00:06:05.163 --> 00:06:07.173
Tell me about who is your staff?
00:06:07.173 --> 00:06:09.692
What is your team and what are you, who are you serving?
00:06:09.692 --> 00:06:10.382
What are you doing?
00:06:10.442 --> 00:06:14.673
Yeah, so when I, when we launched say families, um, and was.
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2021, then how long has this been going around?
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That's an interesting story.
00:06:19.458 --> 00:06:20.627
So in 2019.
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Okay.
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Um, I brought, I actually sat down, we were on our team at the county, and our team at the county had talked about, dreamt about like this host home idea.
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Hmm.
00:06:31.848 --> 00:06:35.718
So I worked on the after hours team, so we would be nights and weekends.
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So a lot of times if we needed a safe place for a child to go and there was no family or support, you were bringing those critters home.
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That.
00:06:44.278 --> 00:06:44.548
Yeah.
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Well, or sleeping in an office.
00:06:46.737 --> 00:06:46.827
Oh, wow.
00:06:46.827 --> 00:06:52.017
Um, you know, that, that could look like, you know, making phone calls until we could find an appropriate place.
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Yeah.
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Um, and then also that just immediately meant foster care if there wasn't a safe alternative.
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Sure.
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Which, um, hard to get out of sometimes.
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Yeah.
00:07:00.987 --> 00:07:11.187
Once you go down that path, that's court involvement for a family that's already in crisis, that's a bunch of other added steps to go ahead and stabilize and reunify with their child.
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Yeah.
00:07:11.343 --> 00:07:11.403
Yeah.
00:07:11.403 --> 00:07:11.562
Yeah.
00:07:11.608 --> 00:07:14.908
So interesting enough that came up that we needed host homes.
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That would be a great stop gap for those families that didn't have really the best network.
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Yeah.
00:07:20.398 --> 00:07:24.747
Um, and so me and another gentleman got together.
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He actually works for Kingdom Way.
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His name's Greg Berger.
00:07:28.192 --> 00:07:28.762
Okay, sure.
00:07:28.923 --> 00:07:29.283
I know Greg.
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And he, I call him an in, he's either an inst inspirator or an instigator.
00:07:33.903 --> 00:07:33.963
Instigator.
00:07:33.968 --> 00:07:33.987
Yeah.
00:07:34.317 --> 00:07:37.317
Um, and, uh, we were like, what could we do?
00:07:37.317 --> 00:07:40.858
Like, do we wanna look at what it would look like to start, you know.
00:07:41.523 --> 00:07:43.023
Figuring out the next steps.
00:07:43.023 --> 00:07:43.562
A network kind of thing.
00:07:43.562 --> 00:07:43.833
Yeah.
00:07:44.177 --> 00:07:53.973
I did a Google search host homes near me just to see if there was anything out there like this, you know, that we were dreaming of and found safe families in Denver.
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Okay.
00:07:54.333 --> 00:07:55.593
And was really blown away.
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I am like, this resource is just down, you know, just down the interstate from us.
00:07:59.762 --> 00:07:59.822
Yeah.
00:07:59.913 --> 00:08:06.663
Um, Greg reached out to the state director and then I coordinated with Larimer County to bring the state director in.
00:08:07.083 --> 00:08:15.033
Um, and she came up, did a presentation for all of the powers that be in Larimer County and told them what we do and how we can host children.
00:08:15.033 --> 00:08:18.737
And we're the only one in the state that's allowed to do that outside of foster care.
00:08:18.737 --> 00:08:20.377
You know, shared all the, yeah.
00:08:20.382 --> 00:08:22.293
The good we could do for the county.
00:08:22.622 --> 00:08:25.202
Um, and COVID happened.
00:08:25.608 --> 00:08:26.057
Right.
00:08:26.148 --> 00:08:30.048
You know, and shut pretty much any, anything down.
00:08:30.497 --> 00:08:32.807
Um, yeah, and I want, can I back up for just a second?
00:08:32.807 --> 00:08:32.868
Yeah.
00:08:33.107 --> 00:08:40.248
Because Jill and I, my wife and I were along the route of kind of becoming a potential host home for the Matthews House at the time.
00:08:40.248 --> 00:08:40.307
Yeah.
00:08:40.307 --> 00:08:44.192
And it was gonna be for like, mostly for single moms and a kid or something.
00:08:44.197 --> 00:08:44.207
Mm-hmm.
00:08:44.283 --> 00:08:44.602
Or two kids.
00:08:44.602 --> 00:08:44.842
Mm-hmm.
00:08:44.923 --> 00:08:45.618
Or two kids or something like that.
00:08:45.618 --> 00:08:45.707
Mm-hmm.
00:08:46.182 --> 00:08:47.388
Did that program.
00:08:47.812 --> 00:08:51.592
Had fizzled or something and wasn't around, I never really quite understood.
00:08:51.832 --> 00:08:56.663
Like, I, I forget, I probably got too busy and got sidetracked, but, well, maybe it never continued.
00:08:56.663 --> 00:08:59.243
Hopefully I quote this the correct way.
00:08:59.243 --> 00:09:13.643
So, um, from my understanding,'cause it was before my time, safe Families was around and the Matthews house was around, there were programs the, the Matthews House was doing for hosting and they also did a program called Dash, which would host children.
00:09:13.643 --> 00:09:15.743
So they didn't set in detention facilities.
00:09:15.743 --> 00:09:15.832
Right.
00:09:16.403 --> 00:09:23.212
Um, and at the same time, and I believe it was 2019, um.
00:09:23.768 --> 00:09:24.998
Maybe a little earlier.
00:09:25.268 --> 00:09:29.077
Um, both those programs got a cease and desist by the state of Colorado.
00:09:29.437 --> 00:09:29.557
Oh.
00:09:29.857 --> 00:09:32.913
Um, you don't have the right license for this thing or something.
00:09:32.913 --> 00:09:33.072
Yeah.
00:09:33.072 --> 00:09:36.518
You need, you need to get the right licensing, so, perfect.
00:09:36.577 --> 00:09:36.908
Good job.
00:09:36.908 --> 00:09:37.807
State of Colorado.
00:09:38.018 --> 00:09:38.498
Killing it.
00:09:38.947 --> 00:09:39.548
Yeah.
00:09:39.548 --> 00:09:39.607
Yeah.
00:09:39.607 --> 00:09:42.187
So I was around, creates opportunity though, thankfully.
00:09:42.278 --> 00:09:42.607
Yeah.
00:09:42.607 --> 00:09:47.227
Our Northern Colorado chapter wasn't around, but we had a flourishing Colorado Springs chapter.
00:09:47.408 --> 00:09:49.207
Denver chapter had just set up.
00:09:49.567 --> 00:09:52.087
Um, so tho they all get the cease and desist letter.
00:09:52.087 --> 00:09:52.153
Oh dang.
00:09:53.013 --> 00:09:58.352
And we worked again before my time, so hopefully I'm not quoting facts the wrong way.
00:09:58.623 --> 00:10:08.163
Um, our director at the time worked with Rocky Mountain Children's Law to go ahead and then get some legislation PLA passed called The Safe Families Option for Children.
00:10:08.552 --> 00:10:08.582
Mm.
00:10:08.643 --> 00:10:09.903
Not named after us.
00:10:09.903 --> 00:10:10.322
Yeah.
00:10:10.352 --> 00:10:15.482
'cause the states like you're putting these kids in people's houses that aren't a approved foster parent.
00:10:15.482 --> 00:10:15.602
Yeah.
00:10:15.602 --> 00:10:16.513
You're not going through the right.
00:10:17.008 --> 00:10:19.467
Process or whatever, and you're like, well, that's kind of the point.
00:10:19.467 --> 00:10:20.577
We just want a little space.
00:10:20.668 --> 00:10:21.087
Yeah.
00:10:21.087 --> 00:10:23.337
We wanted to be a little grassroots and Yeah.
00:10:23.697 --> 00:10:24.748
You know, holistic.
00:10:25.077 --> 00:10:29.727
Um, so you went, they became a lobbyist, your Denver chapter person kind of bless their hearts.
00:10:29.727 --> 00:10:30.238
Yes.
00:10:30.298 --> 00:10:32.727
Um, glad it was before my time.
00:10:32.817 --> 00:10:32.908
Right.
00:10:34.258 --> 00:10:38.158
And so they, they got all that law passed.
00:10:38.337 --> 00:10:43.288
Um, so now we say families is considered a licensed CPA in the state of Colorado.
00:10:43.293 --> 00:10:43.403
Mm-hmm.
00:10:43.557 --> 00:10:45.118
So certified placement agency.
00:10:45.177 --> 00:10:45.207
Okay.
00:10:45.207 --> 00:10:48.057
So somewhat similar to Lutheran Family Services.
00:10:48.057 --> 00:10:48.148
Yep.
00:10:48.263 --> 00:10:48.482
Yep.
00:10:48.488 --> 00:10:50.577
You know, maple Star, things like that.
00:10:50.697 --> 00:10:52.378
Jill worked at Hope and Home in Oh yes.
00:10:52.378 --> 00:10:52.857
Colorado Springs.
00:10:52.888 --> 00:10:53.278
Yeah.
00:10:53.307 --> 00:10:53.518
Yeah.
00:10:53.518 --> 00:10:53.937
Yeah.
00:10:54.177 --> 00:10:56.518
She, it's funny, we, they did cross paths.
00:10:56.548 --> 00:10:56.607
Yeah.
00:10:57.273 --> 00:11:00.658
Well next time we hang out, we'll, uh, you guys have a lot to talk about.
00:11:00.903 --> 00:11:01.982
Yeah, no kidding.
00:11:02.283 --> 00:11:17.793
Um, but so all that came about and we were able to start hosting and, and the beauty in that is we are audited by the state now, so the state has that oversight, um, to make sure we've got our i's dotted or t's crossed, you know, volunteers are fully checked.
00:11:18.212 --> 00:11:24.602
Um, Colorado, rightfully so, is very, very good about making sure that they're putting kids in safe spots.
00:11:24.633 --> 00:11:24.842
Yeah.
00:11:24.898 --> 00:11:25.097
Yeah.
00:11:25.322 --> 00:11:25.923
And that makes sense.
00:11:25.923 --> 00:11:29.462
And probably there's extra resources even for making sure people are mm-hmm.
00:11:29.702 --> 00:11:30.538
Vetted all the way and stuff.
00:11:30.898 --> 00:11:31.217
'cause yeah.
00:11:31.918 --> 00:11:36.288
Like one thing about bad people is sometimes they don't present that way.
00:11:36.827 --> 00:11:37.048
Yes.
00:11:37.278 --> 00:11:37.567
Yeah.
00:11:37.773 --> 00:11:39.962
You know, unfortunately some of'em are very smart.
00:11:40.023 --> 00:11:40.442
Yeah.
00:11:40.447 --> 00:11:42.273
Sneaky get in sneaky situations they shouldn't be.
00:11:42.273 --> 00:11:43.143
Yeah, exactly.
00:11:43.148 --> 00:11:43.368
Uhhuh.
00:11:43.383 --> 00:11:49.202
So, okay, so, and when did the Northern Colorado chapter officially launch?
00:11:49.383 --> 00:11:51.927
I, so Greg instigated you into this great instated.
00:11:51.927 --> 00:11:55.982
So we came up and toured and you're this just happy person working at the county.
00:11:56.072 --> 00:12:01.173
Well, you know, and when it dropped off in 2019, life as usual kind of went on for me.
00:12:01.232 --> 00:12:09.332
And if I'm being completely honest, kind of when I initially thought of it about bringing it here is I'll continue down my merry road with the county.
00:12:09.993 --> 00:12:13.082
Maybe I would get a raise and, and get it, you know.
00:12:13.413 --> 00:12:13.773
Oh, right.
00:12:13.802 --> 00:12:19.472
You know, a caseworker level three, because I started a new program, brought a new resource maybe on that.
00:12:20.312 --> 00:12:23.283
Um, I'm, I'm a firm believer in God sometimes.
00:12:23.957 --> 00:12:25.067
He has different plans.
00:12:25.072 --> 00:12:25.383
Right, right.
00:12:25.383 --> 00:12:30.648
So, uh, you know, after that didn't happen, um, well then COVID happened.
00:12:30.648 --> 00:12:32.057
You said COVID happened.
00:12:32.057 --> 00:12:33.408
You know, it slowed it down.
00:12:33.707 --> 00:12:44.298
Um, for me, what triggered me to bring it up again, um, was actually, uh, kind of a, a moving story for me.
00:12:44.298 --> 00:12:50.118
So I had, you know, being on the afters team, a lot of times the things we went out on couldn't wait till the next day.
00:12:50.118 --> 00:12:51.378
So they were pretty urgent.
00:12:51.498 --> 00:12:51.677
Yeah.
00:12:52.158 --> 00:12:55.518
Um, and so I had done a lot of.
00:12:55.982 --> 00:13:06.543
Removals, you know, where I had, uh, placed, had to place children in different spots for safety reasons, and I went out, um, oh, you had placed there and then you had to remove'em from there?
00:13:06.783 --> 00:13:07.682
Yeah, yeah.
00:13:07.682 --> 00:13:12.332
So I'd have to put kiddos in foster care, put'em with other safe family members, you know.
00:13:12.393 --> 00:13:14.072
Um, and I had done that.
00:13:14.133 --> 00:13:25.232
Uh, I mean, at that point I was with the county for six years, so I'd done it, uh, you know, a hand enough times to where, you know, it's still, it still moves you, it still, uh, impacts you.
00:13:25.352 --> 00:13:25.472
Yeah.
00:13:25.562 --> 00:13:32.373
Um, and probably for me, which I'm an empath a little bit more than some, you know, I will honestly say it was hard to sleep.
00:13:32.883 --> 00:13:32.972
Mm-hmm.
00:13:33.212 --> 00:13:40.982
Um, but I went out and, uh, had this mother, and it was during COVID, so you can't, you know, you are wearing a mask.
00:13:40.982 --> 00:13:44.312
Nobody can tell what you really think and feel, and they can't tell that you're.
00:13:45.018 --> 00:13:47.687
You know, there's a lot in a person's smile in their face.
00:13:47.687 --> 00:13:47.927
Right, right.
00:13:47.932 --> 00:13:48.888
And, and how they're feeling.
00:13:48.947 --> 00:13:54.707
And they, historically, people could always see that you were a safe person and now you got this mask covering you besides Yeah.
00:13:55.128 --> 00:14:02.298
Well, and I went out to meet this, meet this, um, parent and just could sense that.
00:14:02.732 --> 00:14:04.173
Life for her had been tough.
00:14:04.202 --> 00:14:10.232
And I can't go into a ton of details just because of confidentiality, but brand new baby.
00:14:10.232 --> 00:14:19.322
And always when you, when you do these things, you know that parents absolutely adore their children and children adore their parents.
00:14:19.322 --> 00:14:22.413
There's that mother, mother daughter bond.
00:14:22.442 --> 00:14:28.503
Um, there's actually research and statistics on all the bonding that happens between a mother and child.
00:14:28.832 --> 00:14:37.383
Um, Kurt, I don't know if you know, but if a mother and a child have been separated for years, if they come back in close contact, their hearts immediately sync up.
00:14:37.442 --> 00:14:37.592
Hmm.
00:14:37.743 --> 00:14:39.812
I mean, just this chemistry that they have.
00:14:39.812 --> 00:14:42.692
So, you know, just knowing that, that moved me.
00:14:42.692 --> 00:14:56.523
And then of course, COVID is going on and the riots are going on, and I went home that night and my husband, uh, you know, he's sleeping and I am praying and crying and upset and you know, why can't, why?
00:14:56.523 --> 00:14:58.802
You know, I prayed after every, every.
00:14:59.312 --> 00:15:03.932
Time I met a family that God would just, you know, guide that and take over.
00:15:04.743 --> 00:15:10.562
Um, and I heard God clearly tell me, I've saved you for this time.
00:15:10.562 --> 00:15:12.393
I need you to do more than just pray.
00:15:12.572 --> 00:15:12.873
And.
00:15:13.623 --> 00:15:18.393
So, uh, it led me to, to take a pause.
00:15:18.423 --> 00:15:18.513
Yeah.
00:15:19.472 --> 00:15:24.423
And, uh, call that state director back and ask her, what do I do?
00:15:24.812 --> 00:15:25.863
What do I gotta do?
00:15:26.283 --> 00:15:33.092
Um, and she basically said, well, if you find a church, I'll find some funding a little bit.
00:15:33.212 --> 00:15:34.503
Uh, what do they say?
00:15:34.503 --> 00:15:36.842
Cart in front of the horse, or a horse in front of the cart.
00:15:36.847 --> 00:15:37.057
Yeah.
00:15:37.143 --> 00:15:37.202
Yeah.
00:15:37.472 --> 00:15:39.722
I mess up that analogy way too often.
00:15:40.173 --> 00:15:44.403
But she, she said that, you know, that I could start there.
00:15:44.462 --> 00:15:48.812
And so while that option, and she also told me, were you part of church already?
00:15:48.812 --> 00:15:51.633
And did they say yes or were they the right ones to ask?
00:15:51.692 --> 00:15:58.352
You know, the hard part is I had just switched churches and I was, I, I had just started to go to foundations in Windsor.
00:15:58.383 --> 00:15:58.503
Okay.
00:15:58.923 --> 00:16:01.503
And we had participated mostly Windsor.
00:16:02.467 --> 00:16:09.967
Uh, yeah, I'm, I live in severance, so it was a little bit closer and, and then we were participating a lot online'cause a, our churches would closed.
00:16:09.998 --> 00:16:16.268
I always make a joke that the Denver director might've been thinking, haha, you go ahead and find a church.
00:16:16.273 --> 00:16:16.442
Good luck.
00:16:17.528 --> 00:16:20.077
Because a lot of our churches at that time were closed.
00:16:20.107 --> 00:16:20.347
Yeah.
00:16:20.437 --> 00:16:26.018
And here's a caseworker that's primarily spent all of her time working at the county.
00:16:26.317 --> 00:16:26.888
Um.
00:16:27.227 --> 00:16:29.533
That's, that's not heavily networked in the community.
00:16:29.893 --> 00:16:34.852
Probably not heavily networked within the community, although you were in sales, but probably a specific product or whatever too been.
00:16:34.852 --> 00:16:34.863
Yeah.
00:16:34.863 --> 00:16:35.837
While ago.
00:16:36.107 --> 00:16:38.748
That's just blindly reaching out to churches.
00:16:38.748 --> 00:16:41.477
Started with foundations since it was where I was going.
00:16:41.837 --> 00:16:46.638
Um, and started networking through email, you know, through email.
00:16:46.697 --> 00:16:46.908
Sure.
00:16:46.937 --> 00:16:50.357
Did some lot of, thankfully everybody had a lot of time in their hands in those days.
00:16:50.533 --> 00:16:58.008
I, I always say that the time was great because launching a chapter, I was able,'cause there's a lot that goes into that.
00:16:58.368 --> 00:17:01.967
Um, not just your church partners, but also your community partners.
00:17:02.057 --> 00:17:02.327
Yeah.
00:17:02.418 --> 00:17:04.667
And knowing what everybody else is doing in the community.
00:17:04.698 --> 00:17:12.317
And ironically working for Larimer County, I knew there were resources out there, but I didn't know like.
00:17:12.738 --> 00:17:19.458
What they, all of'em, who did what so much and stuff, you know, and I spent eight years with, you know, I laugh, but I didn't, I didn't shake hands with these people.
00:17:19.458 --> 00:17:23.688
I just would send people to the, you know, whatever resources that I had heard of.
00:17:23.958 --> 00:17:26.268
So, you know, making those connections.
00:17:26.298 --> 00:17:26.417
Yeah.
00:17:26.567 --> 00:17:26.988
How fun.
00:17:27.528 --> 00:17:34.817
Um, our first partner church was actually a really SAA small church that was located in the Loveland Life Center.
00:17:35.117 --> 00:17:35.478
Okay.
00:17:35.597 --> 00:17:39.528
Um, we had talked to h and s House of Neighborly Services.
00:17:39.557 --> 00:17:39.738
Oh yeah.
00:17:39.978 --> 00:17:41.988
Um, and Ben, Greg was in that building.
00:17:41.988 --> 00:17:43.337
Building, which was, yeah, I was gonna say I, yeah, yeah.
00:17:43.337 --> 00:17:44.508
He was a navigator there.
00:17:44.508 --> 00:17:58.157
So he was doing some, sending out the feelers and we went out on a Wednesday night and the state director at that time, uh, did about a 10 minute presentation and about 12 people signed up to volunteer.
00:17:58.667 --> 00:17:58.728
Wow.
00:17:59.238 --> 00:18:01.307
And I was like, job done.
00:18:02.567 --> 00:18:02.657
Right.
00:18:02.657 --> 00:18:06.468
We got 12 and, and I looked at the state director and I'm like, there you go.
00:18:06.798 --> 00:18:15.018
And she was like, and I'd like you to work for us, which, and I was like, I don't have a degree in nonprofit management.
00:18:15.018 --> 00:18:16.788
I don't have Right a leader.
00:18:16.847 --> 00:18:20.928
You know, I'm a glorified caseworker Christian, first and foremost.
00:18:21.377 --> 00:18:28.488
Um, but I trusted what God was doing and, uh, just followed it and still do.
00:18:28.577 --> 00:18:30.798
So this is like the summer of 2020 basically.
00:18:31.607 --> 00:18:36.137
It was actually we in the fall, we went out there in September and we started doing things.
00:18:36.137 --> 00:18:40.157
October, we had boots on the ground serving families in January.
00:18:40.817 --> 00:18:43.877
So tell me, what are you, how are you serving these families?
00:18:43.877 --> 00:18:47.028
What, what are you, what are you doing for them?
00:18:47.028 --> 00:18:50.928
These, these volunteers are hosting kids only.
00:18:51.167 --> 00:18:51.887
Yeah, we do.
00:18:51.887 --> 00:18:55.458
We, it's been, there's a little bit of feeding them, mentoring them.
00:18:55.458 --> 00:18:55.817
Yeah.
