The Mid-Shore Departments of Social Services recently sponsored a trip to a Shorebirds game in Salisbury in appreciation of foster and adoptive parents on the Mid Shore. Families from Talbot, Caroline, Dorchester and Queen Anne’s attended the game. Each family member was provided with a parking pass, ticket to general seating and each person received $20 in “Bird Bucks” to be spent on food, drinks, games and souvenirs.

“This is always a favorite event of our resource families and staff of the Departments of Social Services. It’s become a summer tradition on the Mid-Shore and a great way to thank our families,” comments Paris Quillet, Special Projects Coordinator for the Talbot County Department of Social Services.

For further information on becoming a foster or adoptive parent, call the Talbot County Department of Social Services at 410-820-7371 or visit midshoreresourceparents.com.

Pictured at the Shorebirds game, front row left to right, are: Daisy, Leslie, Orlando and Santos Scharf. Pictured back row left to right, are foster parents Audrey Hansen, Jeanne and Jeff Scharf, and Paris Quillet, Special Projects Coordinator for the Talbot County Department of Social Services.

The Departments of Social Services in Caroline, Dorchester, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot counties recently hosted an appreciation event for area foster parents at the Talbot County Agriculture and Education Center in Easton. In addition to providing steamed crabs, the event included food items from a local food truck, “The Red Shef,” which served cold drinks, French fries, chicken nuggets, cheeseburgers, and hotdogs. The food truck is owned and operated by a Caroline County foster family, Jonathan “Jay” Matthews and Melissa Hood.

“Everyone really enjoyed themselves. It is a special event each year which allows foster parents to mingle amongst themselves and to share special time with their families,” stated Paris Quillet, Special Projects Coordinator for the Talbot County Department of Social Services.

In addition, the event included a DJ who entertained approximately 65 family members with dance music, a summer-themed raffle and a painting station for the children in attendance.

For further information on becoming a foster or adoptive parent, call the Talbot County Department of Social Services at 410-820-7371 or visit midshoreresourceparents.com.

“Getting Ahead in a Just-Gettin’- By World,” a collaborative program of the Talbot County Department of Social Services (TCDSS) and Talbot Family Network (TFN), enters its fifth year with new community sessions starting September 29 and running through November 12 at the Easton Family YMCA. The free program allows participants to explore the impact that poverty and low wages have and what it takes to move from just getting by, to getting ahead and realizing the future that they really want.

Individuals can sign up on their own or be referred by one of the program’s community partners, like Chesapeake Multicultural Resource Center, Talbot Interfaith Shelter, Mid-Shore Fresh Start Program, Inc., the Talbot County Department of Social Services, or the Talbot County Detention Center.

Participants take part in a 13-week workshop, meeting two hours a week in small groups where they have problem-solving discussions and investigations. Weekly stipends are offered to participants in the program.

Photo: L-R: Allayne DeShields, FIA Supervisor, Talbot County Department of Social Services; Mary Robey, “Getting Ahead in a Just-Gettin’-By World” Work Support Specialist; Tonya Pritchett, Facilitator; Fran Doran, Facilitator and Director of Operations, Talbot Interfaith Shelter; and Juana Blue, Assistant Director of the Family Investment Administration at the Talbot County Department of Social Services. Absent from the photo are participants Tammy Mura of Federalsburg and Heather Errickson of Preston.

“The class really helped during the isolation of COVID and allowed us all to share openly. A friend recommended the class. I wanted to learn about budgeting and I got a lot more than that – it was very informative,” comments Tammy Mura of Federalsburg who is now a peer specialist at the ARC of Hope.

“Most of us are living paycheck to paycheck. I have six people living in my house and it’s a struggle. The class taught me how to cut out unnecessary expenses. I now have the tools to work toward my plan.”

Another participant, Heather Errickson of Preston, adds, “It was nice to be able to talk to other people. From our own experiences, we shared the resources that each of us knew about. I am disabled and have four children. I learned to determine the difference between wants and needs.”

Mary Robey, Workforce Support Specialist and Getting Ahead Facilitator, states, “I enjoyed learning about the lives of the participants as we did the class virtually last year. Seeing them in their homes added another dimension to their lives as we interacted with the whole family during the session.”

There were 33 participants in the 2020-2021 virtual classes. Robey reported that other participants said they discovered things about their habits that needed to change to “get ahead.” Some of the participants even worked virtually with Robey after the program on budgeting and resume writing skills.

Participants take part in a 13-week workshop, meeting two hours a week in small groups where they have problem-solving discussions and investigations. Weekly stipends, childcare, dinner, and transportation assistance are offered to participants in the program.

The “Getting Ahead in a Just-Gettin’- By World” program meets in person at the Easton Family YMCA in Easton at 202 Peachblossom Road in Easton from 6 to 8 p.m. Persons interested in participating in this program or individuals or organizations wishing to refer individuals to the program should contact Mary Robey, Special Support Specialist, at 410-770-5185 or email [email protected].  Pre-registration for the course is required.

The Mid Shore Departments of Social Services recently sponsored a trip to a Shorebirds game in Salisbury in appreciation of foster and adoptive parents on the Mid Shore. Families from Talbot, Caroline, Dorchester and Queen Anne’s attended the game. Each family member was provided with a parking pass, tickets to general seating and each person received $20 in “Bird Bucks” to be spent on food, drinks, games and souvenirs.

“Families watched the game, caught foul balls, collected autographs, and enjoyed a meal and fellowship with Department of Social Services staff members,” comments Paris Quillet, Special Projects Coordinator for the Talbot County Department of Social Services.

For further information on becoming a foster or adoptive parent, call the Talbot County Department of Social Services at 410-820-7371 or visit midshoreresourceparents.com.