Promote, strengthen and support individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers

 MAY 2019 | ISSUE 1
May is National Foster Care Awareness Month
A time for communities to come together to support the kids who need them most. You can help us ensure siblings stay together. You can help us support family reunification. You can help us ensure young people practice their cultural traditions. If you’ve thought about fostering before but haven’t started the process yet, now is the time .

Special Kids Special Families offers an Informational Orientation to answer all your questions the first Tuesday of every month! Our next meeting is Tuesday, May 7th at the SKSF Child Placement office (620 Southpointe Ct, Ste 155, CO Springs) from 5:30-6:30pm. Contact Sandra to RSVP or for more information (719)244-5113 or email at sdunlap@sksfcolorado.org . Print event flyer
A Mom making a difference!
Meet the Williams family... fostering, adopting and loving children with special needs. We hope that by sharing their story, more people will be inspired to join Special Kids Special Families in providing foster homes. The need is GREAT! For more information about fostering a special needs child visit SKSF online at:
http://sksfcolorado.org/programs/foster-care/  or call Sandra at 719-244-5113.
NEW Adult Services video
Special thanks to Jeff Hatten, CEO & Founder of  Bolt Video  and Brian Cooper of Unified Title Company  for making his happen! We'd also like to thank the clients, caregivers and staff that participated in making this video. SKSF Adult program offers unique services to adults with developmental disabilities - community and center based activities.
FUNDRAISING FOR SKSF
To fill the monetary need that allows Special Kids Special Families to fulfill its mission, we must raise funds to ensure financial stability. Over the years, we rely on fundraising to help us meet the needs in our community. Please consider participating. For more information regarding SKSF events throughout the year VISIT HERE or contact us at
Link your loyalty rewards card to Special Kids Special Families and we earn funds to support our programs! Every time you use your rewards card, SKSF will receive a percentage of your purchases as a donation to our organization!   It’s so EASY!
When shopping for MOM, login here
use your normal email address & password and select SKSF as your charity .5% of your purchase will be donated to SKSF!
SAVE THE DATE - SAT. 10/12/19!!
Join us and enjoy a hilarious comedy act by Cash Levy with social hour, amazing silent auction packages, sit down dinner, Raise the Paddle auction, cash bar, and special performance by
Zach’s Place youth. Don't miss it!
EVENTS & COMMUNITY
UPCOMING WORKSHOP DATES
Saturday 5/18/19 | 3-5pm

Manitou Springs Penny Arcade
900 Manitou Avenue, Manitou Springs, CO 80829
$15/child; grades K-6th

Come have some fun with us! We are visiting the  Manitou Penny Arcade  to play 100s vintage games like pinball and skeeball. Earn tickets and trade in for prizes! It will be a blast! Sign up today –

Advanced Registration is required and space is limited! Sibshops is sponsored by  The Arc Pikes Peak Region .
Sibshops is a monthly program run by SKSF connecting and supporting siblings of children with disabilities (grades K-6th), helping them recognize a community of peers in similar situations.

For future dates or to be placed on our E-mailing list contact: Julie at 719-375-9285 or Linda at 719-447-8983 x19 or lellegard@sksfcolorado.org.
Special Kids Special Families is a Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE) Approved Training Entity and offers QMAP courses monthly for Support Staff and Host Home Providers caring for individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.  OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
We'd like to thank   Pikes Peak Interagency Transition Team  for inviting us to their Resource Fair in April. We joined more than two dozen local agencies to present information on services for individuals with all types of disabilities.
The Resource Exchange  hosted "KidsFest" at the Ute Pass Cultural Center on Saturday, April 27th. Several organizations serving Teller and El Paso Counties provided informational displays for families and games for children.
SKSF was also at America the Beautiful Park on Saturday, April 27th during the The Alpine Autism Center 's Annual Autism Awareness 5K Run. What a beautiful day!
Honoring Leadership & Service

Special Kids Special Families' Development and Communications Manager, Jon Karroll was honored by Fountain City Council. Jon was a long-time News Anchor who recently retired from serving at KRDO-TV for many years. He was honored by the Fountain City Council during their April meeting. Mayor Pro-Tem Phil Thomas (left) said he wanted to honor Karroll for his years of leadership, service and his contributions in the local community. As a Widefield resident, Karroll was previously a member of the Fountain Valley Foundation Board of Directors and also served as a parade judge for the Fountain Valley Chamber of Commerce at its Fall Festival on Labor Day.

Congratulations Jon for this recognition!
News Photo by Patricia St. Louis
Grants Awarded to SKSF

Recently the following grants were awarded to SKSF: Denver Broncos Charities granted nearly $150,000 to organizations and non-profits through its inaugural Community Grant Program! After reviewing 86 applications, Special Kids Special Families w as included among 30 other organizations to receive grant funding! Thank you for the $5,000 grant to support our Zach's Place program for children with disabilities!

The Colorado Springs Health Foundation granted $20,000 and The Virginia W. Hill Foundation granted $8,000 to aid in our mission to support our Zach's Place program to maintain family stability. We thank them for their continued support of our organization throughout the years!
SKSF is hiring! Available Positions:

For additional information please contact
hr@sksfcolorado.org or HR Department at (719)447-8983.