00:18:55.877 --> 00:18:56.928
Tell me a little bit.
00:18:57.077 --> 00:19:08.387
So, um, save families, our mission statement is to host vulnerable children temporarily and to create extended family-like relationships to families in crisis.
00:19:08.417 --> 00:19:08.478
Wow.
00:19:08.867 --> 00:19:17.117
Um, for our chapter especially, we are heavily focused on really the family friend and the family coach.
00:19:17.117 --> 00:19:17.208
Mm-hmm.
00:19:17.448 --> 00:19:23.597
So, I, I think I may have told you this when we initially talked Kurt, a lot of families don't come to us and say, here, take my kids.
00:19:23.597 --> 00:19:24.498
I'm in a crisis.
00:19:24.498 --> 00:19:24.738
Yeah.
00:19:24.738 --> 00:19:25.518
I don't know you.
00:19:25.522 --> 00:19:25.782
Yeah.
00:19:25.938 --> 00:19:27.663
Um, but they'll come to us and they'll.
00:19:28.113 --> 00:19:29.942
They'll say, I don't have anybody.
00:19:30.242 --> 00:19:34.893
And we'll connect them to a family friend volunteer, which is exactly the way it sounds.
00:19:34.893 --> 00:19:39.843
It's somebody they can call if they need to vent and have a cup of coffee they can give.
00:19:39.843 --> 00:19:44.343
We're we're one of few nonprofits, they can offer transportation.
00:19:44.732 --> 00:19:52.772
So as you know, a lot of senior, it's almost like a partners or a Boys and Girls club, but for adults that are struggling at a time Yeah.
00:19:52.772 --> 00:19:53.278
To some extent that program.
00:19:53.627 --> 00:19:58.863
Well, and we've done rides to school, we try to stay temporarily'cause we don't wanna be a cab driver service.
00:19:58.893 --> 00:19:58.952
Yeah.
00:19:58.952 --> 00:20:01.442
There's so short term to get to your next.
00:20:01.803 --> 00:20:04.232
Stability, whether that's fixing a car or Yeah.
00:20:04.262 --> 00:20:09.153
Getting a car, walk through a season, going through how to ride the bus, you know, whatever that looks like or whatever.
00:20:09.153 --> 00:20:12.123
It can get you to, um, daytime childcare.
00:20:12.123 --> 00:20:17.762
So a lot of that looks like one, we're not daycare, but yes, we will temporarily help with childcare.
00:20:17.762 --> 00:20:26.942
Will you figure out, um, unfortunately, CA and these are volunteers mostly through the church that have been trained by you guys and, and prepared to do this stuff?
00:20:26.972 --> 00:20:27.452
Yes.
00:20:27.452 --> 00:20:29.403
So that's your boots on the ground mostly?
00:20:29.462 --> 00:20:29.762
Yeah.
00:20:29.762 --> 00:20:32.643
All our volunteers except for a resource friend.
00:20:32.643 --> 00:20:34.143
So there's four different roles.
00:20:34.143 --> 00:20:35.373
So there's the host home.
00:20:35.702 --> 00:20:35.823
Okay.
00:20:35.853 --> 00:20:39.182
Then we'll host children temporarily while families get back on their feet.
00:20:39.212 --> 00:20:41.853
Usually average about six weeks, so, okay.
00:20:42.093 --> 00:20:44.103
So we're not trying to be foster care.
00:20:44.192 --> 00:20:44.343
Yep.
00:20:44.643 --> 00:20:48.752
Um, also we can only host up to six months per the bill that was passed.
00:20:48.843 --> 00:20:48.873
Okay.
00:20:49.173 --> 00:20:55.383
Um, unless there's extenuating circumstances, maybe we've got a family in the military and it went beyond six months.
00:20:55.893 --> 00:20:59.383
Um, and do these families get some, uh, money to help?
00:20:59.587 --> 00:21:01.057
Cover baby food or anything like that?
00:21:01.057 --> 00:21:03.458
Or it's fully volunteer, like hosting an exchange kid.
00:21:03.847 --> 00:21:05.317
It is fully volunteer.
00:21:05.317 --> 00:21:05.468
Okay.
00:21:05.498 --> 00:21:12.488
So our core values are radical hospitality, intentional compassion, and disruptive generosity.
00:21:12.847 --> 00:21:15.188
So they do it out of those core values.
00:21:15.248 --> 00:21:17.198
Um, and they're biblical values.
00:21:17.198 --> 00:21:17.208
Yeah.
00:21:17.258 --> 00:21:18.488
Um, we're faith-based.
00:21:18.847 --> 00:21:21.278
Um, and so they live by those.
00:21:21.278 --> 00:21:21.307
Okay.
00:21:21.307 --> 00:21:22.387
And we live by those.
00:21:22.657 --> 00:21:22.688
Okay.
00:21:22.688 --> 00:21:24.732
So this is the, that's the host homes host, volunteers.
00:21:24.732 --> 00:21:25.387
You the host home.
00:21:25.387 --> 00:21:26.492
And then we have, sorry, you make me cry.
00:21:26.593 --> 00:21:27.853
I'm sensitive sometimes.
00:21:30.198 --> 00:21:30.692
I am sorry.
00:21:30.692 --> 00:21:32.478
I used to the story I told you, you a baby.
00:21:32.557 --> 00:21:33.782
I used to ball like a baby.
00:21:33.782 --> 00:21:35.563
I've told it now a hundred times, so I get tough.
00:21:35.563 --> 00:21:35.792
It getting better.
00:21:35.798 --> 00:21:36.038
How did you geter?
00:21:36.042 --> 00:21:36.452
Okay, that's good.
00:21:37.232 --> 00:21:40.053
I'll just have you listen to it over and over again for You'll get better.
00:21:40.803 --> 00:21:40.893
I'll put it back.
00:21:40.893 --> 00:21:40.903
Yeah.
00:21:40.903 --> 00:21:43.712
Just play it back and forth and work myself out.
00:21:43.803 --> 00:21:45.242
Give you, you'll be tough as nails.
00:21:45.242 --> 00:21:45.633
Yeah.
00:21:45.633 --> 00:21:45.643
Yeah.
00:21:45.873 --> 00:21:46.262
Right.
00:21:47.577 --> 00:21:51.932
And so host, the host, host family is able to host temporarily.
00:21:51.962 --> 00:21:53.702
We wrap everybody in this circle.
00:21:53.702 --> 00:21:55.143
We call it a circle of support.
00:21:55.173 --> 00:21:55.232
Okay.
00:21:55.232 --> 00:21:57.663
So, and then we go edit the family coach.
00:21:57.752 --> 00:22:02.403
Um, and they are going to connect the family to the resources they need.
00:22:02.432 --> 00:22:02.553
Yep.
00:22:02.613 --> 00:22:03.512
Go over needs and goals.
00:22:03.512 --> 00:22:05.038
They know all those resources that you didn't know.
00:22:05.067 --> 00:22:07.472
They're kind of like a volunteer case worker.
00:22:07.472 --> 00:22:07.482
Yep.
00:22:07.502 --> 00:22:07.712
Yep.
00:22:07.712 --> 00:22:08.522
Case manager.
00:22:08.732 --> 00:22:11.732
They'll do the placement checks just like happened in foster care Wow.
00:22:11.732 --> 00:22:13.202
To make sure children are safe.
00:22:13.232 --> 00:22:13.323
Yep.
00:22:13.323 --> 00:22:16.742
The host home looks safe and families are connected.
00:22:17.163 --> 00:22:18.932
Um, and then, um, cool.
00:22:18.932 --> 00:22:18.992
They.
00:22:20.282 --> 00:22:23.643
You know, develop needs and goals and work with the parents.
00:22:23.913 --> 00:22:43.623
The one thing that I always enjoyed about our FA family coaches and that I really wanted didn't steal is while we don't wanna, handhold always, sometimes families are in so much crisis that, and they're given so many resources, it's almost like an overload and they don't know where to start.
00:22:43.623 --> 00:22:43.682
Yeah.
00:22:43.712 --> 00:22:46.803
So if somebody can maybe start by, yeah.
00:22:47.373 --> 00:22:48.962
Making those phone calls with them.
00:22:48.968 --> 00:22:49.218
Yeah.
00:22:49.218 --> 00:22:51.542
Let's do these first two, three steps and then I'm gonna let you do it.
00:22:51.633 --> 00:22:51.843
Yeah.
00:22:51.903 --> 00:22:55.383
And then we're gonna check in, you know, somebody to just walk alongside.
00:22:55.383 --> 00:23:14.673
And then the family friend I kind of told you about their, you know, they can help with transportation for the host, act like family, like fake family, but, well, and, and the goal is of all that, Kurt, is that we'll connect them to this team of volunteers and safe families goes away after a few months.
00:23:14.732 --> 00:23:16.413
Longest we stay open is a year.
00:23:16.593 --> 00:23:16.712
Mm.
00:23:16.772 --> 00:23:19.472
Um, or try to, sometimes we're open a little longer.
00:23:19.563 --> 00:23:19.712
Right.
00:23:19.803 --> 00:23:23.432
But the hope is we close out and these families stay connected.
00:23:23.553 --> 00:23:23.732
Yeah.
00:23:23.913 --> 00:23:25.817
For, for a long term unified term.
00:23:25.817 --> 00:23:26.133
Remain unified.
00:23:26.137 --> 00:23:26.377
Yeah.
00:23:26.383 --> 00:23:26.583
Yeah.
00:23:26.587 --> 00:23:31.353
And we have, and so it's kind of a coaching through crisis with additional support.
00:23:31.778 --> 00:23:32.288
Kind of program.
00:23:32.498 --> 00:23:37.688
Well, and then, and a lot of times is it, is it like domestic abuse, flees and stuff like that?
00:23:37.688 --> 00:23:38.077
A lot?
00:23:38.137 --> 00:23:40.087
Or We've seen domestic violence.
00:23:40.117 --> 00:23:42.307
Um, we've seen, um, addiction.
00:23:42.667 --> 00:23:42.788
Sure.
00:23:42.817 --> 00:23:44.678
Um, families struggling with that or needing mm-hmm.
00:23:45.097 --> 00:23:46.117
To do some rehab.
00:23:46.117 --> 00:23:47.258
Mommies went through rehab.
00:23:47.377 --> 00:23:47.617
Yep.
00:23:47.617 --> 00:23:48.758
Can't take kids.
00:23:48.788 --> 00:23:49.208
Yeah.
00:23:49.208 --> 00:23:49.218
Yeah.
00:23:49.298 --> 00:23:50.978
Um, homelessness.
00:23:51.008 --> 00:23:54.998
Um, unfortunately we have a growing population of homelessness Sure.
00:23:55.268 --> 00:23:56.587
In Northern Colorado.
00:23:56.587 --> 00:24:01.897
So those families that don't wanna take young children into the shelter, but maybe would consider doing a host home mm-hmm.
00:24:02.407 --> 00:24:03.877
Um, respite.
00:24:04.238 --> 00:24:11.438
So, um, adopted families, even biological families that are doing it by themselves or worn out.
00:24:11.708 --> 00:24:11.917
Yep.
00:24:12.008 --> 00:24:13.567
That need a weekend off.
00:24:13.867 --> 00:24:14.288
Oh, really?
00:24:14.288 --> 00:24:14.692
So break.
00:24:14.692 --> 00:24:17.557
So it even, even can be 10 days Yeah.
00:24:17.678 --> 00:24:17.948
Or something.
00:24:17.948 --> 00:24:18.248
Sure.
00:24:18.637 --> 00:24:21.728
And here's another one that, can I put my exchange student with you guys Absolutely.
00:24:21.728 --> 00:24:23.212
For a week while Julie, I go on vacation.
00:24:24.048 --> 00:24:25.188
Yeah, for real.
00:24:25.188 --> 00:24:26.538
We could talk like, would I qualify?
00:24:27.103 --> 00:24:28.053
She's a, she's a joy.
00:24:28.212 --> 00:24:40.067
I mean, I'm sure any of your families would find it way easier than hosting a Well, and one really crazy thing that I don't think the average Joe knows is, uh, if a single mom, single dad needs a surgery.
00:24:40.067 --> 00:24:40.788
Mm-hmm.
00:24:41.242 --> 00:24:41.452
Oh yeah.
00:24:41.452 --> 00:24:43.823
And they have nobody And their family's in Boston.
00:24:44.002 --> 00:24:44.393
Yeah.
00:24:44.393 --> 00:24:44.403
Right.
00:24:44.403 --> 00:24:55.643
And they have nobody here or has to, you know, we had a mom, um, one year that was married and, and wanted to go have her baby and wanted her husband there, but they had nobody to watch their two other children.
00:24:55.643 --> 00:24:55.702
Wow.
00:24:56.488 --> 00:24:59.133
So those are the easier ones we step in for.
00:24:59.202 --> 00:25:01.133
Yeah, we got'em for three days, either or a week.
00:25:01.133 --> 00:25:02.548
Uhhuh, or two weeks even.
00:25:02.548 --> 00:25:03.958
You know, let you have a little time with them anymore.
00:25:04.107 --> 00:25:08.998
Well, we're hoping to get more advanced into more of a footprint in Weld County too.
00:25:08.998 --> 00:25:12.748
But we had a physician there at our info night in Weld County.
00:25:12.748 --> 00:25:12.807
Okay.
00:25:12.837 --> 00:25:13.948
At the Link Library.
00:25:13.948 --> 00:25:19.617
And he mentioned something I hadn't even thought about, but that refugee families that are here.
00:25:19.798 --> 00:25:20.877
Oh, seeking asylum.
00:25:21.028 --> 00:25:21.117
Sure.
00:25:21.117 --> 00:25:23.948
That have no family, no resources.
00:25:23.948 --> 00:25:24.252
They may be living in a car.
00:25:24.313 --> 00:25:24.772
No resources.
00:25:25.053 --> 00:25:26.097
Resources, cultural change.
00:25:26.097 --> 00:25:27.327
Take my kid for a few weeks or months.
00:25:27.807 --> 00:25:39.387
They, well, and he said that they'll come into to the ER to, to there at NCMC to the hospital and they'll leave, um, against medical advice because they have nobody to watch their children.
00:25:39.448 --> 00:25:39.748
Right.
00:25:39.928 --> 00:25:43.228
So, you know, I just, I Crazy.
00:25:43.347 --> 00:25:43.932
Things you don't think of.
00:25:43.932 --> 00:25:44.012
Yeah.
00:25:44.012 --> 00:25:48.028
So just having more people know that you guys exist is probably one of your biggest missions.
00:25:48.147 --> 00:25:53.637
Know that we exist both on the, both on the front of families knowing we're out there to call.
00:25:53.637 --> 00:25:53.698
Yeah.
00:25:53.728 --> 00:25:58.413
So they don't have to turn to somebody they don't trust or feel like they can't.
00:25:59.057 --> 00:26:02.298
They can't do the things they need to do for their own wellbeing.
00:26:02.627 --> 00:26:06.887
And then also the people that are called to do this work, right?
00:26:06.887 --> 00:26:12.403
Like the volunteers, uh, um, I always say that can do more stuff if you've got more people.
00:26:12.633 --> 00:26:12.923
Yeah.
00:26:13.873 --> 00:26:14.563
More volunteers.
00:26:14.567 --> 00:26:16.728
What's the, what's the quote about the light?
00:26:16.728 --> 00:26:18.167
If we all hold, maybe.
00:26:18.198 --> 00:26:20.057
Oh, I was gonna say, many hands make light work.
00:26:20.087 --> 00:26:20.178
Yes.
00:26:20.178 --> 00:26:21.978
But it's a different Yes.
00:26:22.067 --> 00:26:24.528
Same analogy, different, just different phrasing.
00:26:25.188 --> 00:26:25.458
Yeah.
00:26:25.458 --> 00:26:26.597
Many small lights together.
00:26:26.613 --> 00:26:28.188
Big a big glow or something.
00:26:28.472 --> 00:26:29.268
Yeah, something like that.
00:26:29.897 --> 00:26:30.708
Light up the night.
00:26:31.488 --> 00:26:33.347
Um, did, did we get four?
00:26:33.347 --> 00:26:35.238
I I re hosts friends.
00:26:35.238 --> 00:26:35.248
Coaches.
00:26:35.248 --> 00:26:35.387
The coaches.
00:26:35.387 --> 00:26:37.518
The last one is the only one we don't have.
00:26:37.518 --> 00:26:38.688
Go through background checks.
00:26:38.688 --> 00:26:41.807
And this might answer your one question about are they paid?
00:26:41.807 --> 00:26:43.847
How do they, you know, get they supplies?
00:26:44.178 --> 00:26:48.407
So resource friends, we have people sign on just to donate resources.
00:26:48.738 --> 00:26:54.077
And so like last night I was out, uh, helping facilitate a child being hosted.
00:26:54.407 --> 00:27:04.038
Um, and I actually didn't have time to navigate our resource friends, but I had to run out and grab, um, a car seat and a sippy cup and some diapers and Yeah.
00:27:04.127 --> 00:27:06.587
You know, so they can donate those things.
00:27:06.647 --> 00:27:10.488
If we have a little more leeway, I throw it out to all our resource friends.
00:27:10.548 --> 00:27:10.998
Okay.
00:27:11.057 --> 00:27:14.087
We've done, so they just kind of signed up, Hey, let me know when you need a resource.
00:27:14.087 --> 00:27:14.988
Yeah, maybe I got one.
00:27:15.363 --> 00:27:18.393
And we've done some, or I'll go get one really cool things with that.
00:27:18.512 --> 00:27:21.363
Uh, we had a mom, we've got her permission to share.
00:27:21.363 --> 00:27:25.143
So, um, here about a year, a little over a year ago, okay.
00:27:25.502 --> 00:27:29.222
Um, through her baby shower, seven different churches were involved.
00:27:29.823 --> 00:27:30.633
She never had one.
00:27:31.383 --> 00:27:31.472
Right.
00:27:31.472 --> 00:27:34.113
And they packed a picnic table full of gifts for her.
00:27:34.178 --> 00:27:34.468
Yeah.
00:27:34.772 --> 00:27:35.222
Yeah.
00:27:35.282 --> 00:27:36.573
It was just beautiful.
00:27:36.603 --> 00:27:36.692
Yeah.
00:27:36.692 --> 00:27:37.292
What a blessing.
00:27:37.292 --> 00:27:38.913
I don't know where kind of, yeah.
00:27:38.972 --> 00:27:41.643
Um, and so then you have a staff too, right?
00:27:41.647 --> 00:27:41.827
Oh, yeah.
00:27:41.827 --> 00:27:43.022
Like, and what do they do?
00:27:43.653 --> 00:27:46.413
Um, I was, and, and how many are there and stuff like that.
00:27:46.502 --> 00:27:50.492
I was singly staffed for a long time, for almost two years by myself.
00:27:50.492 --> 00:27:51.932
Part, part-time.
00:27:52.397 --> 00:27:53.147
Air quotes.
00:27:53.567 --> 00:28:00.377
Um, and then, uh, ran into somebody that I went out to coffee with and she, she, she has the coolest story.
00:28:00.377 --> 00:28:01.518
I wish she was here to tell it.
00:28:01.847 --> 00:28:05.807
She said, after talking to me, she went home and told her husband, I'm gonna work for Safe Families.
00:28:06.528 --> 00:28:10.877
And then she had asked me about that and I was like, if I had money, that would be great.
00:28:10.907 --> 00:28:11.387
Right, right.
00:28:11.448 --> 00:28:16.728
Um, and she apparently paying me, she went home and she prayed fervently.
00:28:16.907 --> 00:28:19.337
Um, and actually crazy time.
00:28:19.337 --> 00:28:22.877
That was a time where, say families, our chapter almost closed.
00:28:23.178 --> 00:28:23.448
Oh, wow.
00:28:23.478 --> 00:28:28.008
Um, because we were just, I mean, we were so new, nobody knew about us.
00:28:28.008 --> 00:28:29.688
I didn't know much about fundraising.
00:28:29.718 --> 00:28:29.837
Right.
00:28:30.258 --> 00:28:36.228
Um, and Oh, and'cause the, the Denver chapter kind of seeded you with a little bit of Yeah.
00:28:36.228 --> 00:28:39.258
Initially go, they started with the Tenon Center grant.
00:28:39.258 --> 00:28:39.857
Gotcha.
00:28:40.182 --> 00:28:42.468
And uh, and they're like, you're on your own now.
00:28:42.468 --> 00:28:43.907
A little, little, yeah.
00:28:43.998 --> 00:28:45.282
Basically my little bird.
00:28:45.532 --> 00:28:45.883
Right.
00:28:47.057 --> 00:28:52.758
Um, but she's praying fervently and I'm thinking, I, I just talked about this today.
00:28:52.758 --> 00:28:54.768
I'm thinking, oh no, we're gonna close.
00:28:54.768 --> 00:29:00.048
And I'm just kind of following, following what, wherever I need to go.
00:29:00.048 --> 00:29:04.248
And I went out and I did a presentation at Child Safe.
00:29:05.057 --> 00:29:13.157
Um, and when I did that, there just so happened to be somebody that heard it and they shared it with, uh, somebody they knew with a family foundation.
00:29:13.157 --> 00:29:13.218
Hmm.
00:29:13.698 --> 00:29:15.752
And they literally gifted us.
00:29:15.752 --> 00:29:16.673
We like foundations.
00:29:16.982 --> 00:29:24.593
They gifted us enough money for not only to keep us stable, but for me to hire my dear friend Katie, who was our second employee.
00:29:24.593 --> 00:29:24.952
Hi Katie.
00:29:24.952 --> 00:29:25.728
You'll probably listen to this.
00:29:25.728 --> 00:29:26.718
Yes, she probably will.
00:29:26.807 --> 00:29:29.208
She's, she's one of my dear, dear friends.
00:29:29.208 --> 00:29:29.298
Cool.
00:29:29.357 --> 00:29:32.567
She is, so, she's adopted from Uganda.
00:29:32.807 --> 00:29:32.897
Oh, wow.
00:29:32.958 --> 00:29:36.617
Um, she did a ministry similar to this one in Uganda.
