ADOPTUSKIDS TO HONOR CASEWORKERS FOR THEIR DEDICATION TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
Livingston, Louisiana - June 1, 2008 – AdoptUsKids announced today that Ms. Rachel K. Polo the Child Welfare Specialist II at the Livingston Louisiana Office of Community Services is the June winner of their Caseworker of the Month award. This is part of a new national initiative celebrating caseworkers for their dedication to children and families nationwide. Ms. Polo is featured on adoptuskids.org and adopte1.org in the words of the adoptive family that nominated her.
Thousands of families across the United States rely on their caseworkers every day to connect them to vital services, offer support and guidance, and ensure the safety, permanency and well-being of children in the foster care system.
Approximately 300,000 children in the United States enter the foster care system each year. While about 54 percent of these children will return to their parents, the other 46 percent remain in the system. Currently there are 510,000 children in the foster care system and 129,000 are waiting for an adoptive family. Approximately 26,000 children “age out” of the system each year without ever being adopted. About half of the children in foster care are children of color, with older African American boys waiting the longest for adoption.
The Bauers family stated “Rachel is an EXCEPTIONAL caseworker that ALWAYS puts the needs of the children in her care first. Rachel takes time out of her life to attend baseball games, doctor's appointments, birthday parties and school programs of all of the children on her caseload. Rachel consistently goes above and beyond to make sure the needs of each of these children are met. In all the years I have been a foster parent I have NEVER seen a caseworker more involved with her foster parents and children.”
Reflecting on this recipient of the Caseworker of the Month initiative, AdoptUsKids’ Project Director, Barbara Holtan said, “As a social worker myself, I am delighted that we can offer this recognition to Ms. Polo. Adoption and foster care workers rarely receive the acknowledgement that they should receive for the life-changing work that they do on behalf of children and families.”
After being nominated for this award by the Bauers family, Ms. Polo said, “Chad and Cyndy Bauers have been foster parents for several years and have adopted 3 children from our agency and are currently the foster/pre-adoptive placement for one child that is on my caseload. Cyndy and Chad are very patient, loving and wonderful parents that take excellent care of the children that they have fostered. Cyndy and Chad love these children like they are their biological children and it has been a great pleasure working with this family.”
The Collaboration to AdoptUsKids
The Collaboration to AdoptUsKids is a multi-faceted, five-year, federally funded project. Its mission is to recruit and connect foster and adoptive families with waiting children throughout the United States. The Collaboration is managed by the Adoption Exchange Association (AEA) based in Baltimore, Maryland, through a cooperative agreement with the Children's Bureau of HHS.
Livingston Louisiana Office of Community Services Adoption Program
The Livingston Louisiana Office of Community Services Adoption Program seeks adoptive home placement of children who are in the Department of Social Services’ custody and are legally free for adoption. Services include the assessment of families who apply to adopt, matching available children with available homes, preparing children for placement, and providing services to our adoptive children and families before, during, and after placement is made to include provisions of adoption subsidy services to eligible families.
Contact:
Kate Kirkpatrick
kkirkpatrick@adoptuskids.org
(717) 545-5251