Welcome to the Maryland Resource Parent Association!
Providing Support to Maryland's Foster, Adoptive and Kinship Parents Get In TouchNew Executive Director, Stefany Lang, has been chosen to lead the Maryland Resource Parents Association.
Stefany Lang has been selected as the new executive director of the Maryland Resource Parents Association (MRPA), which represents foster and kinship parents throughout the state.
Lang and her husband, Chris, are active foster parents in Calvert County, where they have fostered 11 children since they became foster parents in 2013. Lang is also president of the Calvert County Foster Parent Association and a co-facilitator of the county’s training for new foster parents (called PRIDE). There, she has instituted monthly support group meetings and foster family events, as well as serving as a resource for the questions and concerns for local foster parents.
As MRPA executive director, Lang hopes to bring that same support to foster and kinship parents statewide. “I have a true passion for being a foster parent,” says Lang, whose family consists of three biological children, two adopted children, and two children who are part of their family through guardianship, ranging in age from 7 to 31. “I want to try and make the foster care experience as smooth and painless as possible for the families and the children in Maryland.”
Lang and her husband became foster parents when the youngest of her biological daughters was a junior in high school. While they originally thought they would foster infants or toddlers, their first placement was a sibling set of three, ages 8, 9, and 12, one of whom they later adopted.
One of Lang’s favorite quotes is “It takes a village to raise a child.” “I believe we, as foster parents, are that village,” she says. “Being there for the children and their families is what makes foster parenting so fulfilling.”
Before becoming a foster parent, Lang was social media manager for the company Recorded Books. She also works as an adoptive parent mentor and runs a support group for Adoptions Together, a local adoption organization. In addition, Lang and her husband are active volunteers for the Special Olympics of Calvert County, where they have coached 5 sports and raised over $40,000.
Lang will be only the second executive director at MRPA, taking over the role from Arnie Eby, who turned what had been a volunteer role into a paid position in 2019 to reflect the larger role MRPA has played. Eby is now executive director of the National Foster Parent Association.
MPRA represents public foster and kinship parents throughout Maryland. Its executive director and board members work with the state government and other groups to represent the views of foster and kinship parents.The organization supports county-based foster parent groups, as well as individual foster parents through support and training.
Join Stefany for Our Monthly Meeting October 12, 2023
Tuesday Sep 12, 2023 ⋅ 7pm – 8pm (Eastern Time – New York)
National Foster Parent Association is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
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Resource Parent Training Opportunities
Watch here for notifications of our webinar series called ‘First Tuesday’, where we will host a special learning seminar on the first Tuesday evening of each month at 8pm. Make plans to join us each month, and watch our website and Facebook for notifications of that month’s topic!
MRPA Trainings & Webinars
Video and handouts from past sessions are found HERE.
October First Tuesday Session Details
Did you know that it’s important to start talking with children about adoption and using positive adoption language at the earliest age possible? Foster, adoptive and pre-adoptive families are encouraged to attend this interactive training with Erica Moltz from Adoptions Together where they will receive practical tips and support for introducing and navigating this important conversation in a developmentally healthy manner. Whether you’re struggling with finding the right time and words to talk to your children about adoption or you’re considering adopting in the future, this training will be incredibly valuable. Currently licensed foster families will receive training credit for attending.
Sponsored and Hosted by: The Maryland Resource Parent Association (MRPA.org)
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A Letter of Introduction from MRPA President James L. Craig, Jr.
To: Resource Parents of Maryland
From: James L. Craig Jr. President, Maryland Resource Parents Association (MRPA)
Subject: Introduction
Greetings to the hardest working people I know. As the new President for the Maryland Resource Parents Association (MRPA), I want to Officially introduce myself.
My name is James L. Craig Jr., and I’ve been a foster parent for 19 years. I have served as President and Vice President for the Prince George’s County Resource Parents Association for 14 years. I truly enjoy the responsibility of being a Resource Parent. I cannot think of a more important Job than to be able to provide Care and Love for the children in whom we are entrusted.
