Kimberly and James Berger were licensed in 2016 as resource parents for the Anne Arundel County Department of Social Services. The couple has cared for children of all ages and is particularly committed to keeping sibling groups together. Kimberly and James actively support the reunification of children with their families and, when that plan is not possible, they help children maintain connections with their relatives. Kim and James are always willing to be of service to the department and ensure that the needs of the children in their care are met. The Anne Arundel County Department of Social Services is proud to nominate Kimberly and James Berger as its Resource Parents of the Year.

Dienata Sutton has been a resource parent with the Baltimore City Department of Social Services since 2017. She provides excellent care for children placed in her home and helps them heal from physical and emotional trauma. Dienata is particularly devoted to the well-being of a 5-year-old boy in her care. Her love and dedication have improved his health and his social and developmental skills. The Baltimore City Department of Social Services nominates Dienata as its Resource Parent of the Year for her unwavering commitment to the children in her care.

Patrick and Cherie Brown have been resource parents with the Baltimore City Department of Social Services since 2019. They provide a stable, structured, and nurturing home for children – particularly, those coping with behavioral challenges. The couple’s goal is to inspire young people toward academic excellence, personal growth, and spiritual awareness. The Baltimore City Department of Social Services nominates Patrick and Cherie Brown as its Resource Parents of the Year for their steadfast commitment to children.

Robbie Hayes has been a resource parent with the Baltimore County Department of Social Services since July 2015; and, before that, she served more than a decade as a licensed resource parent in another state. During her time with Baltimore County, Robbie has cared for 20 children of various ages and ethnicities, provided respite care for other resource parents, and worked diligently to reunite children with their families. Robbie is also an adoptive parent and wholeheartedly supports her children’s relationships with their relatives. As an advocate for youth in out-of-home care, Robbie serves as a panel guest for resource parent training, mentors new resource parents, and supports resource family community events. She is so full of grace and passion for this calling to serve children that she has built a support system of family and community resources to help others care for children who have been abused and neglected. The Baltimore County Department of Social Services is honored to recognize Robbie Hayes as its Resource Parent of the Year.

In just a year, Joe and Beth Davis have opened their hearts and home to six children and four families for whom they provide respite care. They demonstrate the compassion, patience, and unwavering spirit needed to care for children who have experienced abuse and neglect. Joe and Beth provided a safe and stable home for three young children and, ultimately, helped them reunite with their family. The couple has also provided a forever home for a teenager. Joe and Beth are dedicated to the well-being of children and families in Carroll County. The Carroll County Department of Social Services is pleased to nominate Joe and Beth as its Resource Parents of the Year.

Jennifer and Brad Cox became resource parents to help children and their families thrive. They have taken time from their jobs to ensure the child in their care receives specialized medical attention. They support the child’s family and have developed a strong and supportive relationship with the child’s father. Their unwavering love and dedication have made all the difference in the child’s ability to thrive and someday reunite with their family. The Harford County Department of Social Services is pleased to nominate Jennifer and Brad Cox as its Resource Parents of the Year.

Shortly after becoming resource parents in 2022, Brian and Alicia Vanisko were asked to care for a young sibling group for just two weeks. Now, almost two years later, the children remain in the home under Brian and Alicia’s exceptional and loving care. The couple is ever ready to tend to the children’s needs and takes great joy in seeing them reach their emotional and developmental milestones. The Howard County Department of Social Services believes wholeheartedly that Brian and Alicia are well-deserving of its nomination as Resource Parents of the Year.

Nancy Downes has been a licensed Resource Parent for the Caroline County Department of Social Services for an amazing 15 years. She has provided out-of-home care and respite services for countless children from Caroline County as well as others from Crossroads Community, a nonprofit behavioral health program. Nancy is nurturing and always ready to help. She makes a point of getting to know the children’s families and often maintains contact with them after the children leave her home. The Caroline County Department of Social Services is grateful for Nancy’s unwavering support and the care she provides to children and their families. The department is pleased to nominate Nancy Downes as its Resource Parent of the Year.

Annie and Blake Roof have been dedicated resource parents for five years and have provided long-term care to a young child. They handle many unexpected challenges with grace and have earned the respect of the department and fellow resource parents. Annie and Blake are committed to supporting children’s relationships with their birth families by maintaining regular contact with the them and facilitating visits. Annie and Blake have assisted the department by providing short-term, emergency care to teenagers who need a temporary, safe, and loving environment. In 2022, Annie saw a need in her community for a support group for resource parents. Despite her busy schedule, she developed and leads a support group for resource moms. Blake saw a similar need for resource fathers and this year began a monthly support group for them.. The Cecil County Department of Social Services is proud to nominate Annie and Blake Roof as its Resource Parents of the Year.