00:29:37.307 --> 00:29:39.738
Oh, I'm not gonna butcher it by sharing too much about it.
00:29:39.917 --> 00:29:41.538
That's maybe her podcast.
00:29:41.837 --> 00:29:46.127
Um, and so she hired on, gosh, it's been.
00:29:46.847 --> 00:29:48.258
Oh, Katie, please forgive me.
00:29:48.258 --> 00:29:53.478
It's been, she's going on, this will be her second year, um, October-ish, I think.
00:29:53.478 --> 00:29:54.498
Yeah, sounds about right.
00:29:54.587 --> 00:29:59.597
Um, and she's part-time, she does church and community engagement here in Fort Collins.
00:29:59.657 --> 00:29:59.867
Okay.
00:30:00.107 --> 00:30:05.117
Um, and then after that, and so she's recruiting more churches.
00:30:05.117 --> 00:30:07.428
So you have more volunteers for these Yep.
00:30:07.847 --> 00:30:09.782
Three things, but also a bigger network for the.
00:30:10.827 --> 00:30:11.768
The, the, yep.
00:30:12.347 --> 00:30:13.167
The, the gifters.
00:30:13.742 --> 00:30:14.103
Yeah.
00:30:14.103 --> 00:30:16.952
So she goes out, she's, she helps us fundraise.
00:30:16.952 --> 00:30:17.972
She does things like that.
00:30:17.972 --> 00:30:21.633
She does, uh, connection with different people in the community so they know what we're doing.
00:30:21.633 --> 00:30:21.843
Yeah.
00:30:22.083 --> 00:30:23.462
You need to come to my rotary club.
00:30:23.673 --> 00:30:24.212
I do.
00:30:24.212 --> 00:30:24.512
I do.
00:30:25.383 --> 00:30:27.032
You can come visit any time.
00:30:27.182 --> 00:30:27.782
That would be great.
00:30:27.782 --> 00:30:29.252
It's every Thursday morning at seven.
00:30:29.252 --> 00:30:30.992
Just for anybody listening you can visit too.
00:30:31.833 --> 00:30:31.893
Yeah.
00:30:31.923 --> 00:30:38.288
But also we have programs regularly and you know, we kind of, you know, it can't be a nonprofit every week looking for money'cause we already.
00:30:38.883 --> 00:30:40.593
Give a lot through Rotary and whatever else.
00:30:40.593 --> 00:30:40.682
Mm-hmm.
00:30:40.923 --> 00:30:44.972
But it's such a fascinating program and different than most people have experienced.
00:30:44.972 --> 00:30:47.492
So I'll, I'll put in a good word for you again.
00:30:47.492 --> 00:30:47.807
That blessed.
00:30:47.807 --> 00:30:48.393
That would be really cool.
00:30:48.423 --> 00:30:48.603
Yeah.
00:30:48.932 --> 00:30:49.863
Anyway, sorry to detract.
00:30:49.863 --> 00:30:50.373
Where do we go?
00:30:50.762 --> 00:30:51.367
Where do we jump off?
00:30:51.367 --> 00:30:52.262
So we have Katie.
00:30:52.428 --> 00:30:52.847
Oh yeah, Katie.
00:30:52.867 --> 00:30:53.087
Yep.
00:30:53.087 --> 00:30:54.048
Then and then, uh, hi Katie.
00:30:54.053 --> 00:30:57.692
Uh, another blessing, uh, Andrea McFarland.
00:30:57.782 --> 00:31:01.053
So she is actually a dear, dear friend of mine.
00:31:01.053 --> 00:31:04.232
We work together at Larimer County on the AF hours team.
00:31:04.532 --> 00:31:04.653
Yeah.
00:31:04.653 --> 00:31:04.682
Okay.
00:31:04.712 --> 00:31:10.413
Um, and I just so happened when we were looking for somebody to be a family coach supervisor, so they do all our intakes.
00:31:10.413 --> 00:31:10.833
Oh, yep.
00:31:10.923 --> 00:31:12.542
And they vet all our volunteers.
00:31:12.542 --> 00:31:12.692
Yeah.
00:31:12.692 --> 00:31:14.008
These are your volunteer case workers.
00:31:14.028 --> 00:31:14.448
Mm-hmm.
00:31:14.528 --> 00:31:14.887
Effectively.
00:31:15.383 --> 00:31:15.772
Yeah.
00:31:15.772 --> 00:31:18.442
And she supervises all our family coaches.
00:31:18.653 --> 00:31:18.712
Yeah.
00:31:18.923 --> 00:31:21.982
Um, so she is our family coach supervisor.
00:31:22.012 --> 00:31:22.133
Awesome.
00:31:22.133 --> 00:31:27.022
And she's been a huge blessing'cause she comes to us with 15 years experience and a master's in social work.
00:31:27.083 --> 00:31:27.292
Very cool.
00:31:27.653 --> 00:31:28.343
Which is hard for her.
00:31:28.343 --> 00:31:29.182
And she's part-time too?
00:31:29.182 --> 00:31:29.363
Or?
00:31:29.363 --> 00:31:30.472
She's, she is part-time.
00:31:30.563 --> 00:31:30.623
Okay.
00:31:30.682 --> 00:31:32.932
Maybe I'll went over to full-time one of these years.
00:31:32.992 --> 00:31:33.202
Got it.
00:31:33.202 --> 00:31:33.502
Sorry.
00:31:33.502 --> 00:31:34.163
Larimer County.
00:31:34.163 --> 00:31:34.613
I'm gonna try.
00:31:35.708 --> 00:31:36.198
Awesome.
00:31:36.637 --> 00:31:39.353
I feel like I've met Andrea somewhere as well.
00:31:39.353 --> 00:31:40.732
So if Andrea, I seem.
00:31:40.803 --> 00:31:42.212
Like, you sound familiar.
00:31:42.212 --> 00:31:43.053
That's because it's true.
00:31:44.222 --> 00:31:45.482
Um, and so a small team.
00:31:45.692 --> 00:31:46.232
Yeah.
00:31:46.232 --> 00:31:46.472
Yeah.
00:31:46.472 --> 00:31:48.048
Well, you and two part-time there is more still.
00:31:48.048 --> 00:31:49.053
Well, when we, okay.
00:31:49.083 --> 00:31:50.403
When we got our footprint going in.
00:31:50.403 --> 00:31:59.042
Well, thanks to, well, community Foundation, um, last year I was able to hire a part-time community and church engagement and Marie Root.
00:31:59.252 --> 00:31:59.373
Okay.
00:31:59.553 --> 00:32:03.153
Um, she used to work for Real Hope so in the adoption side of things.
00:32:03.182 --> 00:32:03.272
Mm-hmm.
00:32:03.962 --> 00:32:07.502
Um, and then we've hired a contractor, Jill de Gentry Oh wow.
00:32:07.593 --> 00:32:10.992
Who's 35 years in Greeley Weld area Connect.
00:32:10.992 --> 00:32:12.452
So connect with children and families.
00:32:12.452 --> 00:32:13.232
Yes, I do.
00:32:13.367 --> 00:32:16.768
I I love to be, uh, that's one thing I do love is connecting connect.
00:32:16.768 --> 00:32:16.968
Yes.
00:32:17.282 --> 00:32:18.063
Connecting the dots.
00:32:18.093 --> 00:32:19.292
It's clear that you're good at it.
00:32:19.442 --> 00:32:25.502
Um, and so we've got a team of, uh, five with the contractor.
00:32:25.563 --> 00:32:26.012
Very cool.
00:32:26.462 --> 00:32:34.442
And do you go like, Larimer and Weld is there, there's probably no services like this in Eastern Colorado or whatever, but you wouldn't really?
00:32:34.772 --> 00:32:35.042
Yeah.
00:32:35.042 --> 00:32:36.633
So right now you can't go there, but.
00:32:37.188 --> 00:32:41.837
We're looking at, um, potentially we're in the talks of a hub, Boulder ish area.
00:32:41.843 --> 00:32:42.053
Mm-hmm.
00:32:42.133 --> 00:32:42.143
Mm-hmm.
00:32:42.167 --> 00:32:44.627
We have a few sprinkled volunteers that way.
00:32:44.627 --> 00:32:48.798
So when we get a referral for families like Longmont Firestone, we try to help.
00:32:49.248 --> 00:32:51.468
Um, so we're in talks now.
00:32:51.472 --> 00:32:51.613
Yeah.
00:32:51.792 --> 00:32:54.317
Um, you need to find a U in Boulder is what you need.
00:32:54.528 --> 00:32:54.738
Yeah.
00:32:54.738 --> 00:32:56.448
We would get some staff for Boulder.
00:32:56.448 --> 00:32:59.268
I can't, I think my stretch is right.
00:32:59.538 --> 00:33:00.768
'cause I don't know if you knew this, Kurt.
00:33:00.768 --> 00:33:04.337
I'm also, uh, this work has called me into caring for.
00:33:04.742 --> 00:33:07.113
Three extra little boys in this season of life.
00:33:07.113 --> 00:33:07.502
So I missed No.
00:33:08.222 --> 00:33:08.732
Yeah.
00:33:08.762 --> 00:33:13.712
You're hosting them or you've adopted them, or you're in the middle of deciding Well, deciding.
00:33:14.972 --> 00:33:18.603
They, they, they were children that we worked with, with safe families.
00:33:18.663 --> 00:33:18.692
Okay.
00:33:18.782 --> 00:33:21.752
Um, and they kind of exited our program.
00:33:21.752 --> 00:33:25.923
And then things, things weren't, they didn't stay stable.
00:33:25.982 --> 00:33:27.333
They didn't stay stable.
00:33:27.393 --> 00:33:34.383
Um, and so when that happened, I had had the, the kids had gone to our church for eight months.
00:33:34.532 --> 00:33:34.682
Hmm.
00:33:34.742 --> 00:33:37.143
So there was this added relationship.
00:33:37.143 --> 00:33:40.262
I was actually the prayer partner for the oldest.
00:33:40.262 --> 00:33:40.323
Hmm.
00:33:40.952 --> 00:33:43.053
And so that was just really hard for me.
00:33:43.053 --> 00:33:45.752
I'm like, man, uh, so they're siblings?
00:33:45.843 --> 00:33:47.313
They are all brothers.
00:33:47.313 --> 00:33:47.462
All right.
00:33:47.553 --> 00:33:49.893
Uh, 10, nine, and, uh, seven.
00:33:49.893 --> 00:33:50.583
And how old are you?
00:33:50.643 --> 00:33:51.813
Do you have kids or your two?
00:33:52.228 --> 00:33:53.147
I have a lot of kids.
00:33:55.008 --> 00:33:55.367
You're crazy lady.
00:33:56.117 --> 00:33:57.498
I am a crazy lady.
00:33:57.498 --> 00:33:59.778
So we have six together, me and my husband.
00:33:59.867 --> 00:34:00.317
Okay.
00:34:00.377 --> 00:34:01.758
Um, and now nine.
00:34:01.877 --> 00:34:04.488
And now we we're working on quite a baseball team.
00:34:05.327 --> 00:34:05.657
Right.
00:34:05.657 --> 00:34:07.337
And how's the oldest?
00:34:07.337 --> 00:34:11.688
Uh, two youngest of your So Caitlyn, I'm sorry if I butchered this at 32.
00:34:12.137 --> 00:34:12.318
Okay.
00:34:12.438 --> 00:34:21.347
Um, and, uh, she's my stepdaughter and then it goes Camie and Calvin and Camie is 28, 26 for Calvin.
00:34:21.648 --> 00:34:28.007
And then my oldest is 26, and then my next is 21 and it's CSU.
00:34:28.847 --> 00:34:34.788
And then we have little Zoe who is ours together, me and my husband's together, and she is about to turn 12.
00:34:35.297 --> 00:34:39.527
Um, and how's she feel about having, uh, three fresh brothers?
00:34:39.617 --> 00:34:40.907
Oh, she adores them.
00:34:41.237 --> 00:34:42.378
Yeah, she adores them.
00:34:42.378 --> 00:34:42.797
That's cool.
00:34:43.097 --> 00:34:47.898
Um, the only thing that, that I worry for her is the, the ability to.
00:34:48.737 --> 00:34:49.668
Love and then let go.
00:34:49.668 --> 00:34:49.757
Mm-hmm.
00:34:50.088 --> 00:34:57.737
Um, I mean we, we are totally blessed'cause we've got to see a good season and we've got to But you don't know if you'll be able to keep'em?
00:34:57.737 --> 00:34:59.268
Kind of, or we don't know what God's doing with it.
00:34:59.277 --> 00:35:06.297
You know, it's been interesting because we, I could, I, being safe Families director, um, I can't host with safe families.
00:35:06.297 --> 00:35:08.157
That's just a state, state rule.
00:35:08.188 --> 00:35:08.487
Makes sense.
00:35:08.697 --> 00:35:12.748
Um, because I had been look overseeing the placement and really involved.
00:35:12.748 --> 00:35:16.918
So when that came about, I actually became a certified kinship provider.
00:35:17.007 --> 00:35:17.038
Oh.
00:35:17.038 --> 00:35:18.748
Since I had a relationship with the boys.
00:35:18.867 --> 00:35:19.047
Mm-hmm.
00:35:19.858 --> 00:35:25.887
Um, and it has been almost like an extended safe families thing for us.
00:35:26.157 --> 00:35:26.217
Yeah.
00:35:26.307 --> 00:35:30.358
Um, we have a very good relationship with the parent.
00:35:30.688 --> 00:35:35.577
Um, I think that's helped with the resiliency of the children for sure.
00:35:35.637 --> 00:35:39.088
Um, and we just kind of hope that we can always be there.
00:35:39.148 --> 00:35:52.978
We, we wanna, uh, be that family, that extended family for me, like I was a single mom for a while and I had support, but it's still, there were times where crisis came and I was like in panic.
00:35:53.038 --> 00:35:53.217
Yeah.
00:35:53.427 --> 00:35:56.007
And for single, single parents.
00:35:56.652 --> 00:35:57.853
That don't have support.
00:35:58.483 --> 00:35:59.563
Um, it's ingrained in me.
00:35:59.563 --> 00:36:01.603
I really want to be that support.
00:36:01.603 --> 00:36:02.262
You can't.
00:36:02.652 --> 00:36:02.773
Yeah.
00:36:02.773 --> 00:36:06.793
It's like tying your hands behind your back and trying to do the most important job in the world.
00:36:06.882 --> 00:36:07.092
Yeah.
00:36:07.782 --> 00:36:08.563
That's interesting.
00:36:09.432 --> 00:36:10.273
Well, bless you.
00:36:10.512 --> 00:36:16.603
That's quite a, uh, a set of obligations and opportunities you've said yes to Yeah.
00:36:16.663 --> 00:36:20.682
Over the last few years and, and great to see a team building around that.
00:36:21.163 --> 00:36:29.233
Can you tell me a story of like an anonymized story of tremendous success that really stands out to you?
00:36:31.242 --> 00:36:34.693
So again, this is one that I have permission to share.
00:36:34.813 --> 00:36:39.432
Um, the fir the, there's a mom that we worked with, she's near and dear to my heart.
00:36:39.523 --> 00:36:41.623
Um, uh, her name's Heather.
00:36:41.983 --> 00:36:45.853
Um, she spoke at our very first gala, um, in 2022.
00:36:46.443 --> 00:36:50.882
Um, and she struggled with homelessness, addiction.
00:36:51.213 --> 00:36:55.023
Um, she, um, we can be, we became involved.
00:36:55.023 --> 00:36:57.273
We have a really good partnership with ERT County.
00:36:57.572 --> 00:36:57.603
Okay.
00:36:57.663 --> 00:37:01.137
Um, probably because of my career there prior and Sure.
00:37:01.143 --> 00:37:03.152
And, and so that's been a blessing too.
00:37:03.512 --> 00:37:05.523
Um, but anyways, back to the topic.
00:37:05.552 --> 00:37:08.402
Uh, she became involved because she wanted support.
00:37:08.492 --> 00:37:13.322
Um, she had got a new home and it had been a while, 10 years I think.
00:37:13.592 --> 00:37:13.623
Okay.
00:37:13.652 --> 00:37:23.657
Um, and so we literally became involved to just connect her to family, friends that could come in, help her get everything moved in help decorate, help baby proof, you know.
00:37:24.043 --> 00:37:25.753
Be there when she needs to talk.
00:37:25.782 --> 00:37:29.563
Volunteers were texting, they were calling, they were hanging out and having dinners.
00:37:29.922 --> 00:37:32.172
Um, everything was going really well.
00:37:32.172 --> 00:37:34.873
And like we see with addiction, sometimes there's relapse.
00:37:34.878 --> 00:37:35.128
Yeah.
00:37:35.413 --> 00:37:36.822
Um, and there was a relapse.
00:37:36.882 --> 00:37:47.143
Um, mom had this, mama had, uh, already been through, um, some of the foster care adoption, lost adoption stories.
00:37:47.143 --> 00:37:49.273
So obviously for her that was.
00:37:49.963 --> 00:37:52.693
Immensely traumatizing to think of that route.
00:37:53.143 --> 00:37:57.853
Um, and we scrambled with her to find a host home.
00:37:58.393 --> 00:38:04.873
Um, and it was just beautiful Originally, it's the winter, it's we're going into winter, and the host home we utilized is in red feathers.
00:38:04.873 --> 00:38:05.563
Oh, perfect.
00:38:05.922 --> 00:38:07.902
I'm like, this could be tough.
00:38:08.293 --> 00:38:12.193
But they made it, I mean, it was just, they did the work.
00:38:12.253 --> 00:38:21.643
They, I, you know, I just got to be on the sidelines watching, watching what they and God did, because they just formed this beautiful relationship.
00:38:21.838 --> 00:38:29.097
Um, it was during the holidays, so we had to utilize other volunteers because our host home wanted to travel Florida, California.
00:38:29.608 --> 00:38:31.527
So we utilized a couple other Wow.
00:38:31.557 --> 00:38:32.998
Um, volunteer.
00:38:32.998 --> 00:38:33.563
It takes a village, right?
00:38:33.623 --> 00:38:34.563
Yes, it takes a village.
00:38:35.217 --> 00:38:41.427
When we closed out her, when we met with DHS to close out, which we closed out super fast.
00:38:41.697 --> 00:38:45.208
One be I wanna, I wanna really highlight the work she did.
00:38:45.268 --> 00:38:45.358
Mm-hmm.
00:38:45.628 --> 00:38:48.807
Because we have families that if they don't wanna change, we don't work.
00:38:48.838 --> 00:38:48.927
Yeah.
00:38:48.932 --> 00:38:49.083
Yeah.
00:38:49.088 --> 00:38:51.057
'cause you've gotta wanna do the work.
00:38:51.088 --> 00:38:51.177
Yep.
00:38:51.447 --> 00:38:52.768
Um, but she really did.
00:38:52.768 --> 00:38:53.818
And, uh.
00:38:54.208 --> 00:38:58.228
Put in a lot of that work, jumped through all the hoops she closed out.
00:38:58.228 --> 00:39:02.217
I wanna say we were only open to host for 90 days, which was quick.
00:39:02.697 --> 00:39:02.757
Wow.
00:39:02.757 --> 00:39:02.938
Yeah.
00:39:03.027 --> 00:39:11.788
Um, and when we went to her, the DHS has family meetings to talk about, like, let's make a plan for how we avoid this happening again.
00:39:11.818 --> 00:39:12.027
Yeah.
00:39:12.418 --> 00:39:22.588
She had a packed house of volunteers, I think at, at that time, I counted 10 safe families, volunteers that were putting down on paper what they would continue to do.
00:39:23.307 --> 00:39:26.217
Um, I have a really beautiful picture, Kurt.
00:39:26.637 --> 00:39:30.688
Um, that happened at our last run that we did, our fundraising run.
00:39:30.688 --> 00:39:30.748
Yeah.
00:39:31.077 --> 00:39:32.007
Of her.
00:39:32.128 --> 00:39:32.998
It's such a baby though.
00:39:33.382 --> 00:39:34.202
You make me cry.
00:39:34.663 --> 00:39:34.963
I'm sorry.
00:39:35.503 --> 00:39:36.717
He don't mean to make you cry.
00:39:37.648 --> 00:39:41.608
Slap me Ava, come in here and slap me.
00:39:43.257 --> 00:39:44.277
Um, but continue.
00:39:44.277 --> 00:39:51.418
But that's so beautiful just to have like, it, it speaks to her heart and dedication to improving, obviously.
00:39:51.422 --> 00:39:51.483
Mm-hmm.
00:39:51.563 --> 00:39:52.123
But also mm-hmm.
00:39:52.813 --> 00:39:55.932
Like to have that many people say yes.
00:39:55.932 --> 00:39:56.112
Mm-hmm.
00:39:56.353 --> 00:39:59.443
You know, 10 people say yes to, I'll help this person.
00:39:59.532 --> 00:39:59.862
You know?
00:40:00.103 --> 00:40:00.822
It's so cool.
00:40:01.362 --> 00:40:03.072
It is truly being make you cry too fall.
00:40:03.072 --> 00:40:03.313
I know.
00:40:03.313 --> 00:40:03.882
I see it.
00:40:03.882 --> 00:40:04.572
I can see it.
00:40:04.572 --> 00:40:05.353
You're pretty close.
00:40:06.643 --> 00:40:08.202
I You probably will get me to cry.
00:40:08.202 --> 00:40:08.833
Uh um.
00:40:08.862 --> 00:40:09.853
Trying my best.
00:40:10.242 --> 00:40:11.143
Yeah, you're doing good.
00:40:11.143 --> 00:40:11.563
Better than me.
00:40:11.568 --> 00:40:11.697
I'm.
00:40:12.222 --> 00:40:13.302
But all over the place here.
00:40:13.422 --> 00:40:18.583
This picture that they took at the fundraiser that we did, the lab, we, it's formally lapsed for Love.
00:40:18.583 --> 00:40:19.992
It was Footsteps for Family.
00:40:20.322 --> 00:40:20.353
Okay.
