Page 18 - May 24 Issue.indd

Caroline CASA open their hearts and their homes to provide stability for

Court Appointed Special Advocate children and youth during an otherwise tumultuous time in
their lives. But foster care is intended as a support system for
by Amy Horne, Executive families, not a substitute for parents. Many youth in foster care
Director, CASA of Caroline don’t have the exposure to life skills that kids who remain with
their families of origin may learn. The transition to adulthood is

challenging enough but for youth who exit foster care without
May is National Foster Care Month ever achieving permanency there are even greater barriers to
a successful transition to adulthood.
May is National Foster Care Month. It is a time to recognize and
This year’s National Foster Care Month theme, “Engaging
honor foster families, volunteers, mentors, policymakers, child
Youth. Building Supports. Strengthening Opportunities.” raises
welfare professionals, and other members of the community
awareness about the important role that members from all

who help children and youth in foster care find safe, permanent,
parts of child welfare and our community are responsible for
loving homes in which they can thrive. It’s also a time to
when it comes to helping youth leave care with strengthened
consider how we all play a role in keeping children safe and
relationships, holistic supports, and real opportunities. It also
families together.
emphasizes the importance of involving young people early
Foster parents provide a critical safety net for children who’ve and throughout their time in foster care to help improve their
been abused, neglected, or abandoned by their families. Th ey experience while in care, as well as their long-term outcomes.
And this year’s theme serves as a reminder that everyone in
the community can do their part too. Approximately 20,000
Calvary Baptist Church youth age out of foster care every year without ever achieving a
permanent family. By creating opportunities for older youth to
4
10-924-6404
1120 Market St., Denton • 410-924-6404 learn life skills, we can help the young people in our community
ofdenton.org
www.calvarybaptistchurchofdenton.org thrive as they transition to adulthood.

Don Reynolds, Pastor Th e first week in May is also Children’s Mental Health Awareness
or
t
Week. CASA of Caroline is proud to be partnering with
Caroline County Public Schools and other local organizations
and businesses to support the Children’s Mental Health Matters
Campaign. It is a statewide campaign to raise public awareness
of the importance of children’s mental health, education to
discourage substance use, reducing stigma of mental health,
and connecting children and families with resources for
prevention and support of mental health conditions. For more
information, please visit www.childrensmentalhealthmatters.
org.
a
M
y3&4
Friday & Saturday, May 3 & 4 While we all have a responsibility to help children and youth
Keri Kondracki Leading who’ve experienced abuse and/or neglect, this month we say
(see Community Calendar for details) thank you to every foster family, child welfare professional,
judge and volunteer who dedicates their life to serving and
It Is All About Honoring Jesus Christ protecting over 423,000 children and youth in the foster
care system. We are grateful for your dedication, selfl essness

and countless daily sacrifices to support children who have
Atlantic Paving & Concrete experienced abuse or neglect. To learn more about National
Foster Care Month and the foster care system, please visit
www.childwelfare.gov. If you are interested in learning more
Meeting all your needs!
about becoming a foster care resource here in Caroline County,
please contact the Caroline County Department of Social
Asphalt • Concrete
Services at 410-819-4500. To learn more about becoming a
Asphalt Millings • Stone
CASA volunteer, please visit www.carolinecasa.org or call Amy
Grading • Snow Removal
at 410-479-8301. Together, we can “Change a Child’s Story”!
Licensed, Bonded, Insured The Governor’s Office of Crime Control & Prevention funded this project under
MHIC MD#85409
DE#2002110154 Office: 410-479-4477 sub-award number CJAC-2019-0004 and VOCA-2018-0063. All points of view in this
document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the offi cial position
Mobile: 240-417-2033 of any State or Federal Agency. This project is supported by a grant from the Maryland

10025 Miller Rd, Judiciary’s Administrative Office of the Courts number AOC-G20CA0225I.

Denton, MD FAX: 410-479-3877
18