Janette Ventura provides a safe, home environment for teenagers who cannot live with their families. She works hard to engage the youth in her home by exposing them to new experiences and teaching them independent living skills like money management. Janette has a large community and family support system, and any youth joining her family is embraced by members of that support system. Janette puts the needs of teens first. She encourages open lines of communication to help them rebuild their self-confidence and trust with other adults. The Dorchester County Department of Social Services is pleased to nominate Janette Ventura as its Resource Parent of the Year.

Helping youth transition successfully to adulthood is the goal of good parenting. Kent County resource parents Lamar and Marcia Stoltzfus know that teens living in out-of-home care face many challenges on the path to independent living. They took exceptional care in guiding a young teen mother’s transition to adulthood. Lamar and Marcia encouraged the teen to develop parenting skills and helped her maintain employment. They also helped her obtain a driver’s license and assisted in the purchase of her first car. Although the young mother has moved to another home, Lamar and Marcia maintain their relationship with her and often provide childcare for her child. In recognition of the couple’s extraordinary commitment to parenting young adults, the Kent County Department of Social Services proudly nominates Lamar and Marcia Stoltzfus as its Resource Parents of the Year.

Laura Chamberlain plays an important role in our department’s ability to meet the special needs of children in out-of-home care. Laura has cared for children with complex needs and has patiently sat long hours with them in the emergency room until they receive medical attention. Laura supports the children’s relationships with their parents and continues to offer assistance after families are reunited. She even provides respite care for other resource parents. Laura exemplifies what we look for in a resource parent. Her kindness and patience have earned her the respect of social workers, birth parents, and other resource parents. Queen Anne’s County is proud to nominate Laura as its Resource Parent of the Year.

Jill and Tanattha “Bo” welcomed three siblings into their home about a year ago. The children lived in separate homes in another county, but Jill and Bo were willing to make their home available for the sake of keeping them together. The children have progressed socially, emotionally, and academically while living with Jill and Bo. The couple makes every effort to assure the children that they have a forever family and that their needs will always be met. Jill and Bo work closely with mental health providers and primary care providers to end the need for medication intervention to address behavioral concerns for the children. Jill and Bo are looking forward to adopting the sibling group very soon. Somerset County Department of Social Services is pleased to nominate Jill Telford and Bo Thuenimmg as its Resource Parents of the Year.

Licensed as a resource parent for just a year, Osborne Kirkland provides youth in his home with the highest level of care and respect. He values their individual needs by making sure they have the tangible things that make them feel at home, such as fashionable clothing and their favorite foods. He supports their academic endeavors and is involved in their extracurricular activities. Osborne is willing to care for adolescent youth with behavioral challenges and traumatic backgrounds. He is a strong advocate for the teenagers in his care and goes out of his way to help them feel like family. Osborne strives to maintain a home environment that encourages youth to become independent and involved in the community. The Wicomico Department of Social Services is pleased to nominate Osborne Kirkland as its Resource Parent of the Year.

Terrance and Alison Tinker have served as resource parents with the Worcester County Department of Social Services for many years. The department has a great working relationship with the Tinkers. They are dependable and compassionate and would not hesitate to offer the shirt off their backs to help a child in need. The Tinkers provide children in their care a safe, stable, and nurturing home. The Worcester County Department of Social Services is honored to nominate Terrance and Alison Tinker as its Resource Parents of the Year.

Regena Greene has shown extraordinary dedication, compassion, and commitment to children in her care. She faces complicated situations with grace and treats children and their family members with kindness and respect. The Charles County Department of Social Services is honored to nominate Regena Greene as its Resource Parent of the Year.

Last year, Tami and John Pantano opened their home to two, young siblings with unique medical needs. The toddlers required countless doctor appointments and weeks of medical treatment before their health improved. Caring for young children placed in out-of-home calls for special consideration. Tami and John make sure to nurture the children’s developmental and emotional needs and ensure that they maintain their relationship with their parents. The couple regularly drives 6 hours, both ways, to enable the children to visit with their family; and, they have adjusted their schedules so that the children can visit virtually with their parents several times during the week. Tami and John truly embody the theme of “Engaging Youth, Building Supports, Strengthening Opportunities”. They appreciate and recognize the value of family connections and the importance of reunification. Tami and John have generously extended themselves to support the communication and visitation plan with the children’s family. The Calvert County Department of Social Services is pleased to nominate Tami and John Pantano as its Resource Parents of the Year.

