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catered to the needs of African-Americans.
Thanks BlackFrederick.com!"
- B Patterson
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Bringing Our Children Home
By BlackFrederick.com Community Corner Editor Sam Bennett
Published September 01, 2008
Originally entitled, "Bring The Children Home", last Tuesday, the Frederick News-Post published my
commentary which discussed the need for persons willing to be trained as foster parents and willing
to foster or adopt children between the ages of 10 and 18 (up to 22 is enrolled in college or vocational
schools).
I would like for you to submit this important message to the Black Frederick community because
most of the 31 or so Frederick County foster children that have to be placed in other counties are
African American - the reasons being that they are (In most cases) wrongly perceived to be "difficult"
placements and the general lack of African American participation in the Frederick County Foster and
Adoptive Care program as resource parents or as members of advisory panels and self help
organizations.
This month, I became a member of the Frederick County Department of Social Services, Foster
Parent’s Advisory Committee, and last Monday, when I attended the initial FPAC meeting, I was
informed of a serious problem and an achievable solution.
Presently, there are 141 Frederick County children in foster care, 37% are African American; 59% are
Caucasian; 49% are female; 51% are male.
Additionally, 63% are from Frederick city zip codes, 21701, 21702 and 21703 and FCDSS has not
been able to find anyone willing to foster or adopt 40% of them.
These 31 children are now placed in other counties - some as far away as the state of
Massachusetts .
Many live in group homes or short-term placements.
These children have lost all connections to their families, friends, and other sources of community
support.
They are also at risk of never being fostered or adopted before they are 18 years old.
In the U.S. , each year, 20,000 youth, over 18 years of age became ineligible for foster care, and
continued social services support.
This is known as “aging out”.
Since they seldom acquire the socialization skills, family support or permanency that can be obtained
by a foster or adoptive family, within four years of aging out, 60% are homeless, incarcerated or dead
(e.g., inadequate health care, substance abuse, violent crime victims)
Last year, 16 Frederick County children aged out of the FCDSS Foster and Adoptive Care system.
In order to reduce the number of our at risk children, FCDSS has initiated a recruitment and training
program - “Finding Frederick Families First”.
FCDSS wants Frederick county residents over the age of 21 that are willing to become eligible foster
parents.
Since children in foster care need to remain connected with their families FCDSS requires persons
who will give biological parents the chance to remain in contact with their children; be part of the team
working to reunite children with their families; and will demonstrate good parenting skills.
You must be at least 21 years of age; in good health; able to meet your family's financial obligations;
able to pass a home health and fire inspection; agree not to use physical punishment; agree to a
criminal background check and complete foster parenting training.
If fostering isn’t for you, but you want to help, the FPAC needs your ideas and suggestions to help us
bring our children home.
Contact: Martha Sprow (301) 600-2658
Brenda Boone (301) 600-2624
Frederick County Department of Social Services,
100 All Saints Street
Frederick , MD 21701
BennettJR15@msn.com
By BlackFrederick.com Community Corner Editor Sam Bennett
Published September 01, 2008
Originally entitled, "Bring The Children Home", last Tuesday, the Frederick News-Post published my
commentary which discussed the need for persons willing to be trained as foster parents and willing
to foster or adopt children between the ages of 10 and 18 (up to 22 is enrolled in college or vocational
schools).
I would like for you to submit this important message to the Black Frederick community because
most of the 31 or so Frederick County foster children that have to be placed in other counties are
African American - the reasons being that they are (In most cases) wrongly perceived to be "difficult"
placements and the general lack of African American participation in the Frederick County Foster and
Adoptive Care program as resource parents or as members of advisory panels and self help
organizations.
This month, I became a member of the Frederick County Department of Social Services, Foster
Parent’s Advisory Committee, and last Monday, when I attended the initial FPAC meeting, I was
informed of a serious problem and an achievable solution.
Presently, there are 141 Frederick County children in foster care, 37% are African American; 59% are
Caucasian; 49% are female; 51% are male.
Additionally, 63% are from Frederick city zip codes, 21701, 21702 and 21703 and FCDSS has not
been able to find anyone willing to foster or adopt 40% of them.
These 31 children are now placed in other counties - some as far away as the state of
Massachusetts .
Many live in group homes or short-term placements.
These children have lost all connections to their families, friends, and other sources of community
support.
They are also at risk of never being fostered or adopted before they are 18 years old.
In the U.S. , each year, 20,000 youth, over 18 years of age became ineligible for foster care, and
continued social services support.
This is known as “aging out”.
Since they seldom acquire the socialization skills, family support or permanency that can be obtained
by a foster or adoptive family, within four years of aging out, 60% are homeless, incarcerated or dead
(e.g., inadequate health care, substance abuse, violent crime victims)
Last year, 16 Frederick County children aged out of the FCDSS Foster and Adoptive Care system.
In order to reduce the number of our at risk children, FCDSS has initiated a recruitment and training
program - “Finding Frederick Families First”.
FCDSS wants Frederick county residents over the age of 21 that are willing to become eligible foster
parents.
Since children in foster care need to remain connected with their families FCDSS requires persons
who will give biological parents the chance to remain in contact with their children; be part of the team
working to reunite children with their families; and will demonstrate good parenting skills.
You must be at least 21 years of age; in good health; able to meet your family's financial obligations;
able to pass a home health and fire inspection; agree not to use physical punishment; agree to a
criminal background check and complete foster parenting training.
If fostering isn’t for you, but you want to help, the FPAC needs your ideas and suggestions to help us
bring our children home.
Contact: Martha Sprow (301) 600-2658
Brenda Boone (301) 600-2624
Frederick County Department of Social Services,
100 All Saints Street
Frederick , MD 21701
BennettJR15@msn.com
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