00:40:20.353 --> 00:40:28.992
It's, it's of her, her daughter, our host family who also recently adopted, which isn't usually the Safe Family story.
00:40:29.023 --> 00:40:30.342
That's not what we usually do.
00:40:30.342 --> 00:40:31.813
But they recently adopted.
00:40:31.873 --> 00:40:32.083
Yeah.
00:40:32.293 --> 00:40:41.833
Um, that hosted her daughter and then, uh, another Safe Families volunteer and all their kids and they're all sitting in the grass together.
00:40:42.193 --> 00:40:50.563
And I was like, that's what it's all about, is like you're extending your family that, um, that's, we call it Circle of Sport, like I said.
00:40:50.652 --> 00:40:50.802
Yeah.
00:40:50.802 --> 00:40:55.003
But it's like that Mother of Theresa like, like how do you make that bigger?
00:40:55.003 --> 00:40:55.152
Yeah.
00:40:55.722 --> 00:41:01.512
How do you, how many, um, hours a month does like a family coach typically volunteer for?
00:41:02.568 --> 00:41:03.708
It can really depend.
00:41:03.708 --> 00:41:07.427
So you can really volunteer and be really intense.
00:41:07.427 --> 00:41:08.838
Like you've got a lot to get done.
00:41:08.838 --> 00:41:09.858
You've got several cases going at the same time.
00:41:09.858 --> 00:41:14.117
You've got several cases we try right now to give them one to two.
00:41:14.297 --> 00:41:14.327
Okay.
00:41:14.478 --> 00:41:17.088
Um, our like policies and procedures.
00:41:17.088 --> 00:41:22.007
Say a part-time volunteer coach could do up to four and a like full-time.
00:41:22.007 --> 00:41:24.623
One that want, you know, maybe retired and wants to do Right.
00:41:24.623 --> 00:41:24.632
Right.
00:41:24.632 --> 00:41:26.717
This a lot can do up to 12.
00:41:26.898 --> 00:41:27.197
Okay.
00:41:27.257 --> 00:41:34.788
Um, really too, like we have traditionally too when it comes to placement checks, a lot of times staff do those just to make sure.
00:41:34.788 --> 00:41:34.878
Mm-hmm.
00:41:34.878 --> 00:41:39.947
At least the initial ones are really, you know, we're checking all the boxes, but how interesting.
00:41:39.978 --> 00:41:43.367
That's what they, my wife has uh, been doing Casa for a couple of years now.
00:41:43.487 --> 00:41:43.788
Oh, really?
00:41:43.793 --> 00:41:44.327
Really loves it.
00:41:44.657 --> 00:41:47.717
Um, but she would be super qualified for your Yes, she would.
00:41:48.077 --> 00:41:51.527
So anyway, I try, try to set her up with any more volunteer.
00:41:51.643 --> 00:41:52.182
We love casa.
00:41:52.188 --> 00:41:54.137
We have a, an amazing casa.
00:41:54.822 --> 00:42:00.643
Miss Shelly, so well, I'm gonna call for a break and try to get my composure back and stop crying.
00:42:01.242 --> 00:42:04.572
Uh, and we'll talk a little bit more about say families.
00:42:04.572 --> 00:42:07.092
We'll talk about this book and we'll jump in the time machine.
00:42:07.693 --> 00:42:08.083
Awesome.
00:42:08.083 --> 00:42:08.623
Sounds good.
00:42:58.163 --> 00:43:04.012
And so when we jumped off, we were, uh, kind of talking about a little bit of the vision for the future.
00:43:04.043 --> 00:43:05.092
It could be a bolder thing.
00:43:05.092 --> 00:43:10.373
So you think that could be just a, a branch of your organization for Northern Colorado?
00:43:10.882 --> 00:43:10.943
Yeah.
00:43:10.943 --> 00:43:10.952
Or.
00:43:11.663 --> 00:43:14.782
We're thinking it would go under the Northern Colorado chapter.
00:43:14.782 --> 00:43:18.052
Like I said earlier, we have three chapters across the state.
00:43:18.052 --> 00:43:18.112
Yeah.
00:43:18.112 --> 00:43:21.862
So we're farthest, farthest south we go is Colorado Springs.
00:43:21.922 --> 00:43:22.132
Right.
00:43:22.342 --> 00:43:25.342
Um, and then we have Denver Metro that covers five counties.
00:43:25.342 --> 00:43:25.432
Right.
00:43:25.432 --> 00:43:27.382
Colorado Springs is El Paso primarily.
00:43:27.382 --> 00:43:28.733
Tell are a little bit Right.
00:43:28.733 --> 00:43:29.353
Was big and far away.
00:43:29.543 --> 00:43:32.753
I mean, I think their future goal is probably Pueblo and a little bit further.
00:43:32.753 --> 00:43:32.842
Sure.
00:43:33.293 --> 00:43:39.472
Um, and then for us, it has started in Larimer was always intended to go into Weld.
00:43:39.503 --> 00:43:53.032
Um, and then now last year we've started going into Weld, partnering with agencies there, working out a relationship with the county team members, HS added team members teach us, add a team members, um, and then you're like an entrepreneur.
00:43:53.213 --> 00:43:55.913
Oh man, I didn't think so, but I guess God does.
00:43:58.492 --> 00:43:59.123
Very cool.
00:43:59.123 --> 00:44:01.523
Well, and I imagine there's some benefits of scale too.
00:44:01.777 --> 00:44:02.068
Yeah.
00:44:02.072 --> 00:44:02.242
Yeah.
00:44:02.302 --> 00:44:02.693
Right.
00:44:02.693 --> 00:44:10.282
When you're too small, you're just too small to be effective and you gotta run these, you know, outreach campaigns, getting gathering resources mm-hmm.
00:44:10.523 --> 00:44:15.262
And matching new clients with, with volunteers and what's the right volunteer.
00:44:15.592 --> 00:44:15.742
Mm-hmm.
00:44:15.983 --> 00:44:16.943
A lot of stuff to do.
00:44:17.063 --> 00:44:20.782
And we always joke that matching volunteers and families kind of feels like.
00:44:21.503 --> 00:44:22.432
Uh, matchmaking.
00:44:22.672 --> 00:44:22.943
Yeah.
00:44:23.213 --> 00:44:24.172
And here's your blind date.
00:44:24.172 --> 00:44:25.402
Hope your guys are good friends.
00:44:25.492 --> 00:44:31.583
Well, like I do this, you know, we, we haven't really talked much about what local Think Tank does, and I don't know if you've ever No, I'd love to hear that.
00:44:31.583 --> 00:44:37.253
Snoop us or what, but so we have these chapters of business owners, um, occasionally nonprofits.
00:44:37.253 --> 00:44:38.693
They get half price, half price.
00:44:38.693 --> 00:44:39.052
Mm-hmm.
00:44:39.059 --> 00:44:50.063
Um, but they, uh, they meet together for a half day, once a month and kind of take turns put in their challenges and opportunities on the table for a 10 person group of people to kind of process through.
00:44:50.722 --> 00:44:50.992
Oh, nice.
00:44:51.052 --> 00:45:00.443
So it's like your board of directors basically, but they're all invested in doing their own business, but they have a perspective and skills and talents to share into the sauce, if you will.
00:45:00.802 --> 00:45:01.103
Oh, yeah.
00:45:01.163 --> 00:45:12.023
Um, and like figuring out where a new prospect for local think tank chapter should go is a little bit of a, you know, okay, well, like maybe this one, you know, you gotta kinda have a sense for.
00:45:12.757 --> 00:45:13.568
Relationships.
00:45:13.688 --> 00:45:15.307
Uhhuh, who's gonna vibe with who?
00:45:15.307 --> 00:45:16.838
And it sounds like that's Yeah.
00:45:16.867 --> 00:45:17.467
Same for you.
00:45:17.612 --> 00:45:17.902
Yeah.
00:45:18.128 --> 00:45:18.577
Yeah.
00:45:18.637 --> 00:45:18.998
Can I get ice?
00:45:18.998 --> 00:45:21.757
We're probably more similar than, uh, we would imagine.
00:45:21.818 --> 00:45:22.117
Yes.
00:45:22.117 --> 00:45:22.358
Probably.
00:45:24.157 --> 00:45:27.637
We, we do a thing called hallow relational intelligence.
00:45:28.057 --> 00:45:28.208
Really?
00:45:28.447 --> 00:45:28.597
Okay.
00:45:28.597 --> 00:45:28.898
Yeah.
00:45:28.898 --> 00:45:32.438
And I'm full of ideas and I'm full of love for people.
00:45:32.438 --> 00:45:33.128
Basically.
00:45:33.128 --> 00:45:35.858
I'm the, the thinker and the social relational type.
00:45:36.277 --> 00:45:37.297
It sounds a lot like me.
00:45:37.297 --> 00:45:39.637
I like to, I joke that I kind of fly with the birds.
00:45:39.637 --> 00:45:40.418
I'm a visionary.
00:45:40.418 --> 00:45:41.827
I'm like, Ooh, I like that.
00:45:41.827 --> 00:45:42.518
I wanna do that.
00:45:42.577 --> 00:45:42.847
Right.
00:45:43.043 --> 00:45:43.342
You know?
00:45:43.362 --> 00:45:45.818
And you prefer other people do a lot of the things.
00:45:45.818 --> 00:45:45.878
Yeah.
00:45:46.297 --> 00:45:49.268
I try to get my people together so we can work on project.
00:45:49.268 --> 00:45:55.688
Like one thing that we've been trying to work on, uh, not to digress, is a transportation type ministry.
00:45:55.688 --> 00:45:59.228
Because biggest needs in Colorado is housing and transportation.
00:45:59.228 --> 00:45:59.407
Totally.
00:45:59.407 --> 00:46:00.757
When those things fall apart.
00:46:00.878 --> 00:46:01.177
Yep.
00:46:01.237 --> 00:46:02.182
Or just people that live.
00:46:02.762 --> 00:46:03.632
Off the bus route.
00:46:03.753 --> 00:46:04.237
Yeah, right.
00:46:04.338 --> 00:46:04.557
Wow.
00:46:04.592 --> 00:46:08.132
And getting kids to school and, and not having buses to take'em.
00:46:08.132 --> 00:46:12.063
And, um, so, you know, when that came about, I'm like, it can't be me.
00:46:12.063 --> 00:46:16.918
I've got a handful, but what, what do you guys, so we're still working on who that lucky winner might be.
00:46:17.217 --> 00:46:18.597
Tag it's you, Katie.
00:46:20.782 --> 00:46:23.813
Sorry, Katie's sitting at home going, no, no more Roxy.
00:46:25.282 --> 00:46:33.742
Um, so if in the future you're able to kind of expand in the Weld County Boulder, that would be kind of the, the northern front range.
00:46:34.103 --> 00:46:34.193
Mm-hmm.
00:46:34.943 --> 00:46:35.932
What would that look like?
00:46:35.932 --> 00:46:42.262
Then you would maybe have, uh, another four, five people mostly full-time and then a network of volunteers.
00:46:42.262 --> 00:46:44.003
How many volunteers Right now?
00:46:44.123 --> 00:46:49.132
So we have a 65 active that was active in our last fiscal year.
00:46:49.253 --> 00:46:49.373
Okay.
00:46:49.373 --> 00:46:53.333
That actually were, you know, uh, green on our list to go and match.
00:46:53.632 --> 00:46:57.862
There's probably more like a hundred when you consider our resource friends and things like that.
00:46:57.862 --> 00:46:57.873
Yep.
00:46:57.873 --> 00:47:01.432
That maybe, you know, that aren't lightening on actively engaged, but in different ways.
00:47:01.677 --> 00:47:01.947
Yeah.
00:47:01.947 --> 00:47:05.038
And then we've got quite a few in the, in the process now.
00:47:05.068 --> 00:47:05.188
Hmm.
00:47:05.427 --> 00:47:07.527
Um, so, so we're getting up there.
00:47:07.527 --> 00:47:10.768
It's my goal to be at least 150.
00:47:11.097 --> 00:47:15.177
Um, I would love that if we could be at that end of this time next year.
00:47:15.237 --> 00:47:15.447
Yeah.
00:47:15.538 --> 00:47:19.947
Um, especially now that we are trying, we're meeting needs in Weld County too.
00:47:20.038 --> 00:47:20.217
Yeah.
00:47:20.398 --> 00:47:27.117
Um, and then we served last year for our fiscal year, we were able to serve 35 families, 88 children.
00:47:27.447 --> 00:47:27.867
That's been our.
00:47:28.793 --> 00:47:30.353
Kind of where we sit at.
00:47:30.353 --> 00:47:30.382
Okay.
00:47:30.713 --> 00:47:35.813
And, and I'm kind of good with that because there's a lot of things percolating, like as we expand.
00:47:35.813 --> 00:47:45.563
I didn't realize that you've gotta train new workers and you've got to, you know, really replicate what you're doing in Larimer, in Wild Now and then maybe now in Boulder.
00:47:45.893 --> 00:47:56.003
And so, like as I was looking at too, at the grants that we did and kind of explaining things that, uh, yeah, well we wanna serve more families every year, that's fantastic.
00:47:56.003 --> 00:47:57.922
But we also need more volunteers.
00:47:57.922 --> 00:47:59.422
And that's a whole lot of work too.
00:47:59.483 --> 00:47:59.813
Yeah.
00:48:00.202 --> 00:48:02.813
Taking, yeah, just organizing that many volunteers is a huge job.
00:48:03.077 --> 00:48:03.682
Yeah, it is.
00:48:03.682 --> 00:48:03.887
It is.
00:48:04.188 --> 00:48:04.907
Who does that right now?
00:48:04.907 --> 00:48:10.097
Is that Um, so it is technically the way the process should work.
00:48:10.097 --> 00:48:11.387
I'm having a little hard time.
00:48:11.387 --> 00:48:13.757
'cause when I used to do everything now it's like okay.
00:48:13.757 --> 00:48:13.847
Right.
00:48:13.847 --> 00:48:16.608
You got the team leads kind of, because you got the coach lead and the stuff like that.
00:48:16.608 --> 00:48:17.208
Yeah.
00:48:17.478 --> 00:48:22.097
So we're really getting the processes down to where our church engagement goes out.
00:48:22.097 --> 00:48:24.947
They do the, what we call a launch at a church.
00:48:24.978 --> 00:48:25.068
Mm-hmm.
00:48:25.338 --> 00:48:29.657
Um, and then our volunteer organizations, we can work outside of that too, but, right.
00:48:29.807 --> 00:48:31.643
The Rotary Club could have a launch even potentially.
00:48:31.643 --> 00:48:32.088
Yes, they could.
00:48:32.088 --> 00:48:36.737
We've even talked about other nonprofits that may have volunteers that wanna also work with us.
00:48:36.768 --> 00:48:37.878
Then we can partner and Sure.
00:48:38.208 --> 00:48:38.717
Share.
00:48:38.987 --> 00:48:45.737
Um, but anyways, they go out, they do the launch, they take the volunteer all the way through the process, which looks like training.
00:48:45.858 --> 00:48:48.438
We now do live trainings, which is fantastic.
00:48:48.918 --> 00:48:50.717
Um, we have online training as well.
00:48:50.958 --> 00:48:54.378
Um, and then they do all the background checks.
00:48:54.438 --> 00:48:56.418
Um, they collect all the documents.
00:48:56.418 --> 00:48:56.958
We have like.
00:48:57.012 --> 00:49:01.663
Firearm safety, water safety, you know, the same documents that a foster family would almost go through.
00:49:01.663 --> 00:49:01.753
Sure.
00:49:02.052 --> 00:49:05.503
You know, we're a lot less, a lot less work than that.
00:49:05.563 --> 00:49:05.623
Yeah.
00:49:05.628 --> 00:49:05.708
Yeah.
00:49:05.713 --> 00:49:08.322
Um, but still a lot of the same safety measures.
00:49:08.652 --> 00:49:17.833
Um, and then we hand it over to Andrea, our family coach supervisor, when we need to go out and do like the final interview and what we call, we call it a home screen.
00:49:17.922 --> 00:49:18.012
Yep.
00:49:18.248 --> 00:49:18.467
Yep.
00:49:18.472 --> 00:49:21.342
Um, so we make sure the home looks safe, if they're gonna have children there.
00:49:21.342 --> 00:49:27.788
If it's a family friend and they're not, we can meet in the community, do a hour and a half interview with them to know who they are and Yeah.
00:49:28.032 --> 00:49:31.362
What might trigger them or, or what they'd be excel at.
00:49:31.902 --> 00:49:46.063
The beauty, and what I did it by myself is I have God's gifted me with this ability to, when I hear what Kurt is all about and I hear a story and everything about him, that when I got a referral that would be perfect for Kurt, I'd be like.
00:49:46.293 --> 00:49:46.862
Just like that.
00:49:46.867 --> 00:49:48.222
I know the person, you know?
00:49:48.228 --> 00:49:48.427
Yeah.
00:49:48.427 --> 00:49:53.708
And it just would come so quickly, and now that I'm not so hands on, I'm like, Ooh, this is gonna be a good one.
00:49:53.708 --> 00:49:54.342
I hope so.
00:49:54.347 --> 00:49:54.487
Yeah.
00:49:54.487 --> 00:49:57.668
How do I match these up if I don't know'em so well, but Yeah.
00:49:57.668 --> 00:49:57.907
Ooh.
00:49:57.967 --> 00:49:58.447
Maybe.
00:49:58.478 --> 00:50:07.208
Well, I think to some extent, even if it didn't seem like the perfect person, you know, the person that says yes sometimes is the perfect person.
00:50:07.447 --> 00:50:07.867
Yeah.
00:50:08.077 --> 00:50:08.498
Yeah.
00:50:08.503 --> 00:50:10.628
Um, I don't always know that, right?
00:50:10.657 --> 00:50:11.197
Yeah.
00:50:11.197 --> 00:50:11.208
Yeah.
00:50:11.918 --> 00:50:16.268
I want to jump in the time machine and meet little Roxy.
00:50:16.507 --> 00:50:16.717
Okay.
00:50:16.748 --> 00:50:18.608
Were you Roxy Right from five years old?
00:50:18.998 --> 00:50:20.918
My dad called me Teen Teens.
00:50:20.918 --> 00:50:21.938
Don't ask me why.
00:50:22.422 --> 00:50:22.583
Interesting.
00:50:23.047 --> 00:50:24.097
And do you have a middle name?
00:50:24.338 --> 00:50:25.063
Um, Rochelle.
00:50:25.643 --> 00:50:27.083
Roxane, Rochelle.
00:50:27.202 --> 00:50:27.382
Mm-hmm.
00:50:27.623 --> 00:50:28.132
Interesting.
00:50:28.132 --> 00:50:28.853
Different name.
00:50:28.853 --> 00:50:29.422
Yeah, it is.
00:50:29.782 --> 00:50:32.782
Uh, where were you, when were you born?
00:50:32.842 --> 00:50:34.643
I was born in Mitchell, South Dakota.
00:50:34.702 --> 00:50:36.083
Oh, um, east The corn capital.
00:50:36.143 --> 00:50:36.382
Yes.
00:50:36.382 --> 00:50:37.103
Corn Palace.
00:50:37.132 --> 00:50:38.663
World's largest bird feeder.
00:50:42.052 --> 00:50:43.913
I've never heard it called that before, but that's pretty fun.
00:50:44.032 --> 00:50:44.302
Yeah.
00:50:44.302 --> 00:50:44.932
If you live there.
00:50:45.472 --> 00:50:47.063
And is that where you were grown up as well?
00:50:47.213 --> 00:50:48.413
That's where I grew up.
00:50:48.443 --> 00:50:48.532
Okay.
00:50:48.623 --> 00:50:55.282
Um, yeah, so, and, and I say some in my heart for, for this work comes from that.
00:50:55.643 --> 00:50:59.753
My parents were very, you know, my grandparents were really hard workers.
00:50:59.753 --> 00:51:01.733
My grandparents on one, my mom's side.
00:51:01.737 --> 00:51:01.998
Farmers.
00:51:02.032 --> 00:51:06.083
Farmers and, you know, really, really had a few cows.
00:51:06.083 --> 00:51:06.773
Yes.
00:51:07.313 --> 00:51:08.722
There were six children there.
00:51:08.902 --> 00:51:08.963
Wow.
00:51:08.992 --> 00:51:10.943
Um, and, uh.
00:51:11.543 --> 00:51:16.072
Just worked really good, strong work ethic worth, work ethic.
00:51:16.313 --> 00:51:16.943
Easy for you to say.
00:51:17.032 --> 00:51:18.532
Yeah, I was tongue twister for a minute.
00:51:18.862 --> 00:51:21.083
And then my dad's side's similar.
00:51:21.143 --> 00:51:27.862
Um, his mom was a teacher and his dad a veteran and, uh, diagnosed at mess.
00:51:27.862 --> 00:51:32.032
And so spent some, many years later, about years, years, um, in a wheelchair.
00:51:32.362 --> 00:51:34.523
Um, dad was a very hard worker.
00:51:34.523 --> 00:51:35.963
He was a welder his whole life.
00:51:35.992 --> 00:51:38.182
Um, he was also a veteran in the Navy.
00:51:38.572 --> 00:51:45.023
Um, and my mom and my dad, um, they had to be hard workers.
00:51:45.023 --> 00:51:51.172
So my mom, uh, her career was to be a nurse, but she ended up in home health.
00:51:51.172 --> 00:51:51.262
Mm-hmm.
00:51:51.293 --> 00:51:54.862
Um, she did struggle somewhat with some depression.
00:51:55.193 --> 00:51:59.543
So, you know, I've kind of seen that firsthand and what that feels like.
00:51:59.873 --> 00:51:59.963
Mm-hmm.
00:51:59.963 --> 00:52:03.472
You know, knowing that that's, you know, difficult as a parent.
00:52:03.472 --> 00:52:03.617
How, how did that.
00:52:04.463 --> 00:52:05.782
Translate to you?
00:52:05.782 --> 00:52:08.693
Was it kind of a separation of relationship kind of, or?
00:52:08.693 --> 00:52:11.603
I don't think as a kid I really understood.
