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
Read more from Back-to-School 2018 – Teaching Life Skills
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”.
If you are able and would like to join with our youth in Baltimore in celebrating, you are welcome to come to the Chapel on Wednesday, April 18 from 4:15 until 5:00 p.m. Mr. Shawn will be hosting a small reception. We will have certificates for all of our participants. If you would like me to email one to you, please reply to me with your request.
If you cannot join us in person, please pause wherever you are and offer a moment of gratitude to God for yourself and for all of our BCC family! I will be in BWI Airport, most likely, at that time – but please know that I will be expressing my gratitude with intention.
Keep up the positive actions and positive thoughts!
I will be sending more emails of encouragement. Remember, you may opt out from receiving them whenever you wish.
May the beauty and promise of the butterfly inspire us to embrace change with courage, joy and gratitude!
God’s Blessings to you,
Stacey
Our final week brings us to the fourth core value of BCC:
Aim for Impact. In other words, we are striving to make a difference.
I invite you to look back over your calendar of these last few weeks.
Does any one action stand out for you? Spirtual
Where were you most challenged?
How have you grown?
What will you do now?
Imagine with me the cumulative effect of all of our positive actions and thoughts blessed by God’s grace. Thank you!
May God multiply our impact for the good of young people and their families in our communities and in our world.
With hope –
Stacey
I have been reading a book recommended to me by two of our colleagues – The Gratitude Diaries: How A Year Looking On The Bright Side Can Transform Your Life by Janice Kaplan.
The above quote is from the book.
We are nearing the end of our 40 day commitment and I recommend that each of us begins to plan how we will continue to focus on positive actions and thoughts. I am going to pursue some type of gratitude journal because I know that I need some type of structure in order to keep focused.
Whatever you decide, let’s continue to support one another in positive actions. I am grateful for each of you and this opportunity we have to work together for a common purpose of enriching communities, one family at a time.
Thank you, God!
In gratitude,
Stacey
At the Board of Child Care, there are many departments that come together to provide the care you the youth. For National Social Worker Month, our Social Workers were interviewed to give us a better understanding of their role in their current position, as well as who they are as individuals. The following interview represents Ms. Micaela Itter
How long have you been for working at the Board of Child Care?
I was an Intern for 1 year, Child Care Worker for 1 year, and now I am a social worker for almost 7 months.
Favorite memory while at the Board of Child Care?
When a resident gave me a chicken for Christmas
We all have the same goal but achieve it differently. How are you working to fulfill this mission statement?
Promoting unification whenever possible
What is your greatest strength in one word?
Advocating for the youth that I serve
How do you display said strength while working?
Collaborating with all parties of treatment to ensure that all need are met and making sure that youth have the opportunity to display improvement.
Can you help us understand why you chose to include the image below?
The single most memorable day of my life was spent with Rebecca, Trina and Chloe. It was my first time in NYC and I will be forever grateful for our fearless leader and chaperone.
To read more about my fabulous trip to NYC click here!
Read more from National Social Worker Month: Micaela Itter Interview
At the Board of Child Care, there are many departments that come together to provide the care you the youth. For National Social Worker Month, our Social Workers were interviewed to give us a better understanding of their role in their current position, as well as who they are as individuals. The following interview represents Ms. Alexander Glover
How long have you been for working BCC?
In June 2018, it will be 7 years.
Favorite memory while working for the Board of Child Care?
One of my favorite memories was when one of our long-term residents returned to go to Strawbridge. He was so excited to see me that he started running as fast as he could to me. When he got to me he leaped off the sidewalk on top of me to try to give me a hug. He was going so fast that he lost his balance, fell backward and pulled me down with him. He was going to hit his head on the cement, so my reaction was to quickly put my hand behind his head to protect it, in doing so my wrist skid across the ground. To this day, I still have a scar that when I look down at it, it always reminds me of that youth. While it hurt at the moment, it brings a smile to my face knowing that I was able to build such a positive relationship with him and his family
We all have the same goal but achieve it differently. How are you working to fulfill this mission statement?
My role is to support all of the talent in the upper campus program. A huge part of my support is to ensure that the staff work with the mindset of helping both the youth and their families with their needs. “We are not only here for the youth while they are in care but, we are here to forge a path in which they will succeed in the future,” says Glover. “Our job is not done if they can only do better here.” I also like to have direct relationships with families so they know they have someone they can go to as a resource.
What is your greatest strength in one word?
As a social worker, we wear many hats. The one that resonates the most with me is an advocate.The ability to channel my passion for our youth to serve them productively in their best interest
How do you display said strength while working?
We often have to work with interdisciplinary teams and departments. Many of us come from different educational backgrounds and specialties. It is our job as social workers to bring our knowledge base to help educate and Inform agency decisions that make sense for our youth
Read more from National Social Worker Month: Alex Glover InterviewAs we close out our week with an emphasis on our second BCC core value, integrity, I would like to share a prayer attributed to the Cherokee tradition:
Oh, Great Spirit,
Help me always to speak the truth quietly,
to listen with an open mind when others speak,
and to remember the peace that may be found in silence.
Continue to be kind to yourself and to others. These 40 days are going by quickly. I encourage us all to be intentional each day to make positive actions and positive thoughts our way of living and being.
May a sense of God’s peace be with you and may we share it with one another.
Rev. Stacey
