At today’s Commissioners meeting, Chairman Commissioner Josh Shapiro, Vice-Chair Dr. Valerie A. Arkoosh, and Commissioner Joseph C. Gale proclaimed May as Foster Care Month in Montgomery County. Present to accept the Commissioners’ Proclamation were four of our Montgomery County Foster Parents:
• Derrick McGrow- He is treasurer of the FPA. He and his wife, Monica, have been foster parents since October 2013. They have adopted their son from foster care, and are currently fostering 2 children.
• Anne Bickel-She is secretary of the FPA. She and her husband, John have been foster parents since January 2011. They have adopted three children from foster care.
• Geraldine Griffin- She is a kinship foster parent to her granddaughter. She was approved in March 2014.
• Vanessa Berthau-She is a general foster parent, and was approved in August 2015. She is currently fostering a teenage girl.
The foster parents kindly showed their appreciation to the staff of the Office of Children & Youth for all of the hard work and support provided to them. The Commissioners and Children & Youth Director Laurie O’Connor expressed our sincere thanks and appreciation for the unconditional love, support and nurturing our foster parents provide to the children entrusted to their care.
The Commissioners also recognized the Children & Youth staff present at the meeting who support our Foster Care Program including: Placement Administrator Peter Spengeman, Foster Home Supervisor Christine Calcagni, Foster Home Recruiter William Carrol and Foster Care Caseworker Zenobia Parker, and most especially Children & Youth’s longest term employee, Kathleen Sullivan, who has been instrumental in Montgomery County’s Foster Care Program since 1979 and who will be retiring on July 1, 2016 after 37 years of service to the children and families of Montgomery County!
The Commissioners also reminded everyone of the need for foster parents to care for dependent children in our community and urged anyone interested in learning more about becoming a foster parent to reach out to the Montgomery County Office of Children & Youth.
Pictured from left to right: Zenobia Parker, Foster Care Worker; Vanessa Berthau, Foster Parent and granddaughter Londyn Wimberly; Geraldine Griffin, Foster Parent; Kathleen Sullivan, Family Engagement Supervisor; Derrick McGrow, Foster Parent; Anne Bickel, Foster Parent; Christine Calcagni, Foster Home Supervisor; Laurie O’Connor, Children & Youth Director; Dr. Valerie A. Arkoosh, Commissioner Vice-Chair; Joseph C. Gale, Commissioner; William Carroll, Foster Home Recruiter; Peter Spengeman, Placement Administrator; Josh Shapiro, Chairman Commissioner