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New 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.
What is the MRPA?
Enjoy this replay of our April, 2024 session outlining the mission and purpose of the Maryland Resource Parent Association.
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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!
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Keeping Resource Parents In the Know
MRPA Community News
Reminder: Board Meeting this Wed, 2/22 at 8PM
This is a reminder of the scheduled Monthly meeting to be held on Wednesday evening February 22, 2017, starting at 8:00 PM. This will be a Teleconference meeting Phone Number: 302-202-1104 Enter Code 360215 A reminder also that BI-ANNUAL ELECTION OF OFFICERS WILL BE...
The Invisible Achievement Gap: Not just an Arizona problem!
Article Quote: “A new report commissioned by FosterEd Arizona finds Arizona students in foster care persistently underperform academically compared to their other classmates. Arizona’s Invisible Achievement Gap documents this overlooked problem for the first time....
Board Meeting Scheduled for February 22, 2017
A Regular Monthly Maryland Resource Parent Association (MRPA) Board Of Directors Meeting Has Been Called For Wednesday Evening, February 22, 2017 Starting At 8:00 PM. Meeting Will Be Held By Tele-Conference. Phone Number: 302-202-1104 Enter Code: 360215 All Members Of...
ESSA Listening Tours Schedule & Registration Link
The MRPA Team would like to pass along this message from the Maryland State Department of Education. Mark your calendars, and join where possible! Happy New Year! We hope this message finds you well. Just a reminder of the listening tours taking place regarding...
Spring 2017 Wye Mills Resource Parent Conference
Info and sign-up details for the upcoming Spring event at the Chesapeake College in Wye Mills, Maryland.
California Law to Close Group Home Stresses Importance of Family for Every Foster Kid
Click to read more. http://jjie.org/2016/05/23/california-law-closes-group-homes-stresses-importance-of-family-for-every-foster-kid/
MD: Court Appointed Special Advocates: Beginning of School Year Often Reveals Child Abuse, Neglect
The following article from the August 22, 2016 Riverdale Park Patch reports on an important trend of which resource parents, teachers and staff should be aware. Excerpt: "Because children are subject to less adult supervision outside the home over the summer,...
Fall 2016 Resource Parent Conference
Click here for complete details and a link to the registration for the October 8th conference. https://www.mrpa.org/event/fall-2016-resource-parent-conference/
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.
