Honoring the 2021 Foster Parents of the Year

The Carroll County Department of Social Services would like to honor Mark & Roxanne Wood as our agency’s Resource Parent of the Year. Mark and Roxanne have been licensed for almost a year but perform their duties as resource parents as if they have been licensed for many years. Both work well with the Agency and Birth parent of their foster child and are currently assisting with the reunification plan. Mark and Roxanne supervise and monitor visits to keep the birth parent informed of the child’s day to day progress and activities. We are lucky to have the Woods as part of our professional team!

Baltimore County is nominating Jessica and Jeremy Holroyd as Resource Parents of the Year. They have welcomed five children into their home and value the importance of sibling relationships. The Holroyd’s developed a strong, positive relationship with the birth family and offered varying support during the transition back to the birth family. When the social worker asked Ms. Holroyd about how she was feeling about transitioning the child back to her birth parent’s care, she stated, “We are willing to break a little so that their family can be made whole.” Jessica and Jeremy Holroyd exemplify resource parents who understand the mission and who are willing to support children and families whether that is through reunification or being a forever family for a child.

Mr. Christopher Heacock and Mrs. Karen Burks reported that their love for children motivated them to become resource parents for the Baltimore City Department of Social Services. They have been resource parents for six years and they take great joy in helping children. The couple is truly committed to providing a safe and nurturing home for children who need care evidenced by daily hospital visits during a pandemic. Mr. Heacock and Mrs. Burks have adopted two children. When Mrs. Burks speaks about the children who have been placed in her home, her face lights up with a big smile. The family is open to other children joining their family. The family is truly a blessing to the children the agency serves. Without any reservations, I am nominating Mr. Heacock and Mrs. Burks as Resource Parents of the Year for 2021.

Lindsay has been a resource parent for Calvert County DSS since February 2018. The Department recognizes her for caring for two children during COVID along with working full time as a nurse. Lindsay has worked with the birth families by assuring sibling visits and other relationships. She works hard to ensure they have access to healthy relationships with extended family who live in another state. Additionally, she has welcomed a teen to her family.. She has pictures of all three of the children on her walls and encourages family activities. Lindsay has been a strong advocate and purchased a therapy rat for her teen. Lindsay is not only a COVID hero to Calvert County but a reliable and creative resource parent who exemplifies opening your heart and home in times of challenge.

Betsy and Greg were approved in December 2009 as a resource family for Anne Arundel County Department of Social Services. During that time, nine children joined their family and they provided respite care for numerous others. Betsy and Greg have worked with several birth families and relatives for the purposes of reunification. They have become a forever family for an adolescent youth. They have also adopted two youth who Betsy and Greg worked tirelessly to develop a healthy post adoption agreement with their birth family. They have been both a long and short term resource family. They worked extensively with the birth mother and father towards reunification, by providing support for both child and birth parents. They truly represent the support of a resource family throughout the reunification process and partnering with their foster children’s birth family.

Ms. Augustine Cook has welcomed a young adult transitioning towards independence. Augustine works hard by advocating and helping build confidence and connections. She has spent time teaching him how to cook, keep his bank accounts balanced, and the importance of saving money. Augustine is an independent woman and is instilling those virtues and values so he too can be successfully independent someday as well. It is our honor to nominate Augustine Cook as Caroline County’s Resource Parent of the Year for 2021.

Allegany County Department of Social Services is nominating Lesley and Jon Felton as our Resource Parents of the Year. Lesley and Jon were resource parents from 2012-2018. During those six years, they adopted two children. In 2020 they once again became resource parents when an infant joined their family. The Felton’s cared for the youngest of a sibling group while the three older siblings were placed in kinship care. The Felton’s made the mother and grandmother feel comfortable by their kind non-judgmental nature as they listened to mom’s concerns and supported her. They would give small gifts to the siblings living in grandma’s home to enhance the sibling relationship. The Felton’s made the little guy and his family feel better when he had to transition back to the resource home after visits.

Ms. Pamela Salmond has been a resource parent for over 20 years She has adopted six children, who are now successful adults. Ms. Salmond became a resource parent again in 2019. She has a wealth of experience and information working with children. She is also willing to open her home for emergencies and provide respite. Ms. Salmond stated that she enjoys helping children and giving back in any way she can and her family is also very supportive. Ms. Salmond is positive, supportive, and has a calm demeanor. It has been a pleasure working with her as a resource parent.

