Press Releases & Announcements

CBS Colorado Highlights Adams County’s Ongoing Commitment to Trauma-Informed Care Through Raise the Future Partnership

Adams County’s efforts to support children and families impacted by trauma were recently featured by CBS Colorado, spotlighting the county’s ongoing collaboration with Raise the Future and the implementation of Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) practices.

TBRI is a trauma-informed model that gives caregivers, professionals, and community members tools to better connect with and support children who have experienced significant adversity. Through the continued partnership with Raise the Future, Adams County Human Services has been expanding its use of this approach across departments to improve outcomes for youth and families.

“We’re proud that CBS Colorado recognized the meaningful work happening here in Adams County,” said Adams County Board Chair Lynn Baca. “This is not a new initiative; it’s a deepening of our commitment to doing things differently for children in our care. We know building trust and healing relationships are at the heart of long-term success.”

In the CBS feature, Ashley Oliver, who leads the county’s therapeutic foster care program, shared success stories that demonstrate TBRI’s impact. “We definitely need more foster homes,” Oliver said. “But I’ve seen great successes. “One of the young people we work with had to move seven times, but now she’s been in the same placement for a whole year—that’s incredible!””

Adams County staff were first introduced to TBRI through Raise the Future’s training programs and summits. Since then, the approach has steadily taken root, not only in how staff work with children and families, but also in how they support each other.

“This work is emotionally intense, and TBRI has given our team a shared language and strategy for navigating it with compassion,” said Katie McDougal, Director of Human Services for Adams County. “It’s helped us reframe how we think about trauma, regulation, and relationships with our families and ourselves.”

Adams County continues to collaborate with Raise the Future to train staff and embed trauma-informed care across its Human Services department. The CBS story is part of their ongoing partnership with Raise the Future and aired as part of A Day for Wednesday’s Child on April 16, a day of awareness and fundraising for children in foster care waiting to be adopted.