MCDHS talks adoption and permanency on KAFM
On the third Thursday of every month, the Mesa County Department of Human Services (MCDHS) hosts a radio segment as part of the KAFM Community Affairs Program. This month, Adoption Supervisor Kim Espindola joined us to talk about National Adoption Month and the work her team does to support children, youth and families.
Kim shared that her team finalizes adoptions, writes child and family studies and supports adoptive families throughout the process. This year’s National Adoption Month theme, “Honoring Youth: Strengthening Pathways for Lasting Bonds,” focuses on finding permanent families for older youth and building strong support networks for teens in foster care.
Here in Mesa County, 26 children and youth are legally free for adoption, and eight are still waiting for an adoptive home. Teens often experience multiple placements and face a higher likelihood of aging out of the system without long-term support. “Teens thrive when they feel a sense of connection and stability with a family,” Kim noted.
Kim also outlined the adoption process, from the first inquiry, to home studies and visits, to the required six-month placement before finalization. Anyone can adopt with an approved home study and background checks; what matters most is providing a stable, loving environment and understanding that healing takes time.
MCDHS offers training, mentoring, therapeutic services and ongoing post-permanency support to help families through and after adoption. To learn more about becoming an adoptive parent, visit fosteradoptmesacounty.org.