Cecil County would like to nominate Kimberly and Barry Janney for 2021 Resource Parents of the Year. Their level of care and commitment towards the children, their families, and the reunification process is admirable. The Janney’s were instrumental in the reunification process for their most recent placement. They were always supportive and encouraging to the child’s birth parents. They have remained a support for the child and the parents even after reunification. They continue to visit and help as if they were all family. This is not the first time the Janney’s have shown that they are supporting families through their fostering. The Janney’s truly show that fostering should be a support to families and not a substitution.

Stephanie and Brad were nominated for Resource Parent of the Year because of their willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty when asked. They have communicated well with birth family members which has allowed the girls to maintain connections to family. They have driven the girls to school daily as they did not want them to have a long bus ride. They have been a great support for the birth parents. They have not only shown this to these girls, but they have shown this love to every child placed in their care.

Wendy is a retired educator and has raised three sons. She has been a resource parent for over a year but has proven to be a wonderful asset to Kent County. Wendy believes every child should have the opportunity to be connected to family. Wendy takes the initiative to schedule the visits with the child and birth family and stays connected to the children after they leave her home. Wendy has demonstrated her commitment to children. Kent County is excited to nominate Wendy Costa as our Resource Parent of the Year.

Ms. Wendy Hall-Page has been a resource parent with the Howard County Department of Social Services (HCDSS) for the past four years. Since that time, she has partnered with HCDSS in providing care and support to several children and youth. Ms. Hall-Page is an active participant in our local resource parent support group, assists the other resource parents when needed and teams well with the social workers assigned to her home. Ms. Hall-Page has connected with the Department in the area of working with older youth. Over the past four years, she has provided consistency and structure with older youth. Ms. Hall-Page is a go to resource parent who will take children who are placed in the middle of the night. She also routinely provides respite for other foster children. Ms. Hall-Page is a very caring, compassionate and committed resource parent for the Howard County Department of Social Services, and we are excited to recommend her as the Resource Parent of the Year.

Tyrone and Christina Urbina have been a licensed resource family with Frederick County since 2019. In October of 2020, during the height of the pandemic a young sibling group joined their family. The Urbina’s gentle, kind, supportive, and engaging disposition has allowed for the children and birth parents to feel very comfortable in their presence and care. Tyrone and Christina have created a trusting relationship with the birth parents, openly communicating with them, and supporting the plan of reunification. They have not only provided a stable and safe home, it is one full of love, compassion, and reassurance. The Urbina’s have become strong advocates and provide phenomenal care to two special children and their parents. The entire team loves working with the Urbina family…they are rock stars!

Ms. Monroe and Ms. Caudill welcomed a child to their family in December 2019. They have ensured that they attend all medical appointments and supportive services. Additionally, they are sure to incorporate activities recommended to improve motor skills. During COVID-19, Ms. Monroe and Ms. Caudill were able to adjust which resulted in multiple virtual visits per week with the youth’s parents to continue to allow the bond to develop. They have remained a support to the birth parents in their efforts towards reunification. Ms. Monroe and Ms. Caudill have demonstrated their ability to meet the 5 Pride Core Competencies.

Ingrid Burford has been a licensed resource parent with Prince George’s County Department of Social Service for 3 years. During her time as a resource parent she has been an advocate, communicator, mentor, leader, supporter, nurturer and most of all committed to ensuring that the needs of children entrusted to her care are met. Ms. Burford goes above and beyond to help each child placed in her home. She calms the fears of the children in a soothing and reassuring manner. When she is called upon to assist with a child joining her family through placement, she is always ready and willing to open her home and heart.

Ms. Restaine-Davids is a resource parent and has shown her dedication and commitment for many years. She has been an avid advocate and support for the youth in her home and has helped them to develop safe, nurturing and enduring relationships. Even after transitioning from her home, she is still “a major support” and remains in close contact. Allowing them to join them on their annual vacation and feeling connected and included no matter what.

Laura and Charles Creighton became licensed in March 2020, right before the pandemic began yet that has not stopped them from helping children and families within the Dorchester County community. Laura and Charles Creighton have been willing to accept new children into their family each time the Department has asked and are always willing to help. Mrs. Creighton has worked diligently with multiple youth at varying ages including teenagers. She has overcome obstacles of virtual learning while still fulfilling the individual needs of each child in her home. She has developed strong relationships with birth families and has welcomed birth parents into her home. Laura and Charles Creighton are an asset to the Dorchester County Foster Care team as they have demonstrated they work extremely well with the child’s team of workers and supports.

The Mahoney’s have been a resource family for almost two years. A month after opening their home a child joined their family. They worked diligently with the birth family because they understand the importance of those connections to children. The Mahoney’s were very supportive of the birth family during reunification and still have a relationship with the birth family and child. The Mahoney’s are now a strong support to this family and are truly an example of how the foster care system can work. I am honored to be Mahoney’s resource home worker.

