By Staff
Tracy B. Cieniewicz, Hartselle Enquirer
It takes very special people to become foster/adoptive parents, but it also takes very special people working with foster families to make the experience rewarding for everyone involved.
Two Morgan County Department of Human Resources employees were recently recognized by the state for their exceptional work with foster/adoptive parents. Pam Jones was named Alabama's Foster Care Worker of the Year and Wendy Crane was named Alabama's Adoption Worker of the Year.
Jones has worked with Morgan County DHR for 20 years and currently conducts foster/adoptive parenting workshops. She and her husband, Ron, live in Somerville and have an adult daughter, two adult sons, and a granddaughter.
Jones said she shares the award with her family for supporting her career and with all of her co-workers at Morgan County DHR for helping so many children find a forever family.
"Reunification is my number one priority when it comes to any child and their parents or relatives," Jones explained. "I tell people in my workshop that they have to be loss experts because there is always the chance the child will be reunited with their family. I tell them, just like Hilary Clinton said, it takes a village to raise a child–and it takes a team to do what we do for these children."
Crane has worked with Morgan County DHR for 16 years and facilitates the adoption of children in foster/adoptive homes. She and her husband, Allyn, an Alfa agent in Hartselle, live in Decatur with their two children, Charlie, 7, and Sarah, 4.
Crane said the award motivates her to continue working hard on behalf of the children and foster/adoptive parents she represents.
"This award goes to who I call the heroes–all the parents and DHR employees," Crane said. "All the reward I need is getting to see the happy-ending for the child. We don't thrive on recognition. Just knowing these children have a permanent home and wonderful future is enough."
Morgan County DHR Director Tonita Phipps said both Jones and Crane are modest about their state awards.
"They are very modest people," Phipps said. "They give the recognition they deserve to other people. It takes a special person to be able to do the jobs they do. They don't do it for the money. They do it for all the successes of the children. They do it to see the children become a forever part of a family."
Jones and Crane agreed that more trained foster/adoptive parents are needed in Morgan County. According to Phipps, approximately 150 children are currently in the care of Morgan County DHR.
The next foster/adoptive parent orientation begins Thursday, Aug. 31, 6-7 p.m. at the Morgan County DHR office and will continue for 10 consecutive Thursday nights. Two-parent and single-parent households are eligible to be foster/adoptive parents.
For more information or to register, call Kyndra Smith at 304-5934 or Cathy Bodley at 340-5853.