ACS Commissioner Honors Foster and Adoptive Parents

ACS Commissioner Ronald E. Richter recently honored foster and adoptive parents for their commitment and dedication to providing stable, temporary care for children in foster care and permanent loving homes through adoption. The foster and adoptive parents were each presented with the Commissioner’s Child Advocacy Award at a ceremony at ACS.

Commissioner Ronald Richter with honored foster parents Carolyn and James Bussell.

Among those honored were 32 foster and adoptive parents who were featured throughout May on the ACS website and the agency Facebook page, Family Connections, as part of activities for National Foster Care month, as well as families who adopted children featured on Wednesday’s Child in the past year, a segment broadcast on WNBC New York.

In his address to the honorees, Commissioner Richter said “NYC Administration for Children’s Services appreciates and would like to thank you for providing a safe and nurturing home for the most vulnerable members of our society. Your kind, steadfast and loving support to our children and their families, make it possible for us to achieve permanency for each child placed in your care. Your compassion and commitment is irreplaceable.”

Foster parent Pamela Duffie, center, with staff of MercyFirst from left, Gerard McCaffery, President/Chief Executive Officer; Jennifer Hayes, Foster Parent Recruiter; Mary Bingham Johnson, Vice President and Shantell Lewis, Adoption Coordinator.

The foster and adoptive parents were selected for the honor by their affiliated foster care agency for demonstrating extraordinary character, integrity, support, and leadership skills in working with their agency, community and other foster parents. Many were also recognized for their commitment to those children that are typically hard to place--pregnant and parenting mothers, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning (LGBTQ) youth, and children with special needs.

The honorees and their affiliated agencies are:

Valerie Gibbs – Cardinal McCloskey Services to Children and Families
Patricia Ormond - HeartShare Human Services of New York
Shauna Brown - New Alternatives for Children
Luvato Howard - New York Foundling
Angela & Marc Braddock, SCO Family of Services
Carolyn and James Bussell – Forestdale Inc.
Gail Brassell – Harlem Dowling Westside Center
Juana Sanchez - The Children’s Aid Society
Nancy Crooms & James Crooms – Leake & Watts Services Inc.
Beverly Scarborough and Suzanne Harris - Lutheran Social Services of New York
VOICES - The Coalition for Hispanic Family Services
Rodney and Kaye Small - Graham-Windham Services
Juana Torres - Episcopal Social Services
Ruth Cheatum – Community Counseling Mediation Services
Myra Jones -Saint Dominic’s Home
Linda Myles – Jewish Child Caring Agencies
Phyllis Samarion – Seaman’s Society
Merit Burvick – Little Flower Children’s Services
Soribel Garcia - Catholic Guardian Society and Home Bureau
Pamela Duffie - MercyFirst Marion & Wickliffe Richards - Abbott House
Nardyne Wylie - Gould Services for Children & Families

The following families were recognized for being exceptional adoptive families through their connections with Wednesday’s Child:
David Brooks & Bill Ryall
Joan Limehouse
Gwendolyn Polite
Jim and Camille Spannagel
Constance Washington
Angela Alexander Wilson

Read more about these foster and adoptive parents

Contact:  
                
Michael Fagan/Tia Waddy, Administration for Children’s Services: (212) 341-0999