FOSTER PARENTS OF THE YEAR

FIRST LADY KATIE O’MALLEY AND DHR SECRETARY BRENDA DONALD HONOR MARYLAND FOSTER PARENTS OF THE YEAR

ANNAPOLIS, MD – First Lady Katie Curran O’Malley and Maryland Department of Human Resources (DHR) Secretary Brenda Donald joined forces today to host an appreciation event at Government House for Maryland’s foster parents in honor of National Foster Parent Appreciation Month.

“Foster parents provide a loving and nurturing environment for children who cannot live with their birth parents,” said First Lady Katie O’Malley. “They can make a tremendous difference for children who are going through very difficult times.”

“Our foster parents are our most important resource,” Secretary Donald. “I am constantly heartened by so many people who are willing to open their homes and hearts to a child in need. We will always need foster parents to fill in the gap for children who need love and support.”

Under the leadership of the O’Malley/Brown Administration, Maryland has seen a nearly 20 percent drop in the number of foster children in care; a 40 percent reduction in placing foster children in group homes and an increase in the number of finalized adoptions. Last year, child welfare workers finalized 770 adoptions. Both the First Lady and Secretary Donald attribute these initial successes to DHR’s Place Matters initiative – an initiative that has significantly reformed child welfare practices in the state.

“Nothing matters more to a child than a place to call home,” said Secretary Donald. “And more than ever, we are seeing foster care as a temporary safe haven for children.”

To select the foster parents of the year, each of the 24 local departments of social services identified a foster parent that has gone above and beyond to serve children, with a special focus on those who have made themselves available to help older children in care. There are approximately 8,300 children in care across the state and about 50 percent are 13 years of age and older.

Maryland continues to recruit additional foster parents to be resources for children in care. If you are interested in information about becoming a resource, please call 1-888-MD-KIDS2 (1-888-635-4372).