00:52:11.753 --> 00:52:11.782
Okay.
00:52:11.782 --> 00:52:11.932
Alright.
00:52:11.963 --> 00:52:18.202
Um, probably the biggest impact on me as a child, and it was when my parents divorced.
00:52:18.503 --> 00:52:18.532
Okay.
00:52:18.592 --> 00:52:21.322
I always thought, you know, my parents.
00:52:21.862 --> 00:52:25.853
They kind of flew by in the middle of the night, kind of probably like a lot of parents have to now.
00:52:25.882 --> 00:52:25.943
Yeah.
00:52:26.092 --> 00:52:26.693
'cause they work.
00:52:26.693 --> 00:52:29.242
My dad worked days, my mom worked nights.
00:52:29.452 --> 00:52:29.543
Yep.
00:52:29.603 --> 00:52:34.432
You know, and I, he talks about he also struggled with alcohol until Right.
00:52:34.612 --> 00:52:36.952
He stopped drinking when he met my mother.
00:52:36.952 --> 00:52:39.922
It's a funny, not a funny story, but it's neat story.
00:52:39.983 --> 00:52:40.253
Yeah.
00:52:40.313 --> 00:52:42.652
He met my mother in his detox.
00:52:43.012 --> 00:52:43.043
Oh.
00:52:43.043 --> 00:52:44.722
So my mother was a detox counselor.
00:52:44.842 --> 00:52:44.932
Oh, wow.
00:52:45.773 --> 00:52:49.373
Um, and he never drank a drop of alcohol again.
00:52:49.413 --> 00:52:49.503
Hmm.
00:52:49.983 --> 00:53:14.882
Um, he has I think 50 some years sober and they still struggled in their relationship despite that kind of, or Well, he, when he did, he recently did a testimony at his church on his story, um, and he said, you know, when I talked to him about it afterwards, um, what probably caused their drift was getting so busy in life and so busy with work, um, and stepping away from their AA family.
00:53:14.972 --> 00:53:15.063
Mm-hmm.
00:53:15.063 --> 00:53:15.782
My mom was a mm-hmm.
00:53:15.842 --> 00:53:18.873
Went to Al-Anon and he went to a, had just kind an attachment from community.
00:53:18.873 --> 00:53:19.592
Solid group.
00:53:19.623 --> 00:53:20.132
Yeah.
00:53:20.132 --> 00:53:20.143
Yeah.
00:53:20.193 --> 00:53:21.753
The social isolation part.
00:53:21.782 --> 00:53:21.963
Yeah.
00:53:21.967 --> 00:53:25.472
Because you are busy and you're raising children and you're, and they didn't really have any friends.
00:53:25.472 --> 00:53:26.043
Hardly.
00:53:26.043 --> 00:53:26.103
Yeah.
00:53:26.612 --> 00:53:29.913
Looking in on em much, you know, mom and dad or whatever around, but.
00:53:30.382 --> 00:53:31.643
Well, the older dad's got ms.
00:53:32.302 --> 00:53:32.603
Yeah.
00:53:32.603 --> 00:53:35.333
Well, and we see this, you know, today.
00:53:35.393 --> 00:53:35.543
Yeah.
00:53:35.543 --> 00:53:38.333
You know, families are having to work really, really hard.
00:53:38.572 --> 00:53:44.242
I had somebody recently tell me that, Colorado, gosh, I just, it kind of shook me.
00:53:44.512 --> 00:53:49.733
Colorado is inhumane to families because of how expensive it is.
00:53:49.967 --> 00:53:50.168
Right.
00:53:50.333 --> 00:53:57.682
And how, how housing is and the resources and, um, she's like, it's a beautiful place to live.
00:53:57.893 --> 00:53:58.012
Yeah.
00:53:58.193 --> 00:54:01.672
But for a single mom or a single dad, it just is tough.
00:54:01.762 --> 00:54:02.813
Well, super tough.
00:54:02.813 --> 00:54:10.132
Even for a pair of$50,000 income earners, having two kids is like, holy crap, how are we gonna do that?
00:54:10.193 --> 00:54:10.612
You know?
00:54:10.612 --> 00:54:10.762
Yeah.
00:54:10.762 --> 00:54:11.543
What did they say?
00:54:11.873 --> 00:54:16.132
You have to have 160 or 170,000 to be middle class now.
00:54:16.132 --> 00:54:18.023
That sounds about right for a couple.
00:54:18.083 --> 00:54:19.432
Yeah, that sounds about right.
00:54:19.523 --> 00:54:20.483
That's just nuts.
00:54:20.572 --> 00:54:22.193
So I'm stuck in lower middle class.
00:54:22.193 --> 00:54:23.842
I've been in lower middle class for a long time.
00:54:23.842 --> 00:54:24.233
One minute.
00:54:26.438 --> 00:54:29.347
Good thing about my house when they were relatively affordable in oh nine.
00:54:29.347 --> 00:54:29.887
Oh yeah.
00:54:29.918 --> 00:54:30.188
Yeah.
00:54:30.188 --> 00:54:31.762
That was us for our first house too.
00:54:31.782 --> 00:54:33.097
So when did your folks split?
00:54:33.487 --> 00:54:35.108
So they split in my teen years.
00:54:35.228 --> 00:54:35.347
Okay.
00:54:35.347 --> 00:54:36.608
And I really struggled with that.
00:54:36.608 --> 00:54:37.688
And you have siblings too?
00:54:37.838 --> 00:54:44.648
Um, I had an older, um, half brother and, um, my sister is younger than me, four years younger than me.
00:54:44.648 --> 00:54:44.677
Okay.
00:54:45.157 --> 00:54:54.757
Um, and I kind of went, we, another really poignant thing about my family is both my, both my grandparents were very, very faith oriented.
00:54:55.112 --> 00:54:55.402
Yeah.
00:54:55.507 --> 00:54:55.777
Yeah.
00:54:55.777 --> 00:54:59.108
My one grandmother was Methodist, my other grandmother was Baptist.
00:54:59.527 --> 00:54:59.557
Okay.
00:54:59.617 --> 00:55:03.097
And for me, a naive young child, I was like, well, we don't do this.
00:55:03.097 --> 00:55:03.608
Like what?
00:55:03.847 --> 00:55:04.088
Right.
00:55:04.088 --> 00:55:06.518
It kind of put a divide in our family.
00:55:06.577 --> 00:55:06.697
Hmm.
00:55:06.818 --> 00:55:10.538
Like we had, you know, my parents divorced, nobody was talking.
00:55:10.568 --> 00:55:16.083
My grandparents are mad at each other, other, neither mom nor dad really had, I'm like, isn't in a faith thing.
00:55:16.083 --> 00:55:16.802
While you were growing up?
00:55:17.103 --> 00:55:19.447
My mom more my, my dad.
00:55:19.492 --> 00:55:21.773
Uh, somewhat.
00:55:22.132 --> 00:55:35.972
Um, he'll, he like now he'll tell me that it kind of shoot him away from the church when they kind of talk to him about his failures in the marriage and, you know, you know, kind of like the, the religious church sometimes dives in, okay, bye.
00:55:35.972 --> 00:55:37.342
Uh, yeah.
00:55:37.342 --> 00:55:37.777
Thanks asshole.
00:55:37.777 --> 00:55:38.018
Yeah.
00:55:38.213 --> 00:55:43.583
But, you know, uh, went through that, that was really a shook my foundation.
00:55:43.913 --> 00:55:43.972
Yeah.
00:55:44.063 --> 00:55:53.152
I, you know how we sometimes, you know, we have this strong faith foundation, but then something in life kinda shakes that up a little bit and you go the opposite direction.
00:55:53.483 --> 00:55:54.132
Were you like a.
00:55:54.818 --> 00:56:03.847
Connector and have a lot of friends in school and things like that, or was that something later to develop for you as a 12 or 14-year-old or whatever?
00:56:03.967 --> 00:56:05.617
Well, we moved around a lot.
00:56:05.617 --> 00:56:07.628
My sister would tell you I was really connected.
00:56:07.628 --> 00:56:08.498
I didn't see it.
00:56:08.648 --> 00:56:11.168
I didn't think so, but maybe I was.
00:56:11.498 --> 00:56:11.557
Yeah.
00:56:11.557 --> 00:56:15.188
You know, sometimes you're just like, eh, my sister more kept to herself.
00:56:15.188 --> 00:56:17.288
So you moved around a lot around the country, around Mitchell?
00:56:17.293 --> 00:56:19.773
Well, or just around the region kind of, or whatever.
00:56:19.773 --> 00:56:22.268
When, when I was younger, we moved out to Gillette, Wyoming.
00:56:22.268 --> 00:56:22.297
Oh.
00:56:22.447 --> 00:56:24.007
Um, we're out there for a little bit.
00:56:24.007 --> 00:56:24.188
Oh wow.
00:56:24.188 --> 00:56:24.577
My dad.
00:56:24.577 --> 00:56:29.228
And then we moved back to Mitchell, um, and, uh, bounced around.
00:56:29.228 --> 00:56:30.697
There's smaller communities there.
00:56:30.728 --> 00:56:30.878
Yep.
00:56:30.878 --> 00:56:30.887
Yep.
00:56:30.967 --> 00:56:32.588
So we kind of went to different schools.
00:56:32.588 --> 00:56:34.568
I went to a Christian school for a while.
00:56:34.568 --> 00:56:37.657
I think my parents were like, oh, she's probably gonna, we need to keep her.
00:56:40.012 --> 00:56:45.788
I, but, uh, ended up honestly, uh, leaving school after my junior year.
00:56:45.818 --> 00:56:46.838
I was like, I'm done.
00:56:46.842 --> 00:56:47.172
I Oh, wow.
00:56:47.172 --> 00:56:48.487
I was upset with my family.
00:56:48.547 --> 00:56:48.577
Okay.
00:56:48.728 --> 00:56:53.737
Um, I ended up, uh, going out to the Twin Cities in Minnesota.
00:56:53.737 --> 00:56:54.608
I started working.
00:56:54.608 --> 00:56:56.318
So, did you emancipate or you just took off?
00:56:56.407 --> 00:57:00.248
No, I just, my mom's, my mom was actually supportive of it.
00:57:00.487 --> 00:57:00.938
Okay.
00:57:00.938 --> 00:57:05.708
Uh, you know, and I ended up later on getting my GED and going back to college and getting a bachelor's.
00:57:06.007 --> 00:57:06.038
Okay.
00:57:06.637 --> 00:57:18.367
Um, but had a rocky few years there where I was, I think honestly, I would've told you I wasn't angry with my family or God, but I now looking back as an adult, I was, I was angry.
00:57:18.367 --> 00:57:22.867
Oh, and were you like, boozing it, clubbing it, drugging it, any of that kind of stuff?
00:57:22.867 --> 00:57:26.257
Or you were just like, you know, in my twenties, I, I, you know, I know children.
00:57:26.257 --> 00:57:30.697
I definitely partied and, and did what the 20 year olds do.
00:57:31.027 --> 00:57:33.637
Um, but you know, it's interesting because.
00:57:34.012 --> 00:57:36.262
Always knew what my foundation was.
00:57:36.413 --> 00:57:36.472
Yeah.
00:57:36.833 --> 00:57:43.222
My, I still remember one of my favorite memories as a child is my grandmother teaching me the Lord's Prayer on the porch.
00:57:43.822 --> 00:57:50.242
Um, and sitting out there with her, she was, she was one of my biggest advocates and my mom too.
00:57:50.422 --> 00:57:50.512
Yeah.
00:57:50.842 --> 00:57:56.932
Um, another thing, um, when I was a little bit older that kind of rocked me is I lost my mom instantly.
00:57:57.083 --> 00:57:57.172
Mm-hmm.
00:57:57.472 --> 00:57:59.663
Um, almost instantly from a brain aneurysm.
00:57:59.753 --> 00:57:59.842
Oh wow.
00:58:00.413 --> 00:58:03.382
Um, when I was six months pregnant with my son.
00:58:03.532 --> 00:58:04.132
Oh, wow.
00:58:04.132 --> 00:58:04.853
So.
00:58:05.677 --> 00:58:10.358
I always say that attributes to what I do now, because I know how that crisis Yeah.
00:58:10.358 --> 00:58:17.467
And loss of, I mean, your relationship, I mean the, your mom is like your, for me, that was my person.
00:58:17.557 --> 00:58:17.797
Yeah.
00:58:18.007 --> 00:58:22.447
Um, she helped me with my, my son was four years old at the time.
00:58:22.447 --> 00:58:22.507
Wow.
00:58:22.958 --> 00:58:25.237
Um, and I was six months pregnant with my second son.
00:58:25.507 --> 00:58:28.148
Um, little to No, she was like your main support.
00:58:28.177 --> 00:58:29.047
She was.
00:58:29.047 --> 00:58:30.007
She was.
00:58:30.007 --> 00:58:30.998
And now she was gone in a heartbeat.
00:58:31.177 --> 00:58:33.427
Um, yeah, she was gone quick.
00:58:33.532 --> 00:58:36.697
Who, who did anybody step in to fill your void in that time?
00:58:36.813 --> 00:58:37.592
Oh, my dad's.
00:58:38.208 --> 00:58:39.737
Pretty awesome in his own right.
00:58:39.768 --> 00:58:44.358
Um, he is not the like, oh, I'm gonna hold you while you cry, dad.
00:58:44.358 --> 00:58:47.777
But he's like, I'm gonna tell you to pull up your bootstraps and tough it out dad.
00:58:48.228 --> 00:58:54.318
Um, but he actually moved to Colorado for a short time and came out and helped support me'cause I didn't wanna go back home.
00:58:54.318 --> 00:58:55.518
I had settled here.
00:58:55.668 --> 00:58:55.847
Yeah.
00:58:55.967 --> 00:58:58.608
Um, so he actually did that for a while for me.
00:58:58.612 --> 00:58:58.733
That's cool.
00:58:58.757 --> 00:58:59.297
That's really neat.
00:58:59.748 --> 00:59:01.217
But some really good parents.
00:59:01.248 --> 00:59:06.768
Um, like I said, really that was probably the biggest thing that kind of shook me as a child.
00:59:06.768 --> 00:59:09.947
My grandmother was another rock for me, the women in my life.
00:59:09.978 --> 00:59:10.068
Yeah.
00:59:10.458 --> 00:59:12.797
Um, and she, my sister will tell me.
00:59:12.873 --> 00:59:18.842
Tell you that I was her favorite, but I think she loved everybody just the same seems more Jesus like.
00:59:19.547 --> 00:59:22.893
Um, um, but she also passed not too long after my mom.
00:59:22.893 --> 00:59:22.952
Wow.
00:59:22.952 --> 00:59:24.302
So that, those things are hard.
00:59:24.302 --> 00:59:24.362
Wow.
00:59:24.362 --> 00:59:31.623
So like I think that feeds into why I know, like the need for, for people to have Yeah.
00:59:31.623 --> 00:59:39.963
You know, these added supports because even you and I are one bank account, 401k, um, bad situation away.
00:59:39.963 --> 00:59:40.052
Oh yeah.
00:59:40.052 --> 00:59:40.862
From needing.
00:59:41.402 --> 00:59:55.862
Well and support, you know, having been on the board at Matthew's house and involved with that organization a long time and other nonprofits, I know that poverty is, yes, it's financial, but a lot of it is just poverty of social capital, of relationships of.
00:59:56.307 --> 01:00:00.597
Connections to resource and, and the belief that I can get outta this muck.
01:00:00.657 --> 01:00:00.838
Mm-hmm.
01:00:01.438 --> 01:00:09.418
You know, and just having a bunch of people surround you and pray for you and encourage you, you know, the, the, the belief could get a lot stronger through that.
01:00:09.597 --> 01:00:26.728
Well, and I don't know if you know this, but in August of 2024, kind of after COVID,'cause we were well aware of social isolation during, during COVID, the Surgeon General actually issued a warning about social isolation and the impact it has on parent and children mental health.
01:00:26.788 --> 01:00:26.967
Totally.
01:00:26.967 --> 01:00:28.108
Children's mental health.
01:00:28.617 --> 01:00:32.217
Um, and so that's just kind of what Safe Families is doing.
01:00:32.487 --> 01:00:36.628
We're trying to resource resource families in relationship.
01:00:36.628 --> 01:00:36.927
Mm-hmm.
01:00:37.557 --> 01:00:37.797
Yeah.
01:00:37.858 --> 01:00:44.458
Um, like a restoration of relationship, even for most cases or many cases, which goes back to the love your neighbor.
01:00:44.463 --> 01:00:44.672
Yeah.
01:00:44.893 --> 01:00:46.112
And, and dig it.
01:00:46.498 --> 01:00:46.947
Yeah.
01:00:47.038 --> 01:00:47.338
Um.
01:00:48.172 --> 01:00:49.253
Let's touch real quickly.
01:00:49.253 --> 01:00:50.632
You said you were in the break.
01:00:50.632 --> 01:00:54.532
You said you were a bang up sales girl back in the day, and so let's talk about this, right?
01:00:54.563 --> 01:00:54.773
Right.
01:00:54.952 --> 01:00:58.583
After the first college stretch, uh, early career mm-hmm.
01:00:59.123 --> 01:00:59.693
Season.
01:00:59.693 --> 01:01:02.902
And obviously you had two kids by a first marriage.
01:01:03.353 --> 01:01:05.483
I actually wasn't married.
01:01:05.483 --> 01:01:05.523
Her's not even married.
01:01:05.523 --> 01:01:05.728
Okay.
01:01:06.143 --> 01:01:06.322
Yeah.
01:01:07.043 --> 01:01:07.972
What'd grandma think about that?
01:01:08.782 --> 01:01:12.967
She probably didn't love it, but she, she still wasn't judged, but I was her favorite.
01:01:13.157 --> 01:01:14.007
That was the way she was.
01:01:15.643 --> 01:01:16.902
Um, no.
01:01:16.902 --> 01:01:28.038
So, and it, it, another thing, the, the sales career gave me the freedom to be able to, uh, be able to raise kids, go to school and figure out when your childcare was and work all sweat.
01:01:28.307 --> 01:01:28.597
Yeah.
01:01:28.597 --> 01:01:32.262
And I realized that early on, because I had a really good career.
01:01:32.262 --> 01:01:37.663
I was an event manager at a, they were business conferencing, uh, organization.
01:01:37.722 --> 01:01:37.873
Okay.
01:01:37.878 --> 01:01:37.887
Yeah.
01:01:38.023 --> 01:01:48.402
Um, premier Global Services and got fired from that job af and I was climbing the ladder, got fired from that job because I, my daycare fell through.
01:01:48.402 --> 01:01:50.103
I had a son that was sick and I was like, oh damn.
01:01:50.623 --> 01:01:52.512
I can't, what am I gonna do?
01:01:52.512 --> 01:01:52.882
Can't take this risk.
01:01:52.967 --> 01:01:53.257
Yeah.
01:01:53.443 --> 01:01:57.043
And so I kind of fell into a door to door sales.
01:01:57.163 --> 01:01:58.992
It was actually almost like swan's.
01:01:59.262 --> 01:01:59.382
Oh yeah.
01:01:59.413 --> 01:02:02.322
Um, steak, chicken, seafood, pork Now.
01:02:02.322 --> 01:02:03.463
Town and country foods.
01:02:03.492 --> 01:02:03.762
Yeah.
01:02:03.762 --> 01:02:06.672
Town and country's one of, I have, my freezer is still rocking.
01:02:06.702 --> 01:02:07.242
Yeah.
01:02:07.242 --> 01:02:07.813
That I bought, sold.
01:02:07.813 --> 01:02:08.262
You bought a town?
01:02:08.382 --> 01:02:08.922
Country.
01:02:08.922 --> 01:02:10.452
And my cookware set too.
01:02:10.782 --> 01:02:11.952
We did it in Colorado Springs.
01:02:11.952 --> 01:02:12.492
You weren't there.
01:02:12.612 --> 01:02:13.213
Yeah.
01:02:13.273 --> 01:02:14.773
But I knew town and Country.
01:02:14.773 --> 01:02:14.833
Yeah.
01:02:14.893 --> 01:02:20.742
Um, we were, the first uh, place I did it with was actually one of my good friend's, um, brother's business.
01:02:20.742 --> 01:02:21.822
It was called the Cut Above.
01:02:21.972 --> 01:02:22.273
Okay.
01:02:22.333 --> 01:02:25.333
And I started with him and was like, I'm gonna hate this.
01:02:25.617 --> 01:02:30.177
I, you know, going on somebody's door and knocking, hey, you know, maybe, but people like you.
01:02:31.347 --> 01:02:32.668
But I was good at it.
01:02:32.668 --> 01:02:37.527
And so then after a few years I was like, wow, I could do this on my own.
01:02:37.918 --> 01:02:38.307
Yeah.
01:02:38.487 --> 01:02:40.737
And so I really built a good business.
01:02:40.737 --> 01:02:44.608
I remember in oh eight when kind of the bottom fell out for people.
01:02:44.608 --> 01:02:49.617
That's when I realized kind of like my, my, I wanted to give back.
01:02:49.648 --> 01:02:49.737
Mm-hmm.
01:02:49.737 --> 01:02:53.697
Because I was watching all these families that struggling in different ways.
01:02:53.697 --> 01:02:53.818
Yeah.
01:02:53.822 --> 01:02:59.757
Supported my family that then, and I served a lot of families that were in the oil and gas industry.
01:02:59.847 --> 01:02:59.938
Mm-hmm.
01:02:59.943 --> 01:03:00.273
Mm-hmm.
01:03:00.277 --> 01:03:03.807
Um, that, you know, that's kind of the area, the one that convenience function in different groups.
01:03:03.807 --> 01:03:04.168
Yeah.
01:03:04.172 --> 01:03:04.353
Yeah.
01:03:04.733 --> 01:03:05.353
And, uh.
01:03:06.157 --> 01:03:09.217
Was just basically given stuff to them for a while.
01:03:09.307 --> 01:03:09.637
Wow.
01:03:09.697 --> 01:03:14.918
You know, so I could, and that right there going through that made me realize, you know, this is how the world works.
