PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. — A couple from Prince William County has been recognized by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments as Foster Parents of the Year. Carly and Kristy McDowell foster a baby boy, his 2-year-old brother, and a little girl.
They were given the honor because of their steadfast commitment to the kids by working closely with social services. The goal is to ultimately reunite the little ones with their families.
“To be a foster parent, you have to be able to demonstrate what our values and missions are, meaning the number one thing that all foster parents know is that we have to work with the families to reunify,” said Marcy Capers, senior human services caseworker with Prince William County Department of Social Services. “The foster parents have to be on board, and the McDowells have shown that they are definitely a big part of reunifying. They were on board with reunification right from the start. They engaged with the parent and supported her. They made themselves available. They worked with the department, in all aspects of the department, from the lawyers to the county attorney, to case workers, just everybody who is engaged with the family. They go above and beyond.”
The McDowells said they knew they had enough love to share, but the move came with some surprises.
“All of a sudden, our schedule is controlled by children,” said Carly McDowell, a Department of Defense management program analyst. “Someone’s diapers have to be changed. Someone has to be fed. Between the two of us, we had probably changed 10 diapers. It changed our whole life.”
But Kristy, an adjunct professor at Northern Virginia Community College, said those changes were worth it for them.
“What’s in it for us is the ability to experience kids develop and grow and mature. We enjoy that. They’re so cute and cuddly and little,” Kristy said. “We’re trying to help them overcome the trauma they’ve experienced and trying to just flood them with love and hugs and everything to try to alleviate all the drama and trauma they’ve experienced. We’re just trying to provide them with a solid foundation that they can build from with caring with love.”
There are roughly 120 Prince William foster children in group, residential and therapeutic homes due to neglect, abuse or abandonment that often stem from mental health or alcohol and drug abuse issues on the parts of their parents, Capers said.
Capers said volunteers are always needed. There is an especially urgent need for foster parents for older children.
“If people are thinking about fostering, there are all kinds of ways to help the community,” Carly said. “I think it’s something people should look into.”
For more information about fostering in Prince William County, contact the Department of Social Services at 703-792-7500 and ask for the foster care coverage worker.