The Wicomico County Department of Social Services is nominating Rhyannon “Rhy” Bemis as our Resource Parent of the Year 2021. Though the duration of our teaming remains relatively new, through her strength based perspective, she has made connections and contributions to our agency. She has provided extended respite care on two separate occasions. Providing respite services is a strategy to support families while ensuring a child’s safety. She contributes to a supportive network by serving as the alternative care provider for another Wicomico Provider. Through her education, training, and employment, she has vast knowledge on child development and extends this information in a helpful manner when participating in case planning. The underscoring of words is to exemplify Rhyannon Bemis strength based approach to her service as a resource parent and support to the families and children in the Child Welfare System.

Jami and Jonathan Lachkovic became resource parents after providing informal kinship care. The Lachkovic’s have proven to be especially essential to the resource team in being able to maintain a strong familial connection working with the birth parents towards reunification while at the same time caring for additional children. Supporting the birth parents while helping meet the safety, permanency and well-being of the children while in their home. The nurturing and stability they have extended to their young children has helped facilitate positive health and educational outcomes. Jami and Jonathan possess many admirable attributes; however, their faith and resilience in times of adversity is one of their most notable characteristics. Their commitment to birth family has reinforced a sense of identity and markedly increased the children’s sense of belonging and self-esteem through strengthening family connections and creating opportunities for positive outcomes in the future. Because the Lachovics personify so many of the PRIDE tenets in their protection and nurturing of children, St. Mary’s County Department of Social Services is proud to honor them as the 2021 Resource Parents of the Year

Jessica and Brian joined our agency just a year ago and have shown to be a tremendous resource for families in that time. They have a calling to care for children with special needs. Not only did they hit the ground running during a pandemic, but they have demonstrated tremendous flexibility and capacity to care for children with very high levels of need. The family has also provided respite during the past year. They have met these challenges with advocacy, nurturing, affection, communication and a true commitment to the well-being of ALL of the children in their home. As they continue to thrive, they let us know that they still have more love to give. Jessica and Brian continue to amaze everyone that works with them. Our local department has received multiple calls and emails raving about the amazing care they provide for the children in their home. We are honored, to HONOR them!

Amy and Steve Gervis’ have created a home that is a safe haven for children. They consistently go above and beyond to meet more than the basic needs of the children in their home by offering their time and guidance that is so very important to teenagers in care. Amy and Steve care deeply about the success of their children and always put in the extra effort to help them reach their goals. They advocate for children in their care as a true parent would and emotionally except children for who they are. Because of all these wonderful attributes we are so proud to have Amy and Steve as resource parents in Queen Anne’s County and nominate them as Resource Parents of the Year!!

The Worcester County Department of Social Services is pleased to recognize Shannon and Kurt Fetters as the 2021 Resource Parents of the Year. The Fetters became resource parents in 2019 and welcomed a sibling group into their home in 2020. The Fetters have been exceptional resource parents and are truly dedicated to supporting birth families with the reunification process. The Fetters have displayed warmth, empathy and compassion to the birth families and support healthy family bonds. Shannon and Kurt exhibit the true meaning of “bridging the gap” and look for ways to “tie” the shoes instead of filling them. We are proud to recognize Shannon and Kurt Fetters as Worcester County’s 2021 Resource Parents of the Year.

Somerset County Department of Social Services’ nominee for Resource Parent of the Year is Ms. Tomasha Blount. She has been a resource parent for three years. Ms. Blount accepted a sibling group to join her family six month after becoming a resource home. Ms. Blount has provided a stable, and supportive environment and has encouraged relationships with birth family through visitations and reunification. In addition, Ms. Blount has been an asset to the Department with placement of older children and has been consistent with the quality of care she provides to the children.

The Washington County Department of Social Services is honored to nominate Anthony and Christine Gigliotti as the 2021 Resource Parents of the Year. Anthony and Christine Gigliotti were licensed on January 31, 2019. The Gigliotti family have promoted healthy relationships and continued positive connections with birth family members of every child who have entered their home. They have gone above and beyond with making it a priority for the child in their home to maintain current positive relationships with family members and friendships. In addition, Anthony and Christine Gigliotti regularly support all academic and extracurricular activities for the child. During the COVID pandemic, the Gigliotti’s were instrumental in helping with the demands of much needed respite for our current families and our placement needs for the older youth. Anthony and Christine Gigliotti are truly an asset to our Department, the children they have helped and their birth families! We are thrilled to have the opportunity to nominate the Gigliotti’s as our resource family of the year.