A Special Interview: November 2024
Next month, LBC alumni and friends will gather for Jingle and Joy: Annual Toy Drive Extravaganza where they will donate toys to youth served by Baltimore County Department of Social Service (DSS) foster care programs. What is the greatest need for children in these programs?
The gifts will be welcome and provide a smile to the many children that we serve. However, our children truly need a permanent home where their needs are being appropriately met and they can be emotionally nourished in a safe and stable environment. Although we hope that every child can return to their families of origin or be reunified with a relative, we need resource parents or “foster families” to provide a safe, nurturing, and loving environment to children for a temporary period of time.
What strategies have you seen help successfully meet that need?
The Department has a robust Family Finding Program and a Family Team Decision Making Practice. Through these strategies, we conduct meetings where the Department empowers families to work jointly with us to develop a safe and appropriate plan for children. Through the Family Finding Program, we have access to a variety of databases to search for relatives or close family friends that may be willing to provide support to a child and family. With the appropriate community and Departmental support, we strive to keep children in their schools, on their little league teams, and in their communities with their family and friends.
How can leaders in the community support DSS year-round?
A great way to provide direct support to our children is to volunteer to become a CASA: Court Appointed Special Advocate. A CASA is a caring adult that will provide support and guidance to a youth and advocate for them in court. The Department works very closely with CASA to support our children. In fact, Jennifer Stine, Executive Director of CASA for Baltimore County, is an LBC alum class of 2017 and a great partner with the Department! Additionally, we are always recruiting and training individual adults and families that are willing to open their home to a child by becoming a foster parent. If you or someone you know may be interested in becoming a foster parent, please contact our inquiry line at 410-853-3170 to attend one of our information sessions. As a community leader, it is our responsibility to help those in need. Although it may be difficult, please direct families to the Department that may require our foster care services. By identifying and guiding families who need support to the Department, we can help to promote stronger individuals and families, protect vulnerable children and adults, and provide support to families to achieve and sustain independence.
What life experience has most shaped who you are as a leader?
As a child, my family moved a lot! Although moving often was difficult, I learned to be adaptable to new environments. As a young adult, I attended a Jesuit University in New York City. While at Fordham University, I was a member of the women’s basketball team. During my four years at Fordham, I learned not only the value of team but I developed a passion for social justice. I learned that we have an obligation to utilize our talents to make a difference in the lives of others. The Jesuit philosophy of Cura Personalis, caring for the whole person, has been a guiding principle in my life and professional career.
In your opinion, what personal trait is most important to being a good leader and why?
There are so many important traits to being a good leader that it is hard to pick just one. I believe that it is important to be available, authentic, supportive, compassionate and always willing to listen. I aspire to be a fierce advocate for the children that we serve while having the humility to learn from every person that I encounter.