Celebration of Cultures!
Nicaragua
Mexico
El Salvador
Guatemala
Independence Day Celebration
Back-2-School Bonanza 2018
Thank you! YOU have helped to create a new event which benefits our young people and their families!
School Supply Collage 2018 - OMHCBack-2-School Bonanza
This is a store set up right here on our Baltimore Campus for residents, siblings, parents and guardians to “shop” for exactly what they need to Go Back-2-School!
If you haven’t donated yet – Donate Now!
Read more from Back-2-School Bonanza 2018
Back-to-School 2018 – Teaching Life Skills
“Those skills include not only how to handle your condition, he says, but “life skills” teach you how to how to cook, how to budget money, how to shop, and how to keep your room clean,” – Michael says.
At an early age, Michael battled depression and anxiety. He needed help in school and was falling behind when his parents first sought help from their son.
Today, Michael lives with his family in Maryland. He has full time employment and continues to work on life skills such as showing up to work on time or early, saving some of his paycheck, and continue to work on a healthy relationship with my family.
The real superstars – you!
Michael says school would not have been possible without the community that helps and supports BCC.
He recognized that everyone wants the best for him and the only way he can succeed is to finish his education. Michael ended with stating, “School helped me become employable by breaking down the confusing material into ways in which I could understand.”
“The real superstars are the strong supportive community we have here at BCC, thank you for helping me to grow up!”
Read more from Back-to-School 2018 – Teaching Life Skills
Core Value Award Winner Jaclyn Blachly
Safety as A Mindset
We value life, spirit, and health above all else and take action to maintain the safety of our workplaces, programs, and services. We are personally accountable for our own safety and collectively responsible for the safety of our community.
Jaclyn Blachly, Director of Behavior & Related Service, Strawbridge School. We all share a collective responsibility in ensuring that we are accountable for our own safety but also the youth and others around us. As such, emergency drills should always be taken seriously. Recently the Baltimore Campus experienced an event that called for a Code Purple campus-wide. Jaclyn Blachly, our Director of Behavior & Related Service at Strawbridge was selected for this core value award due to her outstanding management and behavior during this event. Jaclyn was able to remain calm while managing the situation and communicated frequently and effectively with other teammates at the same time.
Jacklyn, I appreciate your awareness and dedication to safety. We hope that your behavior can be used as an example for all staff throughout BCC on the importance of calm and clear communication during emergency situations. Congratulations and thank you.
Learn more about the Board of Child Care career opportunities to work with Jaclyn Blachly.
Read more from Core Value Award Winner Jaclyn BlachlyCore Award Winner Renne Stewart
Act with Integrity
Openness and honesty with all stakeholders make for both the best program outcomes and team culture. We, as an organization, must build trust with our program participants by being thoughtful, transparent, and committed to our decisions and promises.
Renne Stewart (Ra- nay) is a Child Care Worker at our Denton campus. Renee was selected for going above and beyond in assisting BCC with staffing coverage throughout the Maryland facilities. She has filled in at our Baltimore, Gateway, and Colesville locations across a variety of programs. Renee is eager to learn and models both flexibility and accountability for her teammates. Renee, I sincerely appreciate your willingness to travel and ensure BCC runs smoothly. Thank you and Congratulations!
Learn more about the Board of Child Care career opportunities to work with Renne Stewart.
Read more from Core Award Winner Renne StewartPower House Alumni Conference
At the Board of Child Care, we support our alumni and are always looking opportunities to connect with foster care alumni.
Earlier this month, a couple of our the youth were able to attend an annual foster care alumni conference. The conference included an opportunity to meet the foster care ombudsman, a successful entrepreneur alumni, and provided an opportunity for youth to share their stories. There were also various breakout information sessions on topics such as financial stability, public speaking, and defining your personal creative process. Phillip “Nick” described the end of the conference as bittersweet because “it gave me encouragement and let me know that there are people out there just like me. I really enjoyed this event, and would like to attend more events like this one”.
Careers with a mission!
Staff Spotlight
BCC Child Care Worker -Kimara McKoy
During her busy work schedule, Board of Child Care staffer Kimara McKoy “doing good and feeling good” McKoy took a moment to share her journey with us!
Where did you grow up? I grew up in a small town called princess Ann Maryland.
What University did you attend?
I attended Salisbury University.
Why did you choose to work at the Board of Child Care?
I choose to work at the Board of Child Care because working with kids is something that I am passionate about and something that I have always cared about.
What advice would you give to an inspiring Child Care Worker?
In order to be a Child Care Worker, you definitely have to have tough skin. You have to be willing to step outside of yourself and think about the needs of other people
Do you have any hobbies? In my free time I like to read, cook, and clean.
Where do you see yourself in five years? In five years I see myself with my masters in human services counseling and still working in the Child Care career field.
What is your vision of a perfect world? My vision of a perfect world is one where everyone can love and respect one another despite everyone’s differences.
Name one thing you would like people to know about you? One thing people should know about me is that I am full of laughter.
As a TRUE Guardian of the Galaxy, share with us a/your Super Powers? I would be able to teleport.
Is there anything else that you want me to know about you? N/A.
When you were younger, what was your favorite toy? When I was younger, my favorite toy would have to be the easy bake oven.
For more do good, feel good careers with a mission, visit boardofchildcare.org/careers
Read more from Careers with a mission!
Core Value Award Winner: Abbey Hall
Listen and respond with EMPATHY
Empathy will guide our programming and culture at all levels. A supportive work and program environment means possessing a desire to know and understand others. We recognize that with empathy we will better understand what type of care and encouragement to provide.
Abbey is one of our treatment support specialist at the West Virginia Campus. She works very closely with many of our youth. She is very supportive and dedicated to helping youth work through their issues. Recently, one of them was having a hard time dealing with a trauma that he experienced as a child. Abbey was driven to figure out the best way to support him in his time of need. She did not hesitate to seek guidance to ensure that the youth was receiving the most appropriate treatment. Her ability to show empathy towards this youth made it easier for him to communicate with her, which helped create an open space of communication to process his thoughts.
Abbey, I thank you so much for being attuned to the needs of our youth. Congratulations!
Read more from Core Value Award Winner: Abbey Hall
Core Value Award Winner: Amy Amomatorio
Act with INTEGRITY
Openness and honesty with all stakeholders make for both the best program outcomes and team culture. We, as an organization, must build trust with our program participants by being thoughtful, transparent, and committed to our decisions and promises.
Amy recently was promoted to Director of Education for the Strawbridge school. At the time of her promotion, Strawbridge was facing challenges that led to the program being placed on intensive monitoring by the Maryland State Department of Education. Amy has embraced all challenges set before her and has worked diligently to remedy all issues. She has been determined to change the school’s climate, provide guidance to her support staff and actively demonstrate the core values needed to improve the school. She has dedicated evenings and weekends to provide needed documentation for the state as well as providing needed professional development for her staff. Amy has demonstrated openness and honesty with all stakeholders for program outcomes as well as improving the school teams culture.
Thank you so much Amy for being so responsive and stepping up to the challenge! Congratulations!
Read more from Core Value Award Winner: Amy Amomatorio