01:03:14.918 --> 01:03:14.943
You know?
01:03:14.943 --> 01:03:16.927
So you got a lot of social capital in the bank too.
01:03:17.617 --> 01:03:26.947
I have a little bit, but a lot of, you know, me and my friend joke that God takes us through different types of suffering so we can help other people through theirs.
01:03:27.038 --> 01:03:27.248
Yeah.
01:03:27.458 --> 01:03:32.108
And he's taken me through a different, you know, different stories, different timelines.
01:03:32.108 --> 01:03:32.168
Yeah.
01:03:32.197 --> 01:03:36.757
That I've been able to not just sympathize, but empathize with some situations.
01:03:36.847 --> 01:03:36.907
Yeah.
01:03:36.907 --> 01:03:37.807
Single moms.
01:03:38.378 --> 01:03:45.637
Uh, kids that are, you know, watching parents struggle or, you know, maybe just have, you know, the divorce situation or Sure.
01:03:45.637 --> 01:03:47.737
They only have mom, they don't have dad.
01:03:47.797 --> 01:03:57.487
You know, and one thing people, couples don't always often realize is that when, when you divorce, unless you're like super rich, both people's standard of living is gonna drop.
01:03:57.487 --> 01:03:58.208
Mm-hmm.
01:03:58.268 --> 01:04:05.318
You know,'cause your housing costs, your grocery costs, your utilities, everything's gonna be higher priced and there ain't any more revenue.
01:04:05.318 --> 01:04:08.527
If anything, you had less revenue'cause you have been distracted by two years of.
01:04:09.382 --> 01:04:10.463
Trying not to get a divorce.
01:04:10.643 --> 01:04:11.242
Yeah.
01:04:11.393 --> 01:04:11.873
Yeah.
01:04:11.932 --> 01:04:13.402
So anyway, I digress.
01:04:13.762 --> 01:04:15.592
So you found love again though.
01:04:16.103 --> 01:04:16.463
Yeah.
01:04:16.463 --> 01:04:20.152
I, where was this in the journey and is that part of getting into case work stuff or?
01:04:20.273 --> 01:04:23.932
I always tease that I had a bad picker for a lot of years.
01:04:24.773 --> 01:04:26.393
I, I think it comes with my career too.
01:04:26.393 --> 01:04:27.862
I wanted to fix people.
01:04:27.862 --> 01:04:28.057
You fix em.
01:04:28.447 --> 01:04:28.737
Yeah.
01:04:28.737 --> 01:04:32.302
So, so I found the people that needed, needed me and I wanted to fix them.
01:04:32.302 --> 01:04:34.463
And I realized that that's not what, how that works.
01:04:34.523 --> 01:04:34.583
Yeah.
01:04:34.697 --> 01:04:34.818
Yeah.
01:04:34.818 --> 01:04:38.978
They have to fix themselves ultimately, you know, it usually ends up you having to fix what Yeah, yeah.
01:04:39.592 --> 01:04:40.702
What damage has been done.
01:04:40.702 --> 01:04:51.143
But I took, I took quite some time off and focused on finishing school and, you know, from the dating world and finishing school and focusing on myself, figure out what I want for me.
01:04:51.148 --> 01:04:51.297
Yeah.
01:04:51.302 --> 01:04:56.177
And my two boys, um, I got a dog, which would, you know, that'll keep you outta trouble.
01:04:56.182 --> 01:05:03.682
If you're a woman that wants to maybe just focus on herself and you need, you feel like you need a companion, get a good dog.
01:05:03.862 --> 01:05:03.983
Right.
01:05:04.943 --> 01:05:05.663
They snuggle better.
01:05:05.663 --> 01:05:06.143
Anyway.
01:05:06.172 --> 01:05:06.862
Sorry guys.
01:05:08.873 --> 01:05:10.552
But anyway, much more consistent temperatures.
01:05:10.913 --> 01:05:11.123
Yeah.
01:05:11.452 --> 01:05:14.068
They're very loyal and very loyal.
01:05:14.543 --> 01:05:14.632
Yeah.
01:05:15.143 --> 01:05:18.922
Um, but I got a dog and, you know, it was crazy.
01:05:18.922 --> 01:05:21.413
So I met my husband in Rollins, Wyoming.
01:05:21.682 --> 01:05:22.132
Oh, okay.
01:05:22.253 --> 01:05:25.612
Um, I door to door sales, he was out there.
01:05:25.612 --> 01:05:27.592
He is in the oil and gas industry.
01:05:27.592 --> 01:05:27.773
He.
01:05:28.358 --> 01:05:30.577
Uh, worker in the field at that time.
01:05:30.637 --> 01:05:30.697
Okay.
01:05:31.057 --> 01:05:36.938
Um, and, uh, we started, you know, when you have kids and you want to date, it's really hard.
01:05:36.938 --> 01:05:43.297
Anyway, so we started dating when he was in, in the field, and I could also be in the field and we would go out.
01:05:43.297 --> 01:05:45.637
We started with just cups of coffee and dinners and Yeah.
01:05:46.027 --> 01:05:49.387
Then it was a few months and we introduced, he had two children.
01:05:49.387 --> 01:05:52.657
I had two, well he had three with his older daughter that was away.
01:05:52.748 --> 01:05:53.018
Yeah.
01:05:53.228 --> 01:05:54.157
And you're living here?
01:05:54.157 --> 01:05:55.027
And he's living there.
01:05:55.027 --> 01:05:56.257
And so I was in Denver.
01:05:56.257 --> 01:05:56.288
Okay.
01:05:56.318 --> 01:06:00.038
He was actually, um, based outta Greeley, Colorado.
01:06:00.248 --> 01:06:00.398
Oh, okay.
01:06:00.458 --> 01:06:07.717
Um, and ironically at that time I was getting done with my associates and going to transfer, and I transferred to UNC for my bachelor's.
01:06:07.717 --> 01:06:07.807
Mm-hmm.
01:06:08.398 --> 01:06:13.108
Um, and we coincidentally, yeah, well, coincidentally ish.
01:06:13.168 --> 01:06:15.568
Um, and he was just amazing.
01:06:15.568 --> 01:06:22.197
I just remember watching how he was with his children and even though he was by himself and worked really hard, yeah.
01:06:22.228 --> 01:06:25.887
He still put his children first and foremost, and that was really important to me.
01:06:26.248 --> 01:06:28.617
Um, and he is my rock.
01:06:28.978 --> 01:06:29.547
Does he have a name?
01:06:29.967 --> 01:06:30.387
Yeah.
01:06:30.538 --> 01:06:30.867
Mr.
01:06:30.867 --> 01:06:31.288
Bruton.
01:06:31.887 --> 01:06:32.367
Steve.
01:06:32.373 --> 01:06:32.563
Hi, Mr.
01:06:32.563 --> 01:06:32.922
Bruton.
01:06:32.927 --> 01:06:34.467
Steve And he'll laugh at this.
01:06:34.467 --> 01:06:36.478
I call him a my IOA guy.
01:06:36.838 --> 01:06:37.347
You who?
01:06:37.583 --> 01:06:38.603
My IOA guy.
01:06:38.603 --> 01:06:38.697
I know a guy.
01:06:39.507 --> 01:06:40.047
Yeah.
01:06:40.047 --> 01:06:45.208
We, uh, often at say, families get asked to help do this or do that.
01:06:45.208 --> 01:06:53.043
And I said, for those that know, I usually say, ah, I might know a guy might, I know a guy is, uh, the guy that shares my bed.
01:06:53.353 --> 01:07:02.547
When I, when I first, uh, started Safe Families, there was probably a vehicle in our garage almost every single weekend that he was fixing.
01:07:04.012 --> 01:07:05.213
God bless you, Steve.
01:07:05.213 --> 01:07:05.813
He is.
01:07:05.813 --> 01:07:06.472
He is.
01:07:06.623 --> 01:07:08.182
He is very wonderful.
01:07:08.188 --> 01:07:11.873
And what's he do with his, uh, is he still in the oil and gas industry?
01:07:11.873 --> 01:07:12.503
He is.
01:07:12.503 --> 01:07:12.532
Okay.
01:07:12.563 --> 01:07:14.873
So he works in Denver now in sales.
01:07:14.932 --> 01:07:15.322
Oh, okay.
01:07:15.382 --> 01:07:19.012
So he works for Universal Fluids, which is also one of our donors.
01:07:19.012 --> 01:07:19.402
Thank you.
01:07:19.402 --> 01:07:20.393
Universal Fluids.
01:07:20.393 --> 01:07:20.512
Awesome.
01:07:20.963 --> 01:07:22.762
Um, they support the work that we do.
01:07:22.793 --> 01:07:25.702
Um, and so yeah, he's made a career of that.
01:07:25.702 --> 01:07:28.702
He's got kind of a family line of that.
01:07:28.702 --> 01:07:30.563
His uncle was in oil and gas.
01:07:30.563 --> 01:07:32.152
His dad was in oil and gas.
01:07:32.182 --> 01:07:32.333
Yeah.
01:07:32.603 --> 01:07:34.552
Um, and those networks are strong too.
01:07:34.612 --> 01:07:35.003
They're right.
01:07:35.003 --> 01:07:39.498
Like that's, he's got a lot of social capital just from the fact that his grandpa was in oil gas.
01:07:39.757 --> 01:07:39.978
Yes.
01:07:40.557 --> 01:07:41.452
In some ways.
01:07:41.873 --> 01:07:41.932
Yeah.
01:07:41.938 --> 01:07:42.952
So he was a good guy.
01:07:43.432 --> 01:07:52.552
Um, I wanted to touch on, before we leave, uh, this chapter of the conversation, the, the, the founder of this whole thing, when did Safe Families.
01:07:52.943 --> 01:07:54.893
Uh, originate.
01:07:55.523 --> 01:07:58.672
So Dave and, and who is this guy with the book?
01:07:59.632 --> 01:08:00.472
David Anderson.
01:08:00.563 --> 01:08:01.012
Yeah.
01:08:01.072 --> 01:08:01.472
Dr.
01:08:01.472 --> 01:08:02.273
David Anderson.
01:08:02.273 --> 01:08:04.103
He's got a PhD in psychology.
01:08:04.523 --> 01:08:08.782
Um, he founded Safe Families over 20 years ago in 2003 in Chicago.
01:08:08.782 --> 01:08:08.813
Okay.
01:08:09.592 --> 01:08:11.932
Um, I really, if we have a second Yeah.
01:08:11.932 --> 01:08:13.228
We can take, we can take, I love his story.
01:08:13.807 --> 01:08:14.748
Six minutes, something like that.
01:08:15.007 --> 01:08:27.353
His story was, um, and I'm sorry Dave if I butchered this, but his story was, he was working with children, um, and he, uh, uh, was a working for a child protection, I do believe.
01:08:27.622 --> 01:08:34.912
And he, um, had a child that he had, he ran across in his line of work that had been injured severely.
01:08:34.912 --> 01:08:34.972
Hmm.
01:08:35.422 --> 01:08:39.262
Um, and he, well, he was upset by that.
01:08:39.292 --> 01:08:42.773
He was moved by that, that how, how this child could have got injured like that.
01:08:42.893 --> 01:08:52.552
And when he sat down to talk to mom, it was one of those situations where mom was about to lose her job, which then, you know, the cascading effect of that and.
01:08:52.972 --> 01:08:56.752
Chose to call an ex-boyfriend, and the ex-boyfriend abused her child.
01:08:57.262 --> 01:09:05.783
Um, and he, he said, you know, I, he thought to himself, why wait until a child is abused before we do something?
01:09:05.903 --> 01:09:06.023
Hmm.
01:09:06.262 --> 01:09:15.682
Why not have something in place that if that mom needed to go to work, she would have somewhere to call and she could try, you know, those would be those vetted back check.
01:09:15.682 --> 01:09:17.698
So she called the ex-boyfriend for childcare, effectively for childcare.
01:09:17.698 --> 01:09:19.103
And how many single moms do that?
01:09:19.162 --> 01:09:19.283
Right.
01:09:19.283 --> 01:09:25.703
You know, I know as a single mom that there were some things that I was like, oh, just Lord, please, you know this.
01:09:25.853 --> 01:09:27.743
I want you watch over my children.
01:09:27.743 --> 01:09:29.453
I'm gonna have to you to go to work today.
01:09:29.993 --> 01:09:30.082
Yeah.
01:09:30.082 --> 01:09:34.073
You know, um, luckily, like I said, I had a great support network.
01:09:34.073 --> 01:09:35.033
I had lots of good friends.
01:09:35.033 --> 01:09:35.122
Right.
01:09:35.122 --> 01:09:38.057
I had my dad, you know, family far away, and you got fired.
01:09:38.768 --> 01:09:39.037
Yeah.
01:09:39.037 --> 01:09:39.698
And I got fired.
01:09:39.698 --> 01:09:42.042
'cause you didn't always have that network available at a moment's notice.
01:09:42.427 --> 01:09:42.787
Yeah.
01:09:42.787 --> 01:09:44.828
And that happens all too often as well.
01:09:44.828 --> 01:09:44.887
Yeah.
01:09:45.278 --> 01:09:48.757
But anyway, so he started Safe Families over 20 years ago.
01:09:49.057 --> 01:09:56.797
Um, he was told, you know, we can't even pay people to do this by, I think the Chicago Department of Human Services.
01:09:56.797 --> 01:09:58.118
Oh, you're gonna get into volunteer.
01:09:58.177 --> 01:09:58.688
Yeah.
01:09:58.778 --> 01:10:04.658
And so he worked to get this rolling and we are at 80,000 hostings.
01:10:04.778 --> 01:10:05.257
Wow.
01:10:05.318 --> 01:10:07.537
Um, that's, you know, our overnight arrangements.
01:10:07.537 --> 01:10:11.347
I think it's one, 2.2 million nights of overnight childcare Wow.
01:10:11.768 --> 01:10:12.547
For families.
01:10:12.547 --> 01:10:16.002
We, and all faith-based through that network across the country kind of thing.
01:10:16.007 --> 01:10:18.368
Started throughout the churches.
01:10:18.427 --> 01:10:21.337
Um, we have about a hundred chapters in the United States.
01:10:21.368 --> 01:10:21.427
Yeah.
01:10:21.818 --> 01:10:27.667
We're Hong Kong, uh, Canada, the uk we're working to move into the Philippines.
01:10:27.938 --> 01:10:27.997
Wow.
01:10:28.177 --> 01:10:28.962
Um, you know.
01:10:29.618 --> 01:10:34.807
Just I, if I think, you know, what I've grown is sub he, yeah.
01:10:34.807 --> 01:10:35.167
He sparked it.
01:10:35.438 --> 01:10:39.158
Uh, first he sparked and he'll call it a movement, you know?
01:10:39.188 --> 01:10:39.427
Yeah.
01:10:39.457 --> 01:10:41.707
We don't wanna be a program, we don't wanna be a service.
01:10:41.707 --> 01:10:43.328
We wanna wanna be a movement.
01:10:43.627 --> 01:10:52.148
So that, like for me, and resulting in safe families for children, I wanna see Fort Collins and Loveland in these areas change where our communities naturally just.
01:10:52.523 --> 01:10:57.113
Wrap around these families and there doesn't have to be a safe families to, to coordinate that.
01:10:57.262 --> 01:10:57.712
Yeah.
01:10:58.162 --> 01:11:05.243
Is there, like, I'd rather have families wrap around these kids than, than government agencies typically.
01:11:05.693 --> 01:11:13.193
Is there, is there federal dollars involved with your funding stream also, or it's kind of like a double-edged sword, right?
01:11:13.193 --> 01:11:16.462
You just, it's get it from the man, then the man can take it back away.
01:11:16.462 --> 01:11:23.182
Well, and I don't know when we first talked, if I even knew this Kurt, but, uh, so to do, to get federal funding is complicated.
01:11:23.212 --> 01:11:23.302
Mm-hmm.
01:11:23.632 --> 01:11:26.813
Um, but we are evidence-based.
01:11:27.052 --> 01:11:37.372
So we had a test done or study done that, that gave us evidence-based research that we are able to lower the number of children entering the foster care and child welfare system.
01:11:37.372 --> 01:11:37.432
Yeah.
01:11:37.432 --> 01:11:39.203
And we are a safe alternative.
01:11:39.682 --> 01:11:46.162
Um, and so in doing that, we also went through what's called the family first prevention.
01:11:46.193 --> 01:11:46.493
Okay.
01:11:46.552 --> 01:11:47.153
Um.
01:11:47.752 --> 01:11:49.582
System, the clearinghouse.
01:11:49.823 --> 01:11:57.563
Um, and we were just now, uh, able to have that stamp that we are eligible for family first funding.
01:11:57.743 --> 01:11:57.773
Oh.
01:11:57.893 --> 01:12:03.922
Um, and that, if you don't know, that's kind of for somebody in child welfare, that's actually what pushed me to do Safe Families.
01:12:03.922 --> 01:12:05.693
I'm like, safe Families is family first.
01:12:05.962 --> 01:12:16.247
When that came out, back in, uh, 2017, 18, I went to a conference at the Embassy Suites where they talked about how this, we were like, why would we recreate this?
01:12:16.613 --> 01:12:16.912
Yeah.
01:12:16.912 --> 01:12:18.023
Well, they talked about this.
01:12:18.023 --> 01:12:22.552
I was a caseworker at the time about how we were gonna do this switch of, and this.
01:12:22.853 --> 01:12:26.872
Of really working to put dollars to keep kids with families.
01:12:26.932 --> 01:12:27.052
Mm-hmm.
01:12:27.832 --> 01:12:32.932
Um, so it was kind of mo gonna move from putting dollars where foster care was to family first.
01:12:33.052 --> 01:12:33.143
Yep.
01:12:33.533 --> 01:12:37.643
Um, and, and that for me, I was like, oh, that's, that's amazing.
01:12:37.703 --> 01:12:39.863
That's a huge shift for uh, totally.
01:12:39.863 --> 01:12:44.573
You know, if you don't know there's 400,000 kids in foster care that's like.
01:12:44.997 --> 01:12:47.908
The population of Loveland, Greeley, Fort Collins.
01:12:47.908 --> 01:12:47.997
Right.
01:12:47.997 --> 01:12:48.837
It was all children.
01:12:48.837 --> 01:12:49.222
Right, right.
01:12:49.917 --> 01:12:50.728
On half of North Dakota.
01:12:50.728 --> 01:12:51.627
More than half of North Dakota.
01:12:51.627 --> 01:12:51.747
Yeah.
01:12:51.807 --> 01:12:53.818
Oh, that's a crazy, crazy.
01:12:53.818 --> 01:12:54.028
Yeah.
01:12:54.028 --> 01:12:55.228
I didn't even think of that one.
01:12:55.528 --> 01:13:11.037
But you know, if say families believes if we could impact that system, if we could take the kids out that just got their, they ended up in the foster care system because of neglect and poverty, we could help alleviate help.
01:13:11.158 --> 01:13:13.557
'cause we wanna help, we wanna partner with child welfare.
01:13:13.858 --> 01:13:16.828
Um, we could help alleviate that system by 70%.
01:13:17.608 --> 01:13:17.728
Wow.
01:13:17.787 --> 01:13:19.738
And it, and it's an overwhelming system.
01:13:20.217 --> 01:13:25.677
It, they, and then they could Well, and everybody existing, everybody that was left could do a really great job.
01:13:25.743 --> 01:13:26.462
'cause they're not so overwhelmed.
01:13:26.493 --> 01:13:26.783
Yeah.
01:13:26.783 --> 01:13:31.797
And the children that really need it, the children that, that and families that really need the system.
01:13:31.858 --> 01:13:31.917
Yeah.
01:13:31.917 --> 01:13:42.028
'cause there is a place, I, there's the most wonderful people I've ever met are the foster families that, that I've ran into at three and four o'clock in the morning that I go drop off kid off.
01:13:42.927 --> 01:13:43.167
Yeah.
01:13:43.432 --> 01:13:44.842
They're angels, I'm sure.
01:13:44.903 --> 01:13:49.162
So I wanna talk about, uh, your, your, your event rhythm.
01:13:49.552 --> 01:13:50.002
Yeah.
01:13:50.002 --> 01:13:54.143
It's possible that we'll have this podcast out in time for the duck race.
01:13:54.773 --> 01:13:55.403
What is that?
01:13:55.792 --> 01:13:59.422
Yeah, so the Rotary Club in Fort Collins is doing a duck race.
01:13:59.783 --> 01:14:03.712
Um, safe Families is signed up along with a bunch of other non-profits.
01:14:04.042 --> 01:14:07.703
Um, very well deserving everybody, but Safe Families is my favorite.
01:14:07.912 --> 01:14:08.002
Right.
01:14:08.063 --> 01:14:13.042
Um, and you can buy a dock for$25 or a quack pack for 125.
01:14:13.792 --> 01:14:15.023
And it's this fun race.
01:14:15.023 --> 01:14:16.552
I believe it's at City Park.
01:14:16.552 --> 01:14:16.792
Is it?
01:14:16.792 --> 01:14:19.823
Or it's second annual Fort Collins Duck Race for charity.
01:14:20.122 --> 01:14:21.743
Fort Collins City Park Pool.
01:14:21.773 --> 01:14:22.222
Yeah.
01:14:22.222 --> 01:14:22.912
And Lazy River.
01:14:23.033 --> 01:14:23.842
And look at the money.
01:14:23.842 --> 01:14:24.203
You can win.
01:14:24.203 --> 01:14:24.382
You win.
01:14:24.563 --> 01:14:26.903
Can win$5,000 for first place.
01:14:26.903 --> 01:14:26.993
Dang.
01:14:27.262 --> 01:14:29.063
$3,000 for second, is it?
01:14:29.063 --> 01:14:29.122
Yeah.
01:14:29.122 --> 01:14:30.443
And then one for third.
01:14:30.502 --> 01:14:32.063
Get your duck race tickets now.
01:14:32.122 --> 01:14:32.453
Yeah.
01:14:32.542 --> 01:14:34.672
Um, so probably can just Google or something, right?
