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.
What is the MRPA?
Enjoy this replay of our April, 2024 session outlining the mission and purpose of the Maryland Resource Parent Association.
Subscribe or Update Your Information
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
Child Welfare Academy Resource Parent Conference 11/6 – Sign Up by 10/30!
CHILD WELFARE ACADEMY Effective Mental Health Treatment Through a Trauma-Informed Lens
Reminder! There are 3 more sessions of this course available in 2021, it's not too late to take advantage of this training opportunity. REGISTRATION LINK: https://theinstitute.myabsorb.com/ PRINTABLE FLYER
Resources to Support Safe Travel Practices
The Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (MDOT MVA) is observing Child Passenger Safety Week, September 19-25, by reminding parents and caregivers to make sure children ride as safely as possible with proper use of car seats, boosters and...
CWLA Webinar Announcement: The Child Tax Credit (CTC) is a Child Welfare Issue
Monday, September 27, 2021 3:30 pm Eastern Time The Child Tax Credit (CTC) is a Child Welfare Issue CWLA, in partnership with the Coalition on Human Needs, invite you to join us for the webinar, The Child Tax Credit (CTC) is a Child Welfare Issue, to help spread the...
9/9 is International FASD Awareness Day
On this 9th day of the 9th month of the year, we recognize International FASD Awareness Day, a day dedicated to bringing awareness of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and its impact on the lives of children. The following resources are excellent for Resource Parents. Book...
First Tuesday Reminder – September 7th, Kinship Mentoring with Sam Macer
Kinship Care Month & Our New Kinship Corner
Welcome to the wonderful month of September and the celebration of Kinship Month! I would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' and to honor all of the kinship caregivers, both formal and informal, in the State of Maryland. We are grateful for all that you...
National Adoption Month Webinar: Every Conversation Matters 9/30 @ 2pm
This year, National Adoption Month will focus on teen adoption and engaging youth in permanency planning. The theme for the 2021 initiative, "Every Conversation Matters," recognizes that authentic youth engagement depends on building solid relationships, which can...
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.