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Governor seeks 1,000 foster parents
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As horrific child abuse cases from Baltimore City grab headlines, Gov. Martin O’Malley is launching a new campaign aimed at recruiting 1,000 foster parents across Maryland by 2010.
“Foster homes, foster parents are really the first line of defense when it comes to protecting vulnerable children,” O’Malley told The Examiner. “In the absence of foster homes, we can’t make the first meaningful intervention.”
The number of Maryland foster parents decreased by more than a thousand between 2003 and 2007, creating a void that leaves many kids without the proper guidance, O’Malley said.
“When you ask people to make this investment and this sacrifice and you fail to make sure payment keeps pace with inflation, you’re really dooming a lot of kids,” he said.
In 2006, foster parents received a monthly stipend of $535 for each child in regular foster homes. O’Malley has increased that monthly stipend $735.
The governor also pledged better training, childcare assistance, and respite care.
Shocking cases of child abuse in Baltimore City filled headlines in recent weeks, including allegations a mother killed her 2-year-old daughter by feeding her methadone, and a drug-addicted mother who admitted she looked the other way while her boyfriend beat her toddler son to death.
O’Malley said he “absolutely” believes an increase in foster parents could lead to a decrease in crime.
Human Resources Secretary, Brenda Donald said she planned to engage businesses, and nonprofit and organizations, and to help recruit parents.
She said organizations need to make information about foster homes “readily available” to their employees, and provide flexible work hours for employees who become foster parents.
lbroadwater@baltimoreexaminer.com
Comments from Examiner Readers
1:38 PM MST on Sat., Jan. 19, 2008 re: "Governor seeks 1,000 foster parents"
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Examiner Reader said:
Only one good parent is needed for each good child. BRAC has nothing to do with our educational system. BRAC gets their own schools. These foster kids have always been dysfuntional and no one can handle them in the past. The parental training program suggested is the first to ever have any kind of progress. Thats a proud accomplishent. No drugs, ever for these children.
20 agree | 28 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Recruiting more foster parents is a great start, but it is only one part of the solution. A fundamental chamge in our education system are the best chances of moving this society forward. If the Gov tried these he couls realize his stated goals. Mandatory school uniforms; longer school days and year -round school with a revised curriculum that includes "mandatory" social skills, physical education and arts as part of the curriculum); a comprehensive truancy program, and return of the Public Technical Schools (paid for with private dollars). BRAC will require electricians, plumbers, motor vehicle repair persons, welders, brick masons, heating/air conditioning, appliance repair persons, and etc on an on-going basis. These jobs will pay more than any street-level drug dealer could ever make, and they are much safer.
25 agree | 16 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Some sick people to watch out for, minds are in the gutter, best to do a backround check on 11:13.
23 agree | 24 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
When the government starts paying for these childrens lives, only then will they have a say so in their present, past and future. As a matter of a fact tehy may just run away and waste all of our tax money. Thats usually the case.
19 agree | 13 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Will these be same race placements? Placements within the same community? Those are crucial issues. Or will this become an effort to redistribute foster children to other jurisdictions, communities and schools. Is the goal to seek 1,000 affluent Black families just like they want a 1,000 educated Black males to mentor. How did that project go?
16 agree | 22 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Beleive this solution and care when you see it. Our tax dollars finally to good use with the cost of living increase.
29 agree | 19 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Foster parents, hmmmmmmmmm , Maybe O'malley and his judge wife can take on a couple of someone elses kids. She can bring them home right from the courthouse. Its an ideal situation for her.
28 agree | 25 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Everytime theres a problem O'malley's answer is to spend more money on yet another compain. Why not HOLD PARENTS RESPONSIBLE. Theres already laws but he won't inforce them.
30 agree | 20 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Many foster children come with issues. They can become a negative influence in the home and most importantly on the birth child of the parents. These are children who often have been traumatized and were born into situations that no child should be born into. Many people are unwilling to put their families and especially their children at risk.
23 agree | 19 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Most of these problems come from Baltimore City where they refuse to be fixed.
And if being a foster-parent is such a good idea, how come the three appointees that O'Malley brought with him to Annapolis -- the ones with the cabinet level salaries but not the cabinet level positions -- don't become foster parents? Better yet? Why doesn't O'Malley become a foster parent?
29 agree | 18 disagreeVote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
Oh Yeah, this brillant idea will stop crime. Give me a break. O'Malley has gone crazy in his mind.
23 agree | 23 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
For most people it isn't the money that prevents them from taking in a foster kid. It is the intrusion of the government in every other aspect of their lives: medical, psychological, financial. It isn't enough to give the kids love, and devotion, and a safe place to stay. You have to give up privacy too.
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