01:14:34.672 --> 01:14:34.733
Yeah.
01:14:34.733 --> 01:14:38.632
Because the QR code, maybe if you can get close to the tv, you can scan that QR code.
01:14:38.903 --> 01:14:40.882
We'll put a link in the uh, description.
01:14:41.153 --> 01:14:41.932
Yeah, you can do.
01:14:42.483 --> 01:14:45.693
I Google search Safe Families, duck Race, Fort Collins'.
01:14:46.443 --> 01:14:49.412
They'll go, there's not that many duck races for safe families around.
01:14:49.438 --> 01:14:49.728
Yeah.
01:14:49.733 --> 01:14:50.012
Yeah.
01:14:50.012 --> 01:14:51.212
Maybe you'll start a trend though.
01:14:51.542 --> 01:14:52.082
Yeah.
01:14:52.472 --> 01:14:59.462
Uh, although it's, it's already a Rotary Club thing, so they can own the Well, and, and thanks to the Rotary Club, it's nice to do a fundraiser where somebody else does.
01:14:59.462 --> 01:14:59.552
Yeah.
01:14:59.613 --> 01:15:02.493
We just get a advertise and then set up a booth.
01:15:02.643 --> 01:15:02.912
Yeah.
01:15:02.912 --> 01:15:03.752
Further don't work a little bit.
01:15:04.172 --> 01:15:04.502
Yeah.
01:15:04.502 --> 01:15:07.047
Um, and then you have a gala in the spring, early spring.
01:15:07.052 --> 01:15:10.023
So we're doing early a gala in February this year.
01:15:10.023 --> 01:15:11.372
We usually do it in November.
01:15:11.493 --> 01:15:11.762
Okay.
01:15:11.853 --> 01:15:13.082
Um, had to postpone.
01:15:13.082 --> 01:15:14.132
Do some, do some, uh.
01:15:14.198 --> 01:15:20.377
A couple other things going on for us personally and, uh, moving it to February.
01:15:20.438 --> 01:15:20.648
Okay.
01:15:20.648 --> 01:15:26.047
And so, we'll, that'll be February 27th, I think we've finalized plans for it to be at the Drake Center.
01:15:26.137 --> 01:15:26.377
Okay.
01:15:26.618 --> 01:15:28.837
Um, it's, is it on your website already too?
01:15:29.108 --> 01:15:30.127
Um, it will be soon.
01:15:30.127 --> 01:15:30.512
Mark, your calendar.
01:15:30.757 --> 01:15:34.268
We just, we just basically signed off on the center.
01:15:34.358 --> 01:15:34.507
Right.
01:15:34.568 --> 01:15:35.438
We signed the contract.
01:15:35.438 --> 01:15:36.007
It's still wet.
01:15:36.007 --> 01:15:36.097
Yeah.
01:15:36.457 --> 01:15:38.768
Um, so that's coming up.
01:15:38.768 --> 01:15:42.757
We have a very unique thing that people love and that we do grab baked.
01:15:43.057 --> 01:15:45.307
So, um, oh, at that event, yeah.
01:15:45.307 --> 01:15:52.597
You, it's not a silent auction, but you can like grab a rose for a hundred dollars, two 50, do 250 or 500.
01:15:52.597 --> 01:15:52.747
Okay.
01:15:53.078 --> 01:15:55.717
And it coordinates to a grab bag that you've been able to.
01:15:55.978 --> 01:15:58.797
Take peeks at as you socialize everything.
01:15:59.188 --> 01:15:59.712
Oh, there's different goodies in there or whatever.
01:15:59.712 --> 01:16:07.738
Different goodies and different prizes that we've gotten donated from a lot of wonderful, wonderful community, you know, businesses and Fort Collins.
01:16:07.743 --> 01:16:07.953
Yeah.
01:16:08.457 --> 01:16:08.757
Yeah.
01:16:08.757 --> 01:16:10.828
So we have fun doing that every year.
01:16:10.828 --> 01:16:19.828
We usually have, uh, last year we had one of our, uh, pastors speak that spoke from the church perspective and how that shaped his church to work with safe families.
01:16:19.858 --> 01:16:19.948
Mm-hmm.
01:16:20.217 --> 01:16:28.828
We had, um, somebody from Lerer County come and speak about how we partner and how that impacts the work that they do, which was really powerful.
01:16:28.828 --> 01:16:28.887
Yeah.
01:16:29.217 --> 01:16:35.007
Um, and then we had a family come share about how how she worked with volunteers.
01:16:35.007 --> 01:16:35.068
Yeah.
01:16:35.457 --> 01:16:37.408
Um, and what that did for her life.
01:16:37.707 --> 01:16:42.568
Um, and we had one of our host family speak, so we had a well-rounded Yeah.
01:16:42.568 --> 01:16:43.033
Sounds like it.
01:16:43.033 --> 01:16:44.578
I don't if we can top it this year.
01:16:44.578 --> 01:16:44.908
So.
01:16:45.932 --> 01:16:48.002
Have you connected with the, uh, St.
01:16:48.002 --> 01:16:51.033
SPI church down in Loveland by chance?
01:16:51.092 --> 01:16:51.603
I haven't.
01:16:51.603 --> 01:16:54.393
It's the Greek Orthodox Church down there, or is it Orthodox Church.
01:16:54.783 --> 01:16:57.813
And I've become a fan of the guy's podcast, father Evan.
01:16:57.813 --> 01:16:57.842
Okay.
01:16:57.962 --> 01:17:04.563
And his, he had a big segment, uh, recently on kind of faith and practice.
01:17:04.972 --> 01:17:05.632
And action.
01:17:05.632 --> 01:17:07.552
And how their churches are pretty good.
01:17:07.552 --> 01:17:08.783
I actually visited there once.
01:17:08.783 --> 01:17:14.302
'cause, uh, long story, my good friend's kid is dating the pastor's daughter.
01:17:14.363 --> 01:17:15.052
Oh, okay.
01:17:15.052 --> 01:17:18.983
And so I was like, I wanted to stick out with this Orthodox church thing is all, but it's beautiful.
01:17:18.983 --> 01:17:23.377
And the, and the experience, the smells and, uh, everything really fascinating.
01:17:23.377 --> 01:17:23.783
Oh, what was it?
01:17:23.783 --> 01:17:26.002
Spirit, Saint Spirit on church.
01:17:26.182 --> 01:17:26.212
Okay.
01:17:26.212 --> 01:17:27.382
I think is what it's called.
01:17:27.382 --> 01:17:37.733
When I was doing my, so I did briefly dabble in a master's degree from CCU and I had to go to different, a different church and write a paper like different from my core.
01:17:37.733 --> 01:17:37.853
Sure.
01:17:38.483 --> 01:17:39.592
And I Did you study Orthodox?
01:17:39.832 --> 01:17:40.403
I didn't.
01:17:40.403 --> 01:17:43.132
I went to a Catholic church just to see what the difference would be.
01:17:43.132 --> 01:17:44.363
That was like an easy one.
01:17:44.363 --> 01:17:46.313
I'm like, oh, there's all kinds of Catholic churches.
01:17:46.582 --> 01:17:47.422
Can't be that weird.
01:17:49.042 --> 01:17:52.057
Turns out it is tea.
01:17:54.938 --> 01:17:55.287
Shame.
01:17:56.243 --> 01:17:57.233
I made you laugh.
01:17:57.292 --> 01:17:57.712
Proper.
01:17:58.252 --> 01:18:01.073
Um, but, so anyway, where did we jump off?
01:18:01.073 --> 01:18:03.382
I guess just with that experience of the event?
01:18:03.382 --> 01:18:04.493
Oh, we did the event, the gala left.
01:18:04.568 --> 01:18:12.113
And, and tell me more, gimme a little nibble on how has it changed some of the churches that have wrapped around your families?
01:18:12.353 --> 01:18:12.953
Um, oh gosh.
01:18:12.953 --> 01:18:18.728
I'm not the best one, but we had, uh, you know, I would love for a church to say that, but for, for, um.
01:18:20.033 --> 01:18:41.332
For like our church specifically when we go out, we, we, we're heavy on the, we love to go out and do, like, we love to move a family or clean a house or do action oriented stuff, but I, I joke that I might be kicked out at some point for getting us involved in some of the things we do, but it's just so neat to go out there with your team from your church that you usually only see on Sunday morning.
01:18:41.332 --> 01:18:43.193
Maybe you talk a little bit in the hallway Sure.
01:18:43.283 --> 01:18:46.042
And do something for somebody else together.
01:18:46.582 --> 01:18:47.497
Um, and sometimes it's.
01:18:48.108 --> 01:18:49.307
Two or three churches.
01:18:49.307 --> 01:18:54.707
So you get to go out with the different, different folks and meet them and do something together to help somebody out.
01:18:55.188 --> 01:19:02.057
Um, we did have a church recently write a letter for us and she said that, you know, they were doing so much in the community.
01:19:02.057 --> 01:19:06.047
They do a popup life Springs Church is amazing over in Loveland.
01:19:06.287 --> 01:19:08.927
Um, they do a popup, they do a carnival.
01:19:08.927 --> 01:19:10.877
They really serve their community.
01:19:11.118 --> 01:19:22.818
But what she wrote was so wonderful and thank you so much, Lisa, but uh, she said that safe families filled the gap for them to be able to have a deeper connection with people in their community.
01:19:23.118 --> 01:19:25.007
So we were able, and that's what we wanna do.
01:19:25.068 --> 01:19:26.988
We wanna be the bridge to the church.
01:19:26.993 --> 01:19:28.393
It's not just a carnival, you know?
01:19:28.393 --> 01:19:28.552
Yeah.
01:19:28.552 --> 01:19:32.712
This is where we show what a church is actually supposed to look like and act like.
01:19:32.717 --> 01:19:32.728
Yeah.
01:19:32.728 --> 01:19:42.377
And so we give them the opportunity because a lot of families that we bring to the volunteers are gonna be a little skittish about walking through the front door of a church.
01:19:42.377 --> 01:19:42.387
Sure.
01:19:42.728 --> 01:19:43.297
Some of them.
01:19:43.387 --> 01:19:43.597
Yeah.
01:19:43.658 --> 01:19:45.097
They might not be when they're done.
01:19:45.217 --> 01:19:45.307
Right.
01:19:45.488 --> 01:19:46.868
You know, they might, might be.
01:19:46.872 --> 01:19:47.103
Hopefully not.
01:19:47.363 --> 01:19:48.023
That's part of it.
01:19:48.023 --> 01:19:48.143
Right.
01:19:48.143 --> 01:19:49.297
Might be part of the family.
01:19:49.297 --> 01:19:49.783
So, yeah.
01:19:49.927 --> 01:19:50.408
I love that.
01:19:50.797 --> 01:19:52.597
We have a game we play here.
01:19:53.047 --> 01:19:59.228
Oh, because we're we're run of time and before too long, but, uh, the great ping pong ball challenge.
01:19:59.228 --> 01:19:59.978
Oh, that's right.
01:19:59.978 --> 01:20:02.707
I thought you were gonna have me talk about my craziest time.
01:20:02.768 --> 01:20:05.377
Well, that's the closing segment, so that's still coming.
01:20:05.377 --> 01:20:09.518
But first, uh, here, let me hand this to you or just grab three of those out of there.
01:20:09.608 --> 01:20:10.898
You can just keep all three.
01:20:11.108 --> 01:20:11.467
Okay.
01:20:12.637 --> 01:20:19.568
And each of those questions, it's tied to, uh, introspective or silly or each of those numbers.
01:20:19.658 --> 01:20:19.807
Okay.
01:20:19.807 --> 01:20:21.188
So I got 18, Kurt.
01:20:21.188 --> 01:20:21.488
Okay.
01:20:21.698 --> 01:20:22.297
Are you ready?
01:20:24.097 --> 01:20:29.828
If you had to pick a smell to describe your personality, what would it be?
01:20:33.068 --> 01:20:36.398
Patchouli, not patchouli.
01:20:37.283 --> 01:20:37.502
Ah.
01:20:38.137 --> 01:20:39.637
Um, hmm.
01:20:39.698 --> 01:20:42.818
I was gonna say like a beach smell, but I'm not that relaxed.
01:20:43.268 --> 01:20:44.257
My husband wouldn't be like, no.
01:20:44.257 --> 01:20:46.342
Well, I think about fish without thinking about the beach.
01:20:46.342 --> 01:20:49.448
Like I'm thinking about like the airy, like yeah.
01:20:49.717 --> 01:20:52.747
Like, I don't know that that salt water smell.
01:20:52.752 --> 01:20:52.863
Okay.
01:20:52.863 --> 01:20:53.023
Yeah.
01:20:53.198 --> 01:20:54.847
But that's probably not me.
01:20:54.847 --> 01:21:02.228
I'm probably more like a hot chili pepper or something like, because my husband will tell you I can't sit still.
01:21:02.228 --> 01:21:03.728
I'm always wanting to do something.
01:21:03.728 --> 01:21:04.507
Be somewhere.
01:21:04.807 --> 01:21:05.377
I see.
01:21:05.467 --> 01:21:05.618
Yes.
01:21:05.618 --> 01:21:12.068
So like that, uh, when you, when you open that can of chilies or whatever, you smell it and you're like, oh, that's spicier than I thought.
01:21:12.337 --> 01:21:12.728
Yeah.
01:21:13.182 --> 01:21:13.582
I guess.
01:21:15.037 --> 01:21:15.398
Just kidding.
01:21:16.898 --> 01:21:18.247
Uh, go ahead with the next question.
01:21:18.247 --> 01:21:18.908
Number five.
01:21:21.608 --> 01:21:25.057
What's the most important lesson you've learned from a failure?
01:21:25.747 --> 01:21:26.198
Mm.
01:21:28.328 --> 01:21:30.337
I think recently I've learned.
01:21:30.938 --> 01:21:31.898
That that's okay.
01:21:32.377 --> 01:21:36.967
It's okay to have the failures because that's what's gonna teach you, teach you all what you need to know.
01:21:37.537 --> 01:21:45.488
Um, you know, I used to really, uh, you know, worry about beat yourself up or beat myself up, be scared to do things.
01:21:45.818 --> 01:21:50.618
Like I would've never started safe families, you know, I wouldn't have coined me for somebody like Yeah.
01:21:50.618 --> 01:21:51.518
That would do that.
01:21:51.908 --> 01:21:59.257
Um, but now I think it's, you know, I'm really trying to, that providence of getting that spun up has taken away a lot of your fear.
01:21:59.528 --> 01:21:59.858
Yeah.
01:21:59.948 --> 01:22:00.398
Yeah.
01:22:01.297 --> 01:22:03.247
And amazed me it wouldn't, yeah.
01:22:03.278 --> 01:22:04.057
It wasn't me.
01:22:04.057 --> 01:22:05.467
It was something, yeah.
01:22:05.467 --> 01:22:06.427
Something bigger than I.
01:22:06.427 --> 01:22:06.858
That's pretty cool.
01:22:06.858 --> 01:22:08.108
So that's pretty neat.
01:22:08.438 --> 01:22:12.037
We got number 16, 16 or 91.
01:22:13.478 --> 01:22:14.257
We don't have 91.
01:22:16.297 --> 01:22:21.847
Who has been the most significant individual influence on your life?
01:22:23.828 --> 01:22:24.488
Hmm.
01:22:24.787 --> 01:22:26.917
Man, that's tough.
01:22:28.478 --> 01:22:29.707
That's why I would put it on the list.
01:22:29.797 --> 01:22:30.457
Jesus.
01:22:30.967 --> 01:22:31.328
For sure.
01:22:31.328 --> 01:22:31.957
That's a good answer.
01:22:31.957 --> 01:22:34.537
Do you want, can we talk about your, your faith journey a little bit?
01:22:34.868 --> 01:22:35.047
Yeah.
01:22:35.047 --> 01:22:41.497
Because you mentioned kind of rambling a little bit and you know, single mom stuff.
01:22:41.497 --> 01:22:41.557
Yeah.
01:22:41.557 --> 01:22:45.578
But was it when the kids started getting older that you re engaged?
01:22:45.578 --> 01:22:48.007
Or how, how, what was that journey like for you?
01:22:48.007 --> 01:22:49.358
Probably in my twenties.
01:22:49.358 --> 01:22:49.448
Okay.
01:22:49.537 --> 01:22:55.148
Um, I really engaged, there was a church, if you know, Colorado Springs, I'm sure you remember New Life Church Sure.
01:22:55.148 --> 01:22:56.108
In Colorado Springs.
01:22:56.467 --> 01:22:56.738
Yeah.
01:22:56.738 --> 01:23:00.278
We live down there when, uh, when the big scandal happened.
01:23:00.307 --> 01:23:00.997
That's prostitute.
01:23:01.358 --> 01:23:02.408
Oh, I was too.
01:23:02.408 --> 01:23:03.953
And that was like, oh, was that right?
01:23:04.052 --> 01:23:05.018
No, right.
01:23:05.018 --> 01:23:05.978
We were going to that one.
01:23:05.978 --> 01:23:08.108
But, uh, yeah, that was tough.
01:23:08.108 --> 01:23:10.387
And, and, and we went to the youth night.
01:23:10.387 --> 01:23:13.387
So Pastor Aaron Stern, who is actually the Mill City pastor here.
01:23:13.387 --> 01:23:13.672
Oh yeah.
01:23:13.672 --> 01:23:14.552
I've met that before.
01:23:14.552 --> 01:23:15.247
He was, he was, he was.
01:23:15.953 --> 01:23:17.182
Down in, at New Life.
01:23:17.182 --> 01:23:23.542
So, um, we went there often, um, and really rebuilt my foundation.
01:23:23.662 --> 01:23:34.493
There was a couple times that I probably wasn't as solid, to be honest, right before, not too long before Safe Families, I really, really started to reconnect.
01:23:34.493 --> 01:23:34.552
Hmm.
01:23:34.972 --> 01:23:41.783
I, you know, and I don't know that everybody has these experiences, you know, but God has spoken to me several times.
01:23:41.842 --> 01:23:41.993
Hmm.
01:23:42.203 --> 01:23:46.643
Um, like into the head or you hear it almost audibly.
01:23:46.762 --> 01:23:49.012
I've seen, I've seen him work, like I've seen his actions.
01:23:49.132 --> 01:23:49.193
Yeah.
01:23:49.198 --> 01:23:49.268
Yeah.
01:23:49.582 --> 01:23:53.212
Um, probably the biggest one that also saved my dad and got him back on his.
01:23:54.158 --> 01:23:59.557
Faith back into faith and back in, uh, into church was my son when he struggled with his addiction.
01:23:59.557 --> 01:23:59.587
Oh.
01:23:59.858 --> 01:24:02.887
So I had a son that struggled with drug addiction throughout high school.
01:24:03.247 --> 01:24:03.278
Okay.
01:24:03.337 --> 01:24:12.547
Um, and I always tell this story, you know, hopefully he doesn't get mad at me, but because it is his story, but I didn't know what I was gonna do.
01:24:12.547 --> 01:24:17.858
And as a mom that is, can I ask addiction to, to what he, uh, drank, whatever.
01:24:17.948 --> 01:24:21.097
And he probably tell you his favorite was cocaine.
01:24:21.278 --> 01:24:21.368
Mm.
01:24:21.457 --> 01:24:32.023
Um, and, you know, as a mom watching your son do that, it just, I mean, uh, like it just rips your soul out.
01:24:32.172 --> 01:24:32.462
Yeah.
01:24:32.648 --> 01:24:34.837
Um, and I remember trying to do everything.
01:24:34.837 --> 01:24:35.618
I was a caseworker.
01:24:35.618 --> 01:24:38.707
I tried to support, plan him and get him to sign things.
01:24:38.707 --> 01:24:38.797
Right.
01:24:38.797 --> 01:24:40.177
Here's a personal improvement plan for you.
01:24:40.177 --> 01:24:40.597
Yeah.
01:24:40.597 --> 01:24:43.542
I'm trying to do all the things, you know, I'll bond you out, but you what?
01:24:43.542 --> 01:24:47.978
You need some new friends, uh, that don't do drugs well and what do he introduce you to?
01:24:47.983 --> 01:24:48.342
Susie's.
01:24:49.417 --> 01:24:57.313
Kurt, I got down on my knees one day on my back porch and I prayed to God like those guttural prayer where you're just, you're just sobbing.
01:24:57.337 --> 01:25:04.957
Sobbing and, and you know, you're just, and I remember saying to him, he's either gonna dead or in prison and I don't know what else to do.
01:25:04.957 --> 01:25:05.217
And it wasn't.
01:25:05.828 --> 01:25:11.677
Two weeks later that he came running up the stairs and he had, one of the things I wanted him to do was to find therapy.
01:25:11.917 --> 01:25:12.068
Hmm.
01:25:12.488 --> 01:25:15.578
And he came running up the stairs and he's like, mom, can I get your insurance card?
01:25:15.578 --> 01:25:16.627
And I was like, what?
01:25:17.047 --> 01:25:20.828
And he's like, well, these guys in Florida, I called this one 800 number.
01:25:20.828 --> 01:25:23.287
And they're, they're, they just need my insurance.
01:25:23.287 --> 01:25:25.898
They'll pay to fly me down, I'm gonna go to treatment.
01:25:25.898 --> 01:25:28.028
And I was like, being a caseworker.
01:25:28.028 --> 01:25:29.768
I'm like, no, you're gonna go get traffic.
01:25:29.768 --> 01:25:30.908
That's not what's gonna happen.
01:25:31.717 --> 01:25:31.868
Right.
01:25:33.007 --> 01:25:36.052
And I actually flew out there with him and all be darned.
01:25:36.097 --> 01:25:50.408
And, uh, he went out there and he was in a detox where he got acupuncture and massages and, and our insurance actually covered It was, which was also amazing because when we were looking for rehabs, they were like in the sixties and$70,000.
01:25:50.917 --> 01:25:54.847
And so I told my husband, I said, if this is not legit.
01:25:55.493 --> 01:25:59.542
It isn't, we're we're gonna do it, we're gonna pay whatever they said.
01:25:59.542 --> 01:26:00.863
It would just be our deductible.