I look forward to working with you and making Maryland’s Resource Parent Association the best it can be.
I request you consider becoming a member of your local Jurisdiction as well as becoming involved with the MRPA. Working together we can do greater things for the Foster Care Program in Maryland.
To get involved with the MRPA, visit our home page and discover the ways you can get connected, including taking part in Training opportunities, signing up to receive our Blog posts, following us on Facebook, and more. Please consider joining your local Jurisdiction’s Resource Parents Association.
I can be contacted at j721lc@gmail.com. My cell phone is 202-360-2012. I’m located in Upper Marlboro Maryland, 20772.
If at any time you have a question or concern, please do not hesitate to contact me by one of the means listed above.
Thank you all for what you do as Resource Parents. I look forward to visiting each Jurisdiction as I can schedule my time. If you have a need for me to visit before I can schedule a visit, please send me a request to come to your location.
Sincerely,
James L. Craig Jr.
President, MRPA
MD Students Attending In-School Instruction No longer Eligible for Pandemic EBT Benefits
Click here to read more!
The MRPA does not have formal membership.
There are no fees of any kind to enjoy our resources. They are freely available to all Resource Parents! You are welcome to attend our Zoom sessions and to utilize anything you find on our website. We’re glad you found us and look forward to assisting in your journey as a Resource Parent.
So…. how do you get involved? There are many options!
Blog Notifications
Sign up to receive our Blog posts and notifications by email HERE.
First Tuesday
Attend a First Tuesday session. Schedules are right below!
Download Library
Review docs we’ve made available to our audience to find resources you need.
Still Have Questions?
Contact us by email, we’d be happy to assist.
Keeping Resource Parents In the Know
MRPA Community News
MRPA First Tuesday for October, 2023: Talking with Children About Adoption and Birth Families
Did you know that it's important to start talking with children about adoption and using positive adoption language at the earliest age possible? Foster, adoptive and pre-adoptive families are encouraged to attend this interactive training with Erica Moltz from...
Posted! Child Welfare Academy Fall 2023 Resource Parent Training Calendar
SSA’s Health Care Services Spotlight Webinar Series
Foster Care Tax Credit Act SURVEY: Your Response is Requested by 9/7
Sharing this opportunity posted by the National Foster Parent Association (NFPA). The NFPA has partnered with the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) and Upbring, a child welfare service provider in Texas, to advocate for the Foster Care Tax Credit Act. This...
Summer Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) Programs / Programas de P-EBT en el verano
Who is eligible for Summer P-EBT benefits? School children who received free or reduced price school meals at school under the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program are eligible for P-EBT benefits in the summer of 2023. Unlike in the past, children...
Foster the Family 5k Fun Day – Saturday, May 6th
https://www.fosterthefamilybaltimore.org/5k-family-fun-day
Reminder: 2023 Maryland Foster and Adoptive Parent Survey (Your Response Is Welcome!)
Thank you for taking the time to fill out this survey. We anticipate it will take 15-30 minutes to complete. We hope to use the results to better advocate for the needs of foster children and foster parents. The survey is completely anonymous. Current, licensed foster...
2023 Maryland Foster and Adoptive Parent Survey
Thank you for taking the time to fill out this survey. We anticipate it will take 15-30 minutes to complete. We hope to use the results to better advocate for the needs of foster children and foster parents. The survey is completely anonymous. Current, licensed foster...
The MRPA Mission
Our Mission is to provide support service to all Resource Families in the state of Maryland. Membership in the Association shall be open to all Resource Parents.
MRPA supports foster, adoptive, kinship and guardianship parents all across the state of Maryland.
Whether you are a current resource parent, a prospective resource parent, or a child welfare professional, MRPA is there to support you.
We realize it takes all of us working together to give children in need a stable, loving family.
