ADOPTUSKIDS TO HONOR CASEWORKERS FOR THEIR DEDICATION TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
Rapid City, SD - April 1, 2008 – AdoptUsKids announced today that Ms. Rita Grimson the Lead Family Services Specialist at the South Dakota State Child Protection Services is the April 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. Grimson 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 Boesem family of Rapid City stated “We have been foster parents for 6+ years. We have worked with many social workers and have had both good and bad experiences but I have to tell you of one very special worker. My one son came to us as a neonatal intensive care graduate with many health issues. After we were determined to be his adoptive match, he needed surgery in a town about 6 hours from us. I was very scared as my husband could not be with me and the doctors were not sure if our son would survive this surgery. His adoption worker Rita Grimson said she would drive out to be with me through the surgery and as long after as I needed her. The night before the surgery there were terrible storms, including tornadoes. Rita drove through these storms and late into the night to get to me and our son. She stayed up until almost 2 am with me when this child was struggling after surgery and stayed until my husband could come. I feel that she has never gotten the recognition that she deserves for all of the extra stuff she does. We have since adopted 2 other children from her case load and are working on our 4th adoption with her now. We love working with her as she is someone who puts her all into each case. She cares about these kids and that isn't always true. Thanks to Rita a lot of kids have the care they need no matter their situation.”
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. Grimson. 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. Grimson said, “I have had the privilege in working with Randy and Nora Boesem through three prior adoptions and one in the process. It has been such honor to work with Randy and Nora as they exemplify the true meaning of what an adoptive family is and should be. They are loving, committed, and provide their children with unconditional love. Their children provide them with daily challenges that most parents would find both exhausting and heart breaking; however, Randy and Nora have the ability to find the joy and best in their children so that they can celebrate even the smallest accomplishments. I have learned so much from them and I find it is my obligation to pass what they have so openly shared with me to other families so that they too can learn to celebrate the every day accomplishments and not dwell on the challenges. It takes very rare and extraordinary people to become adoptive parents who want to take on the many challenges that our children bring into their families. I truly feel that Randy and Nora are blessed and very special people."
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.
South Dakota State Child Protection Services
The mission of the South Dakota State Child Protection Services is “to strengthen and support individuals and families by fostering independence and personal responsibility; protecting people; providing opportunities for individuals to achieve their full potential; and promoting healthy families and safe communities by ensuring quality, cost-effective and comprehensive services are provided in cooperation with our partners.”
Contact:
Kate Kirkpatrick
kkirkpatrick@adoptuskids.org
(717) 545-5251