01:26:00.863 --> 01:26:02.903
So we sent him out there, I went out there with him.
01:26:03.353 --> 01:26:07.613
Um, he, to this day, he'll celebrate seven years sober in December.
01:26:08.002 --> 01:26:08.153
Oh, awesome.
01:26:08.153 --> 01:26:10.162
He made it through, he was 19 years old.
01:26:10.162 --> 01:26:11.332
He made it through 21.
01:26:11.332 --> 01:26:11.393
Wow.
01:26:11.993 --> 01:26:16.042
Um, he, like I was just telling you on break, he makes more money than I do.
01:26:16.103 --> 01:26:16.162
Yeah.
01:26:16.162 --> 01:26:21.533
And, uh, you know, that to me, like those things.
01:26:21.537 --> 01:26:24.172
And we, and that was not long before you started Safe Family.
01:26:25.162 --> 01:26:28.912
It wasn't, it was, it wasn't, was one of the first things that helped to magnify your faith.
01:26:29.063 --> 01:26:29.243
Mm-hmm.
01:26:29.483 --> 01:26:31.342
And really, uh, refresh it, it sounds like.
01:26:31.342 --> 01:26:40.972
Well, and when you can see God move, and I'll just close on this, being able to be on the sidelines of what God does, um, with safe families is Yeah.
01:26:41.243 --> 01:26:44.603
Probably the most phenomenal thing ever.
01:26:44.693 --> 01:26:51.773
Uh, I mean, just even yesterday I was like, man, what, what just happened here in this conversation?
01:26:51.773 --> 01:26:52.313
I could have never.
01:26:53.018 --> 01:26:54.523
Done God's at work.
01:26:54.783 --> 01:27:04.658
And so just really blessed to, you know, even on the hard days, the work's hard sometimes, but to be able to see God in it and to glorify him.
01:27:05.287 --> 01:27:08.318
I actually remember we jumped off of your kind of event thing.
01:27:08.318 --> 01:27:10.203
We had the gala in the spring and there was one more.
01:27:10.552 --> 01:27:13.148
Yeah, we do an awesome 5K that we're growing.
01:27:13.148 --> 01:27:14.917
It was our first year this last year.
01:27:14.922 --> 01:27:15.002
Cool.
01:27:15.007 --> 01:27:17.497
And we do it with a concert with Blues Behind Bars.
01:27:17.618 --> 01:27:17.768
Oh yeah.
01:27:17.768 --> 01:27:19.478
So if you know them, they're amazing.
01:27:19.478 --> 01:27:24.363
So we're kind of partnered, I don't know if they, like, they signed on one year and we've just kind of hung on to'em.
01:27:24.368 --> 01:27:29.618
So you don't have a date for that yet, or, but that's gonna gonna be February, I think it's the third weekend.
01:27:29.677 --> 01:27:30.457
Or not third.
01:27:30.457 --> 01:27:31.297
It's not February.
01:27:31.328 --> 01:27:31.957
September.
01:27:31.957 --> 01:27:33.188
I was say the same month as your gala.
01:27:33.188 --> 01:27:33.802
That sounds crazy.
01:27:33.863 --> 01:27:35.108
No, next September.
01:27:35.198 --> 01:27:36.158
Next September.
01:27:36.188 --> 01:27:37.387
So almost like a year from now.
01:27:37.417 --> 01:27:37.988
Yes.
01:27:37.988 --> 01:27:40.507
And we did it this last year at the Windsor Boardwalk Park.
01:27:40.507 --> 01:27:43.837
So we did a, and we coined this last year, our hottest run.
01:27:44.063 --> 01:27:45.143
Speak in Colorado.
01:27:46.162 --> 01:27:46.762
It was like 90'cause it was, whew.
01:27:47.212 --> 01:27:48.582
It was a scorch, it was the hottest day in June.
01:27:48.582 --> 01:27:50.962
That's why we're doing it in September instead.
01:27:51.052 --> 01:27:51.653
Smart man.
01:27:53.212 --> 01:27:56.512
Hey, AI doesn't take me too many lessons before I move on.
01:27:56.632 --> 01:27:56.993
Yeah.
01:27:57.172 --> 01:28:04.342
Um, anything else on the safe families thing or We're gonna, we're gonna jump on the, uh, the local experience conversations shortly.
01:28:04.462 --> 01:28:04.853
Yeah.
01:28:04.853 --> 01:28:07.432
So, just, just kind of a pitch.
01:28:07.432 --> 01:28:18.143
We always need donors, so if you know something today, spoke to you in what we do, um, and you're listening, donors, volunteers, donors, volunteers, um, you know, advocacy.
01:28:18.353 --> 01:28:30.563
If you're a leader or a key stakeholder, we'd love to talk to you in the community and see how we can work to partner together to make sure that we're doing what's best for the families and children here, here in Lermer County, here in Weld County.
01:28:31.042 --> 01:28:31.613
Um.
01:28:32.332 --> 01:28:33.172
Oh, we do.
01:28:33.172 --> 01:28:37.193
We're doing kind of, we're gonna launch soon, a monthly donor campaign for stability.
01:28:37.198 --> 01:28:37.457
Yeah.
01:28:37.462 --> 01:28:37.582
Yeah.
01:28:37.613 --> 01:28:43.658
So even 10 bucks a month, if you wanna sign on to do 10 the bucks a month, that then ensures our chapter, then you can plan on it.
01:28:43.818 --> 01:28:47.302
Stability plan on, uh, you don't have to worry about if next one's we get some donations too.
01:28:47.302 --> 01:28:47.422
Yeah.
01:28:47.422 --> 01:28:49.403
And it's a Starbucks cup of coffee anymore.
01:28:49.462 --> 01:28:49.643
Yeah.
01:28:49.672 --> 01:28:50.483
You could even do 20.
01:28:50.693 --> 01:28:50.962
Yeah.
01:28:51.412 --> 01:28:52.337
Our Or a thousand.
01:28:52.457 --> 01:28:52.898
I don't know.
01:28:54.653 --> 01:28:55.972
I don't know the kind of people really.
01:28:56.483 --> 01:28:57.023
No, neither do I.
01:28:57.028 --> 01:28:58.938
That's why that's, that's why.
01:28:59.122 --> 01:29:00.472
But there's listeners out there.
01:29:00.502 --> 01:29:00.653
Yeah.
01:29:00.922 --> 01:29:02.273
Who knows what's listening.
01:29:02.872 --> 01:29:10.372
Um, I am, I'm suspicious that you have a pretty interesting local experience, uh, story, but I don't know what it is.
01:29:10.372 --> 01:29:11.993
We haven't stumbled across it yet.
01:29:12.172 --> 01:29:12.382
Oh man.
01:29:12.382 --> 01:29:15.893
I don't think wonder, I, so the, we see the craziest story that you're willing to share.
01:29:59.707 --> 01:30:00.278
Okay.
01:30:00.877 --> 01:30:03.307
Well maybe some of these ones are brushing against it already.
01:30:03.307 --> 01:30:03.818
I don't know.
01:30:03.818 --> 01:30:08.408
I think probably, you know, the first one I told you was, uh, the one where I.
01:30:08.722 --> 01:30:13.403
Got invited to jump out of an airplane and I thought it would be tandem.
01:30:13.403 --> 01:30:14.273
Skydiving.
01:30:14.332 --> 01:30:14.962
Oh yeah.
01:30:15.023 --> 01:30:19.912
And ended up in Penrose Canyon City at an air, air hanger.
01:30:20.542 --> 01:30:25.823
And let's, you can't just like give me like the outline of a story like that.
01:30:25.823 --> 01:30:30.052
Well, it was, it, it was many, many years ago.
01:30:30.172 --> 01:30:35.393
I was in my twenties and, and it was a date and it was like, let's go skydiving.
01:30:35.393 --> 01:30:35.512
Okay.
01:30:35.542 --> 01:30:38.722
And I, I, I still to this day have a fair heights.
01:30:38.722 --> 01:30:40.733
You can't catch me on the Ferris Will Shields.
01:30:41.033 --> 01:30:41.063
Okay.
01:30:41.122 --> 01:30:45.052
Um, and I was like, but skydiving, you know, I was impressionable.
01:30:45.052 --> 01:30:46.523
I was like, okay, I'll try it.
01:30:46.943 --> 01:30:51.832
Um, and so ended up going out there and.
01:30:51.903 --> 01:30:54.483
Found out I'm not tandem, I'm not strapped to anybody.
01:30:54.483 --> 01:30:57.302
I'm a static di dive out of this little plane.
01:30:57.422 --> 01:30:57.783
Okay.
01:30:57.783 --> 01:31:01.307
So that means like when you jump out of it, it like automatically triggers the automatically thing.
01:31:01.307 --> 01:31:01.382
Automat pulls.
01:31:01.382 --> 01:31:02.672
You're all by yourself.
01:31:02.733 --> 01:31:02.792
Okay.
01:31:02.823 --> 01:31:05.313
Uh, they have little headset in your ear.
01:31:05.403 --> 01:31:06.122
Oh, really?
01:31:06.662 --> 01:31:09.693
I remember sitting there and I'm like, I can't believe I'm doing this.
01:31:09.693 --> 01:31:12.783
And I'm talking to this other lady and she's like, we're together in this.
01:31:12.783 --> 01:31:14.703
I'm scared, you know, we're together.
01:31:14.972 --> 01:31:17.372
Uh, and we're talking about how we'll do it together.
01:31:17.372 --> 01:31:20.943
We're, you know, camaraderie and we're going to face our fears.
01:31:20.943 --> 01:31:26.132
And she jumps out of the plane before me and she pulls.
01:31:26.132 --> 01:31:28.233
I don't know if you know much about skydiving, but nothing.
01:31:28.233 --> 01:31:32.823
If you pull the brakes too soon, you can't continue to hold them.
01:31:32.823 --> 01:31:36.182
And so you have to let go because it's a lot of pressure to keep the brakes on.
01:31:36.182 --> 01:31:39.453
And she, the brakes being the the shoot.
01:31:39.453 --> 01:31:39.662
Oh, right.
01:31:39.662 --> 01:31:40.068
Yep, yep.
01:31:40.073 --> 01:31:41.582
To slow you down to land.
01:31:41.733 --> 01:31:41.943
Yeah.
01:31:42.002 --> 01:31:44.703
And she ended up letting go and that then.
01:31:45.233 --> 01:31:46.493
Slams you into the ground.
01:31:46.733 --> 01:31:46.762
Oh.
01:31:46.762 --> 01:31:48.203
And she ended up getting hurt.
01:31:48.412 --> 01:31:48.622
Oh, damn.
01:31:48.622 --> 01:31:50.693
I don't know how bad, because everybody's like, Nope.
01:31:50.698 --> 01:31:50.868
Yeah.
01:31:51.028 --> 01:31:54.262
'cause you let the brakes off and all of a sudden you're like, mm-hmm.
01:31:54.502 --> 01:31:54.592
Ah.
01:31:54.773 --> 01:31:59.063
So I was the next one up and they were like, you don't wanna go check on her?
01:31:59.063 --> 01:31:59.363
Nope.
01:31:59.453 --> 01:32:01.222
Get, you know, just get on in.
01:32:01.582 --> 01:32:07.762
And so I got into the plane and I'm up there and I'm petrified and I jump out of this plane.
01:32:07.972 --> 01:32:09.467
They want you to reach out and they watch.
01:32:09.467 --> 01:32:10.762
Oh, like you weren't in the plane with her.
01:32:10.762 --> 01:32:12.427
She went up first and then you were, were the next one.
01:32:12.427 --> 01:32:13.108
She went up first and then I was the next.
01:32:13.127 --> 01:32:16.313
You had to be on the ground watching her get her legs all crumpled and stuff.
01:32:16.313 --> 01:32:18.262
Watch that whole story come down.
01:32:18.262 --> 01:32:18.292
Okay.
01:32:19.212 --> 01:32:23.382
And so I go next and they're screaming in her ears, no, don't put the brakes on yet.
01:32:23.382 --> 01:32:24.462
You gotta let some slack out.
01:32:24.462 --> 01:32:25.698
Well, probably, yeah.
01:32:25.818 --> 01:32:26.818
I don't know what is going on.
01:32:26.898 --> 01:32:26.938
Whatever.
01:32:26.938 --> 01:32:30.493
She panicked between her, she panics and I'm like, I'm a gunner.
01:32:30.853 --> 01:32:41.052
Um, but you go up and, and at least this, this experience they have, you reach out and grab onto a metal bar, which I think is a joke because I'm like, is the minute I did that?
01:32:41.052 --> 01:32:42.703
It's like, woo, it sucked you right out.
01:32:42.943 --> 01:32:43.813
Sucked me out.
01:32:44.262 --> 01:32:47.563
And uh, I just had this thing in my ear.
01:32:47.563 --> 01:32:48.943
They said I had a perfect landing.
01:32:48.943 --> 01:32:50.682
They're like, you did beautiful.
01:32:50.863 --> 01:32:52.153
That was amazing.
01:32:52.153 --> 01:32:56.023
I'm like, I just listened to your voice and didn't look down.
01:32:56.057 --> 01:32:56.337
Really?
01:32:57.057 --> 01:32:57.578
I didn't look.
01:32:57.957 --> 01:32:58.497
I'm just Okay.
01:32:58.962 --> 01:32:59.978
Left your heights was the material.
01:32:59.997 --> 01:33:03.523
You just, I'm just like praying to God and listening.
01:33:07.478 --> 01:33:09.158
That outside of Safe Families.
01:33:09.158 --> 01:33:19.507
'cause you know, when Launch in Safe Families was, and, and every similar experience in a lot of ways to jumping out of place, kind of like you had a little grant basically from the Denver chapter.
01:33:19.512 --> 01:33:19.823
Mm-hmm.
01:33:20.948 --> 01:33:24.247
And would you like to, uh, credit the person that runs that as still the same?
01:33:24.247 --> 01:33:25.957
So is who got you into this mess?
01:33:25.988 --> 01:33:28.688
Marcy Klinger was the director at the time.
01:33:28.807 --> 01:33:29.047
Okay.
01:33:29.108 --> 01:33:31.057
Um, and she is amazing.
01:33:31.057 --> 01:33:34.743
She actually was also the one that helped with the So you don't hold a grudge or anything?
01:33:34.882 --> 01:33:35.943
Oh, no, no.
01:33:36.143 --> 01:33:38.557
I, she's, she became the lobbyist and everything got approved.
01:33:38.743 --> 01:33:39.542
She was a lobbyist officially.
01:33:39.667 --> 01:33:40.868
She got us approved.
01:33:40.868 --> 01:33:43.868
She, she's a cut them outta hot water obviously too or whatever.
01:33:43.868 --> 01:33:45.368
Tough start tough rates I'm sure.
01:33:45.488 --> 01:33:45.757
Yeah.
01:33:45.757 --> 01:33:47.198
It got us to where we needed to be.
01:33:47.257 --> 01:33:47.318
Yeah.
01:33:47.318 --> 01:33:50.557
And, and Ling you know, so she's amazing.
01:33:50.618 --> 01:33:55.778
Uh, she's not with us anymore, but she did a great job getting everything rolling, so.
01:33:55.778 --> 01:33:55.787
Yep.
01:33:55.787 --> 01:33:55.943
Yep.
01:33:56.597 --> 01:33:57.618
And who's the director now?
01:33:58.037 --> 01:34:04.698
Um, we have, uh, the Denver chapter director is also our state director, and her name is CTA Tami.
01:34:05.268 --> 01:34:05.658
Okay.
01:34:05.658 --> 01:34:05.667
Tobani.
01:34:05.898 --> 01:34:08.898
And then our, we have a new, uh, and you don't like her very much.
01:34:09.438 --> 01:34:09.497
Oh, I love her.
01:34:10.453 --> 01:34:12.432
I'm glad because it would've been Oxford if you didn't.
01:34:13.337 --> 01:34:13.757
I do.
01:34:13.757 --> 01:34:15.108
I, I, I adore her.
01:34:15.677 --> 01:34:22.608
I think, you know what's so cool about Safe Families is, you know, we all come from the same, same cloth almost.
01:34:22.608 --> 01:34:22.792
Right, right.
01:34:23.108 --> 01:34:26.167
Like I say, when you go to a safe family's event and you're nervous.
01:34:26.167 --> 01:34:26.228
Yeah.
01:34:26.377 --> 01:34:28.358
'cause you don't know, like we have a chapters all over.
01:34:28.358 --> 01:34:29.377
I haven't met everybody.
01:34:29.408 --> 01:34:29.868
Yeah, yeah.
01:34:29.948 --> 01:34:33.877
It's like you're at home because it's all people that just have the same heart.
01:34:33.938 --> 01:34:34.778
So what an interesting thing.
01:34:35.078 --> 01:34:41.587
My dad encouraged me a few years ago to get like a job or something like outside of Loco think Tank is like, this is pretty sweet gig.
01:34:41.587 --> 01:34:53.917
Well, it is, but he's like you, you just kind of hang around with successful business people and interesting podcast guests and you don't really have a normal, like what it's like in the real world kind of a perspective.
01:34:53.917 --> 01:34:56.018
And I was like, like, keep it that way, dad.
01:34:57.368 --> 01:34:57.757
I don't know.
01:34:58.537 --> 01:34:59.837
Anyway, I think it's a pretty stupid thing, but it is.
01:34:59.837 --> 01:35:00.967
It's kind of Well, and yours is.
01:35:01.432 --> 01:35:02.122
Different.
01:35:02.182 --> 01:35:06.773
You know, certainly, you know, businesses struggle and sometimes fail and things like that.
01:35:06.778 --> 01:35:06.787
Mm-hmm.
01:35:06.868 --> 01:35:07.762
And, you know, I'm good to see them.
01:35:07.762 --> 01:35:13.707
And, and sometimes you see amazing successes and your work is not remarkably different where mm-hmm.
01:35:13.912 --> 01:35:17.752
You know, and sometimes just like a family that can go through a hard time.
01:35:17.752 --> 01:35:19.762
Sometimes a business goes through a hard time.
01:35:19.762 --> 01:35:20.962
It has to make some changes.
01:35:21.172 --> 01:35:21.592
Yeah.
01:35:21.653 --> 01:35:22.252
Yeah.
01:35:22.252 --> 01:35:23.422
You know, and you can do it if you try.
01:35:23.783 --> 01:35:24.023
Yeah.
01:35:24.023 --> 01:35:29.182
You can, you just gotta put your boots in the ground and heels down sometimes and, and sometimes be surrounded by community.
01:35:29.332 --> 01:35:29.573
Yeah.
01:35:29.932 --> 01:35:30.262
Yeah.
01:35:30.592 --> 01:35:31.162
I couldn't do it.
01:35:31.372 --> 01:35:35.332
I will just shout out to Northern Colorado, we have the best community ever.
01:35:35.393 --> 01:35:35.573
True.
01:35:35.903 --> 01:35:40.073
I mean, we partner like none other to, to, to do this work.
01:35:40.073 --> 01:35:48.292
So do you have a, uh, a, a a Bible verse or a quote or anything that is meaningful that you would like to share as part of our closing?
01:35:50.512 --> 01:35:51.502
That's a good one too.
01:35:52.417 --> 01:35:58.297
Um, you know, today on the way here, and, and I think it's just fresh in my mind.
01:35:58.778 --> 01:36:05.078
Um, you know how you talk about the dish needs to be clean, the plate needs to be cleaned on both the inside and the outside.
01:36:05.318 --> 01:36:05.347
Mm.
01:36:05.677 --> 01:36:07.568
And that's just the Christian I wanna be.
01:36:07.568 --> 01:36:13.688
I want my, my bowl to be clean on the outside, on the inside first, and then the outside.
01:36:14.047 --> 01:36:31.597
Um, and you know, for me, um, I just wanna really, I know I could never ever be that, but I wanna strive to be just the hands and feet of Jesus and, and just to be more, more like him.
01:36:31.988 --> 01:36:32.257
Yeah.
01:36:32.377 --> 01:36:33.188
By what I do.
01:36:33.188 --> 01:36:39.547
I hope that my, I hope that I never, ever am a bad example of his work.
01:36:39.547 --> 01:36:46.177
I hope that everything that I can do will always glorify with, you know what's really cool about that too is, uh, like.
01:36:46.733 --> 01:36:50.842
I just was reading, uh, the feeding of the 5,000 parable mm-hmm.
01:36:50.842 --> 01:36:51.502
With my wife.
01:36:51.533 --> 01:36:55.672
Uh, and uh, that was really the first story where he was like, no, you feed them.
01:36:56.573 --> 01:36:57.743
He was empowering others.
01:36:57.743 --> 01:36:58.568
So that's kind of mm-hmm.
01:36:58.573 --> 01:37:06.832
The transition you've become a part of, whereas you were directly applying the, the, the service to so many, and, and you had a, I know a guy mm-hmm.
01:37:07.073 --> 01:37:15.412
Directly applying service to so many, and yes, you recruited volunteers and stuff, but you're in that space and time right now where you're equipping others to serve because.
01:37:16.028 --> 01:37:17.408
It's how you can magnify your impact.
01:37:17.887 --> 01:37:22.597
Well, and it's so interesting'cause in this world we get scared to do that sometimes.
01:37:22.597 --> 01:37:22.658
Yeah.
01:37:22.658 --> 01:37:25.057
We, you know, what if they don't do it as good as you?
01:37:25.057 --> 01:37:36.967
Or what if I put that kid in my car and something happens and, and I'm like, I, I so many memories of like, what if, but then the blessing that, that I get from being able to go out and help somebody Yeah.
01:37:37.448 --> 01:37:38.707
Uh, is just done.
01:37:38.797 --> 01:37:41.137
Did it again, we're we're designed to serve others.
01:37:41.137 --> 01:37:41.648
We are.
01:37:42.068 --> 01:37:43.028
That's what we're called to do.
01:37:43.268 --> 01:37:43.927
Thanks for sharing time.
01:37:44.257 --> 01:37:44.497
Yeah.
01:37:44.497 --> 01:37:45.457
Thanks for, it's been a joy.
