Mr. Speaker,
I rise this morning to inform this Honorable House that the month of May is celebrated as Foster Care Month. The Department of Child & Family Services (DCFS) uses the month of May to not only recruit foster parents, but also to honor Bermuda’s foster parents. The Foster Care Team has an active month of recruitment activities planned that began on May 1st with a front page feature in The Royal Gazette highlighting the positive experiences of two foster families.
Mr. Speaker,
On the evening of May 2nd, the DCFS staff welcomed Mr. Antonio Grate to Bermuda. Mr. Grate is an author, motivational speaker, husband and father who is booked by numerous conferences, schools and welfare agencies to share his story.
Mr. Grate is a visionary who grew up on the South Side of Chicago, where his formative years were shaped in the foster care system. Mr. Grate believes that the way we view our children who are in the foster care system is key for the development of their success in life.
Mr. Speaker,
On Sunday, May 4th DCFS held the Annual Foster Parents Appreciation Tea where Mr. Grate was the invited Keynote Speaker. He gave a powerful, motivational and inspirational message on the topic “Fostering Hope”. Mr. Grate shared his life story, growing up in Chicago, being in kinship and foster care and aging out of the foster care system. He spoke about his mother’s addiction to drugs and not having his father in his life, and the importance of connections for children who have experienced trauma. Mr. Grate stressed the vital role that kinship parents, foster parents and social workers play in the life of children in care. He reminded those present to always be cognizant of the trauma that the children they are caring for have gone through, though no fault of their own, and the importance of not giving up on them.
Mr. Speaker,
Foster Parents were gifted with copies of Mr. Grate’s book “The Power of One”, of which he graciously signed copies for our foster parents. During the Appreciation Tea, persons were treated to entertaining music on the steel pan. The musician was Ms. Laree Talbot, who was representing the group “De Onion Patch Crew”.
Mr. Speaker,
DCFS presented two “Spotlight Awards” at the Appreciation Tea for Foster Care parents. Mr. & Mrs. Khabir and Melonie Dill were highlighted and appreciated as foster care parents for the vital role they played during a very critical time when the respite they provided to a teen boy served as a hands-on stabilizer for the teen while DCFS solidified an intensive, clinical plan for him. It was noted that Mr. & Mrs. Dill covered this crisis while maintaining a long-term kinship care placement, which saw them having to blend the care provided for the two boys they care for.
Another foster parent couple, Mr. & Mrs. Shlomo and Zipporah Yeshurun received a formal salute from DCFS for their 18-year commitment to their foster son. The accolades placed upon this couple surrounded their never-ending dedication to the foster care child, who has been filled with numerous challenges, inclusive of ongoing advocacy for his special school plan and working with DCFS continuously to make sure that his vast medical needs, including several overseas appointments, have been met.
Mr. Speaker,
This week Monday, May 5th, Mr. Grate presented a professional development and practice enhancement session at BUEI for the DCFS staff, Family Court Magistrates, staff from the Police Services, Therapists and other stakeholders. This was a two-hour interactive and engaging message on the topic of “How Labels Can Negatively Impact Children Socially and Emotionally”. Mr. Grate’s message moved all stakeholders. Some of the feedback from stakeholders was reflective of the engaging professional development session and included the following:
- “Antonio’s presentation was insightful and informative. As he shared his journey, it reminded me of my why and that I have to be a support to our young people”.
- “If I had to give this presentation a topic name, it would be The Power of One! How each of us as professionals has the power to make a difference in supporting a young person. Knowing our WHY, being INTENTIONAL and understanding the power of labels (both positive and negative). His passionate and personal message was inspiring, motivating all to remember their WHY as we show up consistently for clients. Even when it gets HARD we need to work from our HEARTS.”
Mr. Grate was extremely touched and inspired by the close to 50 online reviews that were uploaded within an hour after the professional development session, as all stakeholders were provided with the link.
Mr. Speaker,
This week, Monday evening, May 5th, Antonio Grate had an empowering and dynamic interactive session with the young adults of the Independent Living Programme, those youth who have aged out of the care of the DCFS Director. He shared with our young adults the significance of “Seeds of Greatness” in that Seeds can grow even if they have been through adverse situations. The session was dynamic and very powerful, having someone talk about their lived experience, similar to our youth, which gave them hope.
Mr. Speaker,
During the month, all of the Government’s social media platforms will be promoting foster parents and recruitment. While we are pleased and thankful for the current pool of foster care parents who are to be commended for the role that they play in providing stability to our foster children, we must vehemently express our plea – We Need More Foster Care Parents!
Foster Care Parents open their hearts and their homes by taking in children who need nurturing, guidance and love. These children have different experiences and need care for a variety of reasons. Foster Care Parents fill that gap with the ongoing support of the Department of Child & Family Services.
At present, there are fifty-six foster care families. The Department needs ten to twelve more foster care families for children of all ages, from birth to teenagers. There is also a need for foster care parents for children with special needs.
Mr. Speaker,
I close by stating that our children, vulnerable for many reasons, need us. The Ministry of Youth, Social Development & Seniors takes this time on behalf of all of the children in foster care to thank those individuals and families who have opened their homes and have given of themselves to make a difference in the lives of children. We encourage more people within our community to become foster care parents.
This will help the Department of Child & Family Services in its efforts to provide caring, safe, nurturing homes for children when their families are unable to care for them.
Mr. Speaker,
In recognition of Foster Care Month, there will be a series of additional radio spots and a BBC interview that have been booked. However, I encourage all members of this Honorable House, along with all persons within the community, to salute our Foster Care Parents during the entire month of May.
Thank You, Mr. Speaker.