Pamela Eller
Baltimore, Maryland
Pamela Eller, who works in infant and toddler foster care with the Baltimore County Department of Social Services in Maryland, is our December Caseworker of the Month. She went the extra mile to help a first-time foster-to-adopt mom achieve success in providing a forever home for a special-needs child.
Last year Sandy Weizer, the foster-to-adopt mom who nominated Eller, took in two siblings who were a part of Eller's case load.
"When I received the call for two foster children in February 2009 I was ecstatic and thought, 'This is it, this time I will get to adopt,'" Weizer said.
However, within a month of opening her home and heart to the children one of them was reunited with their birth mother and the other became sick and required surgery.
"Pam was there for me and explained everything," Weizer said. "I considered giving up being a foster parent. I felt like I was just a babysitter. It didn't take long for Pam to change my outlook."
Eller also helped Weizer tend to the sick child who remained in her care by attending medical appointments with her, making numerous phone calls to find specialists, and explaining the services available to her in being a therapeutic foster parent.
"She never treated me or the children like facts on a piece of paper. Pam treated us as if this was her first and only case," Weizer said.
The adoption of Weizer's foster child is on its way to being made official, which will also be Eller's first foster-to-adopt success story.
"This is one case that has tugged at my heart and I am proud to be a part of it," Eller said. "I feel Sandy and this little girl are the perfect match for each other. It's moments and stories like these that remind me how rewarding it is to be a social worker."
Sandy Weizer's nomination letter
I've only been a foster-to-adopt parent since January 2008, during which time I've fostered two infants. When I received the call for two foster children in February 2009 I was ecstatic and thought, "This is it, this time I will get to adopt."
Pam came to my house shortly after the children arrived. She took pictures and answered all my questions. She was so down to earth and easy to talk with, she never treated me or the children like facts on a piece of paper. Pam treated us as if this was her first and only case.
After a month one of the children was reunited with the birth mother. Pam was there for me and explained everything. She was very open and made me feel foster parents are something special.
The child that remained in foster care with me had quite a few doctor appointments. Pam went to some of the appointments with me. This was the first time I experienced a caseworker going to a child's doctor appointment. She even made numerous phone calls to find specialized doctors.
Pam noticed the burden I had taken on with my foster child's 18 doctor appointments and surgery in just five months. She discussed my becoming a therapeutic foster parent and explained that I would receive added assistance. She was instrumental in helping me transition to a therapeutic foster parent and never stopped caring about the foster child I was going to adopt. She continues to ask for updates and pictures of my little Angel.
There was a time when I considered giving up being a Foster Parent. I felt like I was just a babysitter. It didn't take long for Pam to change my outlook. I am so glad she did. I would not be where I am today–a mommy!
My child makes me realize my problems are nothing at all. If she can smile after everything she has been through then I can smile over my trivial problems. We are already bonded by the love in our hearts, and now are mother and daughter forever.
Thank you Pam! We will never forget you. You helped change our lives forever.
For more information about Eller and the need for foster and adoptive parents, download our December 2009 Caseworker of the Month Press Release (54.5 KB PDF).
Find out more about foster parenting and our previously featured caseworkers of the month.