The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments announced its 2024 Foster Parents of the Year honorees today, recognizing foster parents from 10 local jurisdictions for their dedication to foster youth across the DC region.
While child welfare agencies strive to keep families together, foster parents (or resource parents) provide essential support to families when that is not possible. Foster parents can offer a safe, supportive haven for children during otherwise uncertain and difficult times.
“Resource parents are such a valuable asset to our entire region. When a child is in need, these foster parents answer the call time and time again—even when faced with the most difficult of circumstances. It takes a village to raise a child, and these outstanding resource parents readily step up to that duty with compassion, grace, and incredible dedication,” said Regina Lawson, District of Columbia, Child and Family Services Agency, Foster Care Recruitment Supervisor, and COG Foster Care Advisory Committee Co-Chair.
“Foster parents fill a critical need in our child welfare system. The work can be difficult and is not without its challenges, but our region’s foster parents step up to the plate time and time again, responding to the individual needs of each child with love and support. The difference these resource parents make in foster youth’s lives is immeasurable and the life-long connections they form are truly inspiring,” said Lisa Robertson, Prince George's County’s Department of Social Services and COG Foster Care Advisory Committee Co-Chair.
Interested in becoming a foster parent? Check out these resources from area jurisdictions.
Learn more about the 2024 Foster Parents of the Year in the summaries below provided by their city and county foster care agencies:
City of Alexandria Foster Parent of the Year: Meagan Wilson
Meagan Wilson has been a resource parent in the City of Alexandria for five years. Wilson’s desire to help and give to children is inspiring. She always makes herself available and consistently goes above and beyond. She has taken children of all ages into her home and maintains connections with children who have moved on. She has celebrated the children’s birthdays and other milestones, accepted respite placements and is the agency’s ‘go to’ family when they are struggling to find a placement for a youth. When others don’t answer the call, she does so again and again. Most recently, Wilson has accepted a fifteen-year-old girl into her home with welcome arms as an emergency placement. In true Meagan fashion, she has extended her home and herself as long as needed. Wilson continues to show exceptional dedication, compassion, and commitment to providing a loving and nurturing home for children experiencing foster care.
Arlington County Foster Parents of the Year: Maria Calzada and Jorge Abanto
Maria Calzada and Jorge Abanto have been foster parents with Arlington County for almost eight years. They are the definition of commitment. Maria and Jorge repeatedly stretch to meet the needs of children and families. After having a sibling group of two join them, they worked tirelessly over the following three years on the goal of returning them home. When that was no longer an option, they adopted the two siblings and became a family of four. Maria and Jorge have since proceeded to welcome six more children into their home. Whenever called upon, this family says yes and extends themselves to meet whatever the need, including placements in the middle of the night as well as volunteering at community events supporting recruitment efforts. Last but not least, their language abilities as native Spanish speakers as well as their racial and cultural identities are priceless given the over representation of Hispanic families and their children within the child welfare system. Their commitment to ensure these children have their cultural and racial identity needs met is an invaluable asset to the program and the community it serves.
Charles County Foster Parent of the Year: Regena Greene
Regena Greene is an invaluable resource parent in Charles County. She has shown extraordinary dedication, compassion, and commitment to the children in foster care. She was faced with a complicated placement, and she handled it with care and respect. She was able to continue providing support and care during very difficult times in the child's life even while working through personal family issues. Greene is a true asset as a resource parent for the agency.
District of Columbia Foster Parents of the Year: Taylor and Madeline Woodman
Madeline and Taylor Woodman have been licensed resource parents with DC CFSA since September 2020. Since that time, they have fostered several children and have adopted two children and are currently in the process of adopting a sibling group of two. This family continuously demonstrates a true understanding of foster care and all the unpredictable things that come along with this journey. In addition to caring for foster children in their care, they often help other resource families in our community by providing respite. The Woodmans have done an amazing job advocating for children and are instrumental in helping with transitioning children back with their biological families. They also serve as mentors to other resource families. The Woodmans are the true embodiment of quality resource parents. They are caring, connected, and committed to the kids who have been placed in their care.
Fairfax County Foster Parent of the Year: Calvin C. Dyson
Calvin Dyson’s desire to make the world a better place grew into his becoming both an adoptive father of two sons and a foster father. Although not a fluent Spanish speaker when he began his adoption journey, Calvin immersed himself in learning what he could about his adoptive son’s country of origin and the Spanish language. Calvin learned that physical gestures and Google Translate helped communicate information and feelings when two people did not share the same language. These skills greatly helped Calvin and his son when they became a foster family for a young boy who had recently arrived to this country and spoke very little English and no Spanish. Calvin made this child feel comfortable in his home. Calvin took the boys to grocery stores that carried food products they liked and were familiar with from their countries of origin. In addition to being creative with language and culture, Calvin worked tirelessly with school personnel, social workers, therapists, and medical professionals to help his foster children. When Calvin receives calls about children in need of foster placement, he believes the children are not the behaviors and histories written on paper. He believes that with the right support, any youth can be successful.
