NEWPORT, Ky. – As National Foster Care Month approaches in May, the University of Kentucky College of Social Work (CoSW), alongside the Department of Community Based Services (DCBS), hosted a Statewide Foster and Adoptive Parent Appreciation event at the Newport Aquarium on Sunday, April 14.
The 2023 Foster and Adoptive Families of the Year were invited to attend, as well as DCBS staff members and coordinators for Adoption Support for Kentucky and the Foster Parent Training program, housed at the CoSW. Lesa Dennis, DCBS Commissioner, gave opening remarks, thanking the families for their hard work and dedication to children in the Commonwealth.
“By offering opportunities for growth and happiness, foster and adoptive parents play a critical role in helping our children heal, learn, and thrive. You invest in our future by providing this next generation with the safety, consistency, stability, protection, and nurturing support they deserve,” Dennis said. “Together, with your work to show the benefits of building healthy and fulfilling relationships, you make our Commonwealth, our country and our world as a whole a much better place to live.”
Families were provided lunch and tickets to spend the afternoon as a family in the aquarium. Family portraits were also taken and provided to the families, celebrating the hard work and commitment it takes to raise a foster or adopted child.
2023 Foster Families of the Year
Danny and Sabrina Hobbs
Nellie and Paul Mullins
Gemirra Petty
Michelle Maehren
Michael and Amber Manion
Ashlee and Steve Pracht
Sharon York
Thomas and Margaret Kirkwood
Josh and Terra Blandford
2023 Adoptive Families of the Year
Justin and Kassi Williamson
Richard Kilburne
Billy and Stephanie Masters
Traci and Gerald Hedrick
Angela and Raymond Bischoff
Gary and Marilyn Harp
David and Pamela Young
Natalie and Randall McVay
Matt and Kortnea Powell
The CoSW provides many resources to foster and adoptive families through the Training Resource Center. These resources and programs include:
