ADOPTUSKIDS TO HONOR CASEWORKERS FOR THEIR DEDICATION TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
Red Oak, TX - February 11, 2008 – AdoptUsKids announced today that Ms. Janet Arnell of Optimum Children Services in Red Oak, TX is the February winner of their Caseworker of the Month award. This is part of a new national initiative celebrating caseworkers for their dedication to children and families nationwide. Ms. Arnell has worked in this career for over 2 years. Ms. Arnell is featured on adoptuskids.org and adopte1.org in the words of the adoptive family that nominated her.
Thousands of families across the United States rely on their caseworkers every day to connect them to vital services, offer support and guidance, and ensure the safety, permanency and well-being of children in the foster care system.
Approximately 300,000 children in the United States enter the foster care system each year. While about 54 percent of these children will return to their parents, the other 46 percent remain in the system. Currently there are 514,000 children in the foster care system and 115,000 are waiting for an adoptive family. Approximately 24,000 children “age out” of the system each year without ever being adopted. About half of the children in foster care are children of color, with older African American boys waiting the longest for adoption.
The Thomas family of Red Oak stated “She is an extremely busy woman that knows how to multi-task between her own personal family life and still be an exceptional caseworker. She is a loving individual that will give you the shirt off her back if she believed it would benefit you in any way. Janet is always pleasant no matter what time of day you call her. She always has an open door policy because she is very dedicated to her job. She does not believe that office hours stop at 5:00 o'clock and many of her families love and appreciate her for that. Janet has been more like a motivational speaker when times get hard as she gives you the encouraging words of comfort to let you know that everything will work out alright.“
Reflecting on this recipient of the Caseworker of the Month initiative, AdoptUsKids’ Project Director, Barbara Holtan said, “As a social worker myself, I am delighted that we can offer this recognition to Ms. Arnell. Adoption and foster care workers rarely receive the acknowledgement that they should receive for the life-changing work that they do on behalf of children and families.”
After being nominated for this award, Ms. Arnell said, “The Thomas family makes my job easy! They work hard to make their foster children truly feel like part of the family, enriching their lives with new experiences while providing the therapeutic environment that abused and neglected children need to grow and heal. I feel blessed to be able share their fostering and family experiences.”
The Collaboration to AdoptUsKids
The Collaboration to AdoptUsKids is a multi-faceted, five-year, federally funded project. Its mission is to recruit and connect foster and adoptive families with waiting children throughout the United States. The Collaboration is managed by the Adoption Exchange Association (AEA) based in Baltimore, Maryland, through a cooperative agreement with the Children's Bureau of HHS.
Optimum Children Services
Optimum is a child-placing agency offering services to the children who are in need of substitute care. This usually occurs when the birth parents are unable or unwilling to provide adequate care. Our mission is to find permanent homes for youth and prepare them to become responsible citizens. Optimum Children’s Services can be reached at (972) 617-9500.
Contact:
Kate Kirkpatrick
kkirkpatrick@adoptuskids.org
(717) 545-5251