One Colorado teenager is among numerous children currently without a permanent home, and the Colorado Heart Gallery has spent the past year working alongside KOAA News5 to bring attention to children in this situation and explain pathways families can take to adopt in Colorado.
The girl, identified as Shayla, is a high school senior with an affinity for animals — foxes, cats, birds, and dogs among them — and has set her sights on a veterinary career so she can tend to animals professionally. Her leisure time frequently takes her outside, where she might be found helping in a garden, reading, or participating in outdoor games.
Creative pursuits also occupy a significant share of her attention: she takes up drawing and diamond paintings, and keeps a journal filled with both written reflections and original sketches. Blue and red rank as her favorite colors, pizza is her preferred food, and people around her recognize a natural flair for humor and storytelling.
Shayla's caseworker believes she would fare best placed with two parents and household pets, though other family structures remain open for consideration. Any family that welcomes her will be expected to help her sustain meaningful relationships she has formed prior to placement, and financial assistance toward adoption-related costs may be available.
Home-studied families from across the country are encouraged to make inquiries, and anyone seeking details about Shayla or other children who need homes can get in touch with the Colorado Heart Gallery or call (303) 755-4756.
No placement date has been reported, and Shayla's case continues to be listed as open through the Colorado Heart Gallery.