Mary Faith and Trenton Larrabee are strong advocates for children in out-of-home care. Over the past months, they have sought out community partners to provide services and support to resource parents, youths in care, and the department. In partnership with her church, Mary Faith donated toys to the county’s Child Advocacy Center. This was a welcomed addition to the department and will help create a welcoming environment for children coping with trauma. Mary Faith and Trenton are strong advocates for building peer relationships with other resource parents and creating a network of support for children in care. St. Mary’s County Department of Social Services is honored to nominate Mary Faith and Trenton Larrabee as its Resource Parents of the year.

Angie Forbeck has been a resource parent in Allegany County for 10 years. She has cared for many children of various ages and levels of need. Angie exemplifies what it means to be a resource parent. She supports reunification and is dedicated to helping children remain connected with their families. Angie embraces and celebrates the differences in children and is committed to helping them navigate the challenges in their lives. The Allegany County Department of Social Services is honored to nominate Angie Forbeck as its Resource Parent of the Year.

Trudy and Bill Pickrel have cared for more than 50 children since they were licensed in 2005 as resource parents with the Garrett County Department of Social Services. Bill and Trudy have three biological children, five adopted children, and are the guardians of two other children. The couple is an invaluable resource to the department and is always willing to open their hearts and home to children and their families. Bill and Trudy are staunch advocates for their children’s education and ensure that all of their needs are met. The Garrett County Department of Social Services is proud to nominate Bill and Trudy Pickrel as the 2024 resource parents of the year.

When Dean and Lisa Myers began serving as resource parents in 2012, they were raising five young boys of their own. Within three months of being licensed, they accepted a 4-year-old child with special needs. They have been instrumental in helping this child adjust developmentally and emotionally in their family home. The Myerses have worked diligently to educate their entire family about trauma and its impact on a child’s behavior. They play an important role in supporting and building connections with the families of children in their care. They have been resource parents to three children, adopted one child, and provided respite care for several other children through the years. They truly have made a positive impact on the children and youth in our community. It is our privilege to nominate Dean and Lisa Myers as the Washington County Department of Social Services Resource Parents of the Year.

Kristy has been a resource parent for 10 years. An essential member of the resource parent community, she serves as president of the Frederick County Foster and Adoptive Parent Association and previously volunteered as a Court Appointed Special Advocate. Kristy has three children and is currently the resource parent for two toddlers. She willingly engages the children’s families and helps empower, educate, and support them in their quest for reunification. Kristy is a wonderful advocate for the children in her home and is an active member of her children’s reunification teams. She often attends monthly court hearings and family team meetings as an advocate of the county’s Safe Babies Program. Additionally, Kristy is passionate about mentoring new resource families and helping them find community resources to support the children in their homes. The Frederick County Department of Social Services is truly thankful to Kristy O’Neal and honored to nominate her as its Resource Parent of the Year.

Meridith and Peter Sloan are exemplary resource parents. Parents of five biological children, Meredith and Peter approach their service to the children by involving their whole family in their care. The whole family welcomes the children into their home with open arms while still acknowledging that the goal is to help them reunify with their families. The Sloans are compassionate, understanding, and communicative – always ready to put the needs of the child and his or her birth family first. Meridith and Peter have helped two children reunify with their birth parents and were integral in making the transition as trauma-free as possible. The Sloans maintain relationships with birth families and remain supportive even after the family has reunified. The Sloan family is a tremendous resource to the department. They are flexible, responsive, and willing to accommodate emergency care. The Sloans are amazing resource parents, and the Montgomery County Department of Social Services is honored to nominate them as our Resource Parents of the Year.

Aiden Dart has provided a loving haven for children from newborn to 18 years of age during the three years she has served as a resource parent in Prince George’s County. Aiden embraces each child who joins her family with love and compassion. She champions the department’s reunification efforts and has worked diligently to reunite children with their families. Aiden is particularly invested in the futures of older youth. She currently cares for three youths and even accepted one youngster back into her home after efforts to reunify with family failed. In addition to serving as a resource parent, Aiden provides respite and emergency care and regularly serves as a member of a discussion panel for resource parent training. Aiden is flexible, supportive, patient, and nurturing. The Prince George’s County Department of Social Services is proud to nominate Aiden Dart as its Resource Parent of the Year.