2023 Adoption Month
2023
Adoption Month
Allegany County DSS: Cynthia and Jon Goss
Cynthia and Jon have shown unwavering support, love, and commitment to their now-adopted child since the first day they met. The Goss family provided the support and specialized care the child needed to stay healthy. Their commitment to the child’s well-being has been critical to the child’s development. The Goss family is also committed to including the biological parents in the child’s story. Although some reunifications are not always successful, the family has supported and encouraged a relationship with biological relatives. The Goss family truly fosters with love!
washington County DSS: Mary and Todd Anderson
Mary and Todd Anderson have been licensed resource parents with the Washington County Department of Social Services since 2007. The Andersons are a loving and caring couple who have opened their hearts and home to many children, including five birth children, three adopted children, and a child in foster care. In the Spring of 2022, they began fostering a baby girl. The entire family welcomed the infant with open arms and committed to meeting her needs. The baby was adopted in February of this year. The Andersons provide her love and connections through family, friends, and a community that will last a lifetime. We are honored to celebrate Mary and Todd Anderson as Washington County’s 2023 Adoptive Parents of the Year.
Frederick County DSS: Emily Barb and Liam O’Brien-Bours
The Frederick County Department of Social Services is honored to nominate one of our exceptional adoptive families, Emily Barb and Liam O’Brien-Bours. Their commitment, thoughtfulness, and openness to their adopted son and his birth family were evident from the first day he joined their family. Both Emily and Liam are compassionate, warm, respectful, and very caring individuals. Emily was able to quickly form a positive relationship with their son’s birth mom. The women readily send text messages, emails, and photos as well as find opportunities to spend time together as an extended family. The couple has also been wonderful advocates for other children and families within our local foster care village. They have provided support to resource families as well as participated in training panels with new potential families. They have actively engaged with all service providers, attorneys, and the overall larger team. Emily and Liam are foster and adoptive parents who truly understand the importance of parent partnerships with birth families.
Carroll County DSS: Liz and Rachel Markus
The Carroll County Department of Social Services is delighted to nominate Liz and Rachel Markus as its Adoptive Family of the Year. While they have just begun the process of adopting a child placed in their home, Liz and Rachel have exemplified the true meaning of family and connection. They have supported visitation with extended family members and incorporated them into their own family to foster and strengthen the relationship between the child and the birth family. Liz and Rachel have created a special photo storybook that includes photos of their family and their life in foster care. This book has offered the child an opportunity to narrate their own story. Liz and Rachel have created a home and a path forward for the child while honoring the youngster’s birth family. They are incredibly worthy of the honor of being Adoptive Family of the Year.
Harford County DSS: Matthew Fortuna and Elmer Dalton
Harford County DSS is proud to nominate Matthew Fortuna and Elmer Dalton, who goes by “Dalton”, as our adoptive parents of the year for 2023. Matt and Dalton have been approved resource parents for five years. They adopted two children from foster care in 2022 and adopted their third child from foster care in 2023. Matt and Dalton are both very nurturing parents who are sensitive to the impact of trauma on a child’s life. They are involved with the children’s education and actively participate in enrichment opportunities. Matt and Dalton have been able to use their parenting skills to bond with children, allowing them to feel safe while they teach them to manage their emotions and behaviors.
Garrett County DSS: Adam and Stephanie Sisler
Adam and Stephanie Sisler have welcomed children in need into their Garrett County home since 2017. They adopted two children and have provided them with a loving home that supports and encourages a healthy relationship with the birth parents. Their compassion, empathy for others, and willingness to help inspire positive change in the lives of their children as well as their biological families. Garrett County DSS is grateful for this amazing family and is honored to be able to nominate them as its Adoptive Family of the Year.
Worcester County DSS: Lauren and Dustin Walker
Worcester County DSS is proud to nominate Lauren and Dustin Walker as its Adoptive Parents of the Year. The Walker family has provided a home for the county’s foster children for more than four years. During this time, they have fostered six children and have cared for and loved each one, meeting all of their individual needs. Dustin and Lauren both work full-time, enjoy participating in church activities and have a small child of their own. In October 2022, the Walkers agreed to provide respite for a child in need, not knowing at that time that she would become a permanent member of the family through adoption. The department is fortunate to work with such a strong and giving family. This has truly been a special time for the family.
Cecil County DSS: Donna Ayers
The Cecil County Department of Social Services is pleased to nominate Donna Ayres as our agency’s Adoptive Parent of the Year. Donna has been a licensed resource parent for four years and welcomed many children into her home for both traditional and respite care. Donna has provided a permanent home for four children, including two 12-year-old siblings and an infant. Donna has done an excellent job in meeting the needs of all of the children in her home, particularly one boy who struggled emotionally with the decision to become adopted. Donna was extraordinarily patient and kind with the child, allowing him to express his feelings and concerns. Donna eventually accepted the boy’s younger siblings into her care and helped the children maintain relationships with siblings in other foster/adoptive homes. In addition to adopting this particular sibling group, Donna also serves as a guardian for two 15-year-old girls. Donna is truly an asset to our agency, and we are proud to nominate her with this honor.