Frederick County Foster Parents of the Year: Shafiq and Lauren Satterfield
Shafiq and Lauren Satterfield have been licensed resource parents with the Frederick County Department of Social Services for the past four years. During this time, they have specifically opened their hearts and home to two children from different families and backgrounds. The Satterfields warm, caring, and engaging disposition has allowed the children in their care to experience immediate safety and security as well as their respective birth families who have also experienced comfort and ease while working with them. The Satterfields finalized the adoption of their daughter this month after caring for her over the past two years. It was a testament to who they are, as the court room was filled with an abundance of people across various spectrums of their lives from family, friends, fellow foster parents, and their daughter’s birth family. The couple also has a long supportive history with the other child who is now in their care, which is also pre-adoptive. Shafiq and Lauren had cared for her as an infant before she left their home, and then two years later without any hesitation, they welcomed her back into their home when an adoptive resource was needed. The lifelong bonds and connections they have established are priceless.
Loudoun County Foster Parents of the Year: Alayzia and Joseph Coney
Alayzia and Joseph Coney have been foster parents with Loudoun County since April 2021. They have opened their home to children in foster care of all ages, including young adults. Alayzia and Joseph value permanency and want to be a forever family for the children and youth that enter their home. They previously adopted a young parenting adult and have become a permanent connection for another young adult as well. The Coneys are currently in the process of adopting two special needs children. One of the children has cerebral palsy but Alayzia and Joseph do not let his diagnosis limit how he experiences life. This child has flourished in their home and is now enjoying amusement park rides, swimming, and most importantly, being part of a warm and loving forever family. Alayzia and Joseph welcome challenges and eliminate barriers for children who have experienced great hardships. Being strong advocates for the education needs of the children in their care is another extraordinary strength of this family. Alazyia and Joseph Coney are an excellent example of unconditional love and commitment, and Loudoun County is fortunate to have them as part of the Foster Care and Adoption team.
Montgomery County Foster Parent of the Year: Susan Otto
Susan Otto is dedicated to supporting children. As a special education teacher for over twenty years, and clinician with the Infants and Toddlers Program she has worked with children from a range of backgrounds. She became a licensed foster parent in November 2019 and immediately accepted her first placement, who ended up staying with her for three years! From day one, Susan was a natural foster parent. As a career special educator, she is comfortable with behavior modification, setting boundaries, and helping children feel safe. Susan is flexible, loving, realistic, and gifted in her ability to address the special needs of our children. Currently, Susan is caring for brothers who are one and two years old. She uses every opportunity to build skills with the boys, work on behaviors and manage the scars of trauma. Susan is also a wonderful resource to other foster parents and knows how to obtain the support and information that she needs. As a foster parent, she is committed to Child Welfare’s goal of reunification and although it is hard to say goodbye when a child leaves, she trusts that she has helped the children in her care develop skills that will help them succeed in the next stage of life.
Prince William County Foster Parent of the Year: Linda Cheeks
Linda Cheeks has been an extraordinary beacon of hope, love, and stability for foster children, especially for teenaged girls in Prince William. Her dedication, compassion, and unwavering commitment to the well-being of these children have been truly remarkable. Cheeks approaches each child with a genuine sense of compassion and empathy. She understands the unique challenges that foster children face and works tirelessly to provide them with a nurturing and supportive environment. Cheeks has gone above and beyond to ensure that each child's needs are met, whether it's advocating for educational resources, healthcare, or emotional support. Cheeks provides a loving home for foster children, especially young mothers and their babies. She also recognizes the importance of family reunification, when possible. She will work collaboratively with birth families and social services to support reunification efforts while ensuring the child's safety and well-being. The impact Cheeks has had on the lives of the children in her care is immeasurable and ongoing. Through her love, support, and guidance, she has helped countless children overcome adversity and build brighter futures. Cheeks embodies the qualities of an exceptional foster parent: compassion, advocacy, stability, and a deep commitment to the well-being of the children in her care.
Prince George’s County Foster Parent of the Year: LaTosha Boley
LaTosha Boley has been a licensed resource parent in Prince George’s County since 2022. In that short period of time, she has shown herself to be a great supporter of children, their families, and the Department. Boley is flexible and very patient. Understanding the need for resource parents in our county, specifically the need for homes for teens, she rarely declines an opportunity for a child to join her family. She has opened her home to youth who presented with challenging behaviors and provided the best care for them, even maintaining the placement when difficult. Boley has a genuine spirit and cares deeply for the youth we serve, opening her home a second and third time to youth with challenging behaviors she had previously fostered. Boley uses her unique parenting skills to engage youth and make them feel comfortable. She has gone above and beyond promoting keeping siblings together and has fostered many sibling groups. She previously had a sibling group of four and currently has a sibling group of two. Boley has remained committed to parenting teens and is in the process of obtaining guardianship of a 16-year-old currently in her home.
MORE:
2024 Foster Parents of the Year Videos
Resources for prospective foster parents