(COLORADO SPRINGS) — Children who have been uprooted from their homes and cannot be with their parents for some reason need a place where they can feel safe. That’s where foster care comes in, and now there’s some new support for foster children and foster parents in Colorado.

Sarah Bailey, Director of Recruitment for Kids Crossing, joined FOX21 Morning News on Tuesday, June 17, to talk about the services that new state legislation has expanded.

“In September, legislation changed to allow kinship families to get all of the services that are provided for foster care,” said Bailey. Kinship families include relatives like grandparents, aunts and uncles, but also anyone who knows or has a prior relationship with the child, such as a friend’s parent, teacher, or coach.

Bailey said studies show that when children are placed with other family members or people who are known to them, it is a less traumatic experience. “It helps that child heal from the trauma that they are experiencing,” said Bailey.

Services kinship families can now access include educational programs, therapeutic services, and even some financial reimbursement.

Kids Crossing is a child placement agency that licenses and supports foster families. “We have a wide variety of services from a therapy clinic, to an education program, to adult services, to a therapeutic work program that can help kids in care and the families that have them in their home,” said Bailey.