Dorchester County DSS: Laura and Charles Creighton
Laura and Charles “Chuck” Creighton have served children and their families in Dorchester County for three years. They have demonstrated extreme patience and compassion throughout their foster care journey. The Creightons never waver in their excellent care and always consider the best interest of the child first and foremost in their parenting decisions. As such, the couple has made plans to adopt a 3-year-old boy by the end of the year. Their efforts throughout the journey to become an adoptive family make them well-deserving of the honor of being nominated Dorchester County’s Adoptive Family of the Year.
Calvert County DSS: Stefany and Chris Lang
The Calvert County Department of Social Services is delighted to nominate Stefany and Christopher Lang as its Adoptive Family of the Year. Stefany and Chris truly embody the spirit of this year’s theme by opening their home to children with a variety of needs. During their decade of community service, they have cared for eight foster children and adopted a son. While fostering, Stefany and Chris ensure that children feel supported in their life choices and remain connected with their birth families. The couple was instrumental in one child’s adoption by a biological relative and helped teenage siblings transition to an out-of-state placement with a distant relative. When that placement failed, Stefany and Chris welcomed back the siblings and became their legal guardians. The couple is also supportive of other resource parents within our agency’s adoptive community. Stefany leads Calvert County’s Adoptions Together support group and Christopher shares his experience of being a foster father during the Calvert PRIDE foster parent training sessions. Calvert DSS truly appreciates the Lang family’s commitment and engagement with children in need and their birth families.
Caroline County DSS: Molly and Chris Robinson
Molly and Chris Robinson have been licensed as a resource home in Caroline County DSS for six years. They have adopted two children from foster care, helping them grow into healthy, thriving, and lively children. The Robinsons are pleasant and patient foster parents who work very well with the Department when planning for children in their care. They have a keen understanding of the challenges of fostering and adopting and are fully committed to their children. It should also be noted that the grandparents are also devoted and committed to the children as well. The Robinsons are a beautiful and loving family and Caroline County DSS is proud to nominate them as the Caroline County Adoptive Family of the Year.
Wicomico County DSS: Megan and Frank Baker
The Wicomico County Department of Social Services nominates Megan and Frank Baker as its Adoptive Family of the Year. The Bakers were licensed as foster parents in 2017 and received the first child placed in their home a year later. While in their care, the child thrived and continued to build connections with her biological family. The Bakers have demonstrated tremendous understanding and have provided ongoing support to the entire birth family. The couple is intuitive to the child’s needs and ensures that she maintains strong bonds with relatives. They encourage the child to express her needs, allowing the child to be her authentic self and showing her love and respect by being present with her in moments when the foster family gathers with the child’s relatives. The Bakers work diligently to maintain their relationship and ensure that the child’s connections with her biological family remain intact.
Kent County DSS: Katie and Tom Johnson
The Kent County Department of Social Services is pleased to nominate Katie and Tom Johnson as its Adoptive Family of the Year. The Johnsons understand the importance of recognizing a child’s strengths and supporting the child’s needs. Their love and dedication show through their child’s attachment and identity with her adoptive family.
Queen Anne’s County DSS: Jeff and Kristen Wheaton
The Queen Anne’s County DSS is glad to announce that Jeff and Kristen Wheaton are its Adoptive Family of the Year. Jeff and Kristen Wheaton have adopted four children since 2016; the most recent of which occurred in April of 2023. Before the adoption of their son, the Wheaton’s provided him with a wonderful foster home and were instrumental in coordinating sibling visits for a group of six children who were living in different homes. Coordinating sibling visits can be challenging, but the Wheatons made it a priority to regularly bring the children together. The couple also provides respite care and daycare for other children temporarily in need of a safe, loving home. When the Wheaton’s are asked to help out with any request, the answer is usually “Yes, we can do that!” Queen Anne’s County DSS thank the Wheaton’s for their unwavering dedication to the Department and the children it serves.
Anne Arundel County DSS: Teresa and Jason Garber
Teresa and Jason Garber are devoted churchgoers. They reached out to the Department after a sibling group living in two separate foster homes came to their attention through a church associate. The Garbers offered to foster all four children, ranging from ages 3 to 16, together in their home. The siblings were placed in the home in 2021. Since then, the couple has done a wonderful job integrating the children into their family, managing their busy activities, maintaining visits with biological relatives, keeping up with medical and school appointments, and everything else that goes along with raising a big, bustling family. They make it all look easy! Teresa and Jason also utilize their support systems when necessary. They have always been willing to do what is in the best interest of the children in their care. For these reasons, Anne Arundel County DSS nominates Teresa and Jason Garber as its Adoptive Family of the Year.
