September 2008 Caseworker of the Month
Melinda Stone
Alternative Family Services
I would like to name Melinda as the Social Worker of the Month. Melinda has been my caseworker since I began caring for the children. I know that she has many cases and many children, but she supports us with everything, especially with the adoption of Victoria. I knew that I could count on her to help us with any question or problem that I may have had. I feel very proud to have her as our caseworker. She has always been honest with me, and for that I thank her. It is obvious that she does care for the children and she does what she can to help them and the families. Melinda is a very good person and that is why I feel that she deserves to be the caseworker of the month.
The Tavel Family
“Since May of 2004, I have worked with Alternative Family Services, a foster care and adoption agency. During the first three years I worked as a caseworker, and currently I work placing children in foster homes. It was during the first three years at Alternative Family Services that I worked with the Tavel family and Victoria, collaborating with them in the process of deciding to adopt. The Tavel family has always shown a lot of affection for all the children that have spent time in their home. They are a family that works together as a true team, and I feel very relieved when we can place children with them because I am confident that they are going to receive a lot of affection, love, and attention. Generally when I go to the Tavel home to visit the children, I find the children playing, running and laughing together. It is very common that biological families that have had children spend some time in foster care with the Tavel family maintain contact with them in one form or another. With Victoria, the family has demonstrated an immense amount of love, affection and dedication to her. Mrs. Tavel always does her work with a smile on her face and with such grace, and the entire family loves Victoria as a daughter, sister, granddaughter, and niece, she is adored as a member of the family.
“I have been working as a social worker for more than 15 years. In addition to working with the children in this agency, I also worked with homeless families, people with physical disabilities, women escaping domestic violence and with children abandoned in the streets of Nicaragua. I continue to work as a social worker, although it can be very difficult and sad at times, because I continue to gain the inspiration, strength and confidence to continue on with my work, knowing people like the Tavel family, and working as a team member with agencies like Alternative Family Services, which supports its employees, families, and the children we serve.” – Melinda Stone
Read the press release.