Carroll County DSS Walks In Honor of #NationalFosterCareMonth

On Sunday, May 19th, Carroll County DSS held its 3rd Annual Awareness Walk in honor of National Foster Care Month. The walk took place at Westminster High School, bringing in about 100 attendees of foster families, friends, community residents, and staff.

Carroll County DSS began its awareness walk initiative in 2017 with hopes to enlighten residents about foster care and how the community also plays a role in empowering children and youth in care. The local department recognized the need for more foster care awareness in its county and sought to bridge this gap. The event also served as a token of appreciation for Carroll County foster parents who provide a nurturing home environment for kids in need.

“We were missing the mark in spreading awareness throughout the community…so that’s how the walk began,” said Carrie Vincent, Administrator of Foster Care and Adoptions at Carroll County DSS. “Our emphasis is not only to spread awareness and recruit potential foster parents, but we also want to inform the community of the other ways they can help and how they can support our kids.”

Since 2017, Carroll County DSS has seen an increase in participants and community partners supporting the Annual Awareness Walk.

“The number of people are starting to grow,” said Carrie. “People are becoming invested and excited about supporting foster kids, which is fantastic!”

Community partners included Carroll County Health Department, which provided attendees with mental health awareness and child car safety tips; local art studio Cob51; non-profit organization Bikers Against Child Abuse; and other vendors.

When they weren’t walking and racing one another around the Westminster High School track, families enjoyed live DJ entertainment, a scavenger hunt, and a moon bounce. Attendees also savored mac and cheese, hot dogs, and pork barbecue from a partnered food truck and finished off their meals with delicious soft serve and frozen treats from local ice cream truck, “The Cow.”

Carroll County DSS aims to continue building the number of walk participants and community partners who come out each May to celebrate National Foster Care Month, empower children and youth, and spread awareness within the community. A special thank you goes out to all Carroll County DSS staff who helped coordinate this wonderful awareness event.