Prince George’s County DSS: Alvin and Ngina Curry
The Prince George’s County Department of Social Services is honored to nominate Alvin and Ngina Curry as its Adoptive Family of the Year. The Currys welcome children into their home with open arms and put a lot of thought and effort into helping youngsters stay connected with their birth families. In September 2023, they adopted their young foster daughter. The couple decorated their daughter’s room with a photo collage of her birth family, which highlights the special memories their daughter created before joining their family. The Currys have taken their daughter to family reunions with her birth family so that she may continue to create and maintain relationships with them. They have gone above and beyond to build strong and healthy relationships with their daughter’s birth family and have welcomed them into their home. Mr. and Mrs. Curry are amazing foster and adoptive parents, and the Department of Social Services thanks them for their service and dedication to the foster care and adoption process and for everything they have done to ensure their daughter grows up happy, healthy, and connected to her birth family.
Montgomery County DSS: Jeanne Marie and Jose Garcia
Jeanne Marie Fraino and Jose Garcia have been resource parents for Montgomery County DSS for five years and adopted their daughter in 2022. Building strong bonds and nurturing connections with others defines this family’s ethics. They embrace their child’s birth family as their own, despite the challenges of moving from a plan of fostering to adoption. The Garcias serve as a resource for everyone in their children’s lives, including department social workers, birth families, school, and medical professionals. They continue to assist some children even after they have transitioned to new placements. Additionally, Jeanne Marie serves as the president of the county’s Foster Parent Association and remains a knowledgeable and trustworthy resource for other foster and adoptive parents. For these reasons, the Montgomery County DSS is pleased to announce that the Garcia Family is its choice for the county’s Adopted Family of the Year.
Howard County DSS: Nicole Corba
Howard County DSS is excited to choose Nicole Corba and her sons as its Adoptive Family of the Year. Ms. Corba has cared for youth of all ages during her 15 years as a resource parent. In 2020, two young siblings were placed in her home during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. Ms. Corba did a wonderful job meeting the needs of the boys while working full-time during the health crisis. During that time, she learned to navigate the world of virtual visits with the children and their parents and developed lasting relationships with the children’s extended family. Ms. Corba created a nurturing, stimulating, and safe home for the boys. She has helped the boys learn how to manage their emotions and form healthy attachments. We are happy to report that Ms. Corba adopted the two young boys in January 2023.
Baltimore County DSS: Lynda Magnum
Baltimore County DSS is pleased to announce that Lynda Magnum and her children are Baltimore County DSS Adoptive Family of the Year. Lynda has been a foster parent with the Baltimore County DSS since 2003. She has fostered numerous children through the years and is the proud parent of six children, five of whom are adopted. Lynda has built a home filled with love, joy, and laughter – a family that has flourished with the support of their foster-adoptive village. Lynda works with the department and birth families to ensure that children in her care maintain connections with their birth relatives. She provides them with a loving, safe, and secure home life that helps empower them with a positive sense of self-worth. Lynda has achieved all of this by working closely with her children’s birth families, even entering into post-adoption contact agreements to support the long-term needs of her children when needed. Lynda is a strong and amazing woman who has blessed the lives of so many individuals, but most importantly the children who call her mom.
Baltimore City DSS: Candis Fields
The Baltimore City Department of Social Services chooses Candis Fields and her children as our Adoptive Family of the Year. Before adopting, Candis was a licensed foster provider who had been associated with the Baltimore City Department of Social Services for many years. Ms. Fields’ motivation for becoming a foster/adoptive parent is her love for children who need a stable and nurturing home. She previously adopted her niece and the girl’s sibling. Although the girls did not have the same birth parents, she wanted to raise them so that they would grow up together in her home. Since 2020, the children have adjusted well in Candis’ home and remain active, happy little girls surrounded by love.
Baltimore City's Second Adoptive Parent of the Year
Rebecca Canino has been a devoted foster parent with the Baltimore City Department of Social Services since January 2020. The commitment and dedication that Rebecca showed during her adoption of three siblings created an environment where the children have grown and thrived. Beyond the fulfillment of their basic needs, the children have been exposed to enriching cultures and social experiences, from traveling to educational and recreational activities. Rebecca’s holistic approach to parenting, education, and experiences has resulted in the children's remarkable growth and emotional well-being. Her perseverance helps ensure that the children become empowered individuals with bright futures, despite challenges. Rebecca’s efforts extend beyond her home, connecting the children with organizations such as their local YMCA, and Roberta's House, and prioritizing their mental and physical health. Baltimore City is proud to nominate Rebecca Canino as one of its Adoptive Parents of the Year.