The foster care licensing process typically takes individuals or families 3-6 months to complete once they submit their application. The process is intensive and sometimes invasive. It is the duty of the state and the licensing agency to do due diligence in ensuring that a family is safe and capable of caring for kids that have experienced trauma. While it makes sense that the process is so involved and comprehensive with training, medical evaluations, financial review, and home visits – it can feel overwhelming!
But with a strong team of support, especially from the licensing agency, families can use the time they spend in the licensing process to prepare well. They can enter into fostering with a sense of peace, encouragement, and feeling prepared (as much as you can be for foster care which is wildly uncertain at times.)
The role of the case manager or Foster Care Specialist is critical, crucial to a family’s success. Turnover rates are high due to the demanding nature of the work. It takes someone truly special to walk with individuals and families through uncertainty, waiting, hardship. That same person is there to celebrate the joys and special moments that come with watching children and families grow, heal, and thrive.
Meet Haleigh! She is one of those amazing case managers that is daily serving children and families. A strong advocate for kids and families, she has been a Foster Care Specialist with the
Connie Maxwell Foster Care Team since 2018. She works with many families, preparing them for foster care. She doesn’t leave them there. She continues to offer encouragement and support as they foster. She offers resources and supports as they welcome children with significant needs. She is a friend and mentor to each family as they experience both challenges and joys – reunifications and adoptions, children’s diagnoses and development, challenge and celebration.
A new foster parent, Megan H, nominated Haleigh for our Local Foster Care Innovator Award because of her excellent experience in getting licensed as a foster parent. Haleigh is our February 2022 winner! Megan felt supported, encouraged, and inspired as she enters this new season of caring for kids and families that have experienced trauma … in part, thanks to Haleigh and the CM team! We love hearing stories like this. The families that Haleigh works with and co-workers echoed the praise shared by Megan.
There are no words to describe what a blessing Haleigh has been to us. As a foster parent, we face many challenges on this beautiful journey…Haleigh is always helping us stay on top of things. We know that she is always willing to help answer any questions that we have. We are thankful to have her walking this journey with us.
– Tracy F, Foster Parent
We are so proud and happy to have Haleigh as an employee of Connie Maxwell. She is a model of our CORE values and a joy to have in the foster care program. Haleigh is so deserving of this recognition.
– Paula Reed, Director of Foster Care at Connie Maxwell
Thank you to Haleigh and all the foster care case managers out there! Happy Social Worker’s Month. WHAT JOY! To see people working together to ensure that foster parents are supported. Which means that kids and families have better support too!
Nominate someone you know who is changing foster care for the better. We love to hear the amazing stories of everyday heroes who are impacting their communities – foster parents, case managers, GAL/CASA, and volunteers. There are so many that work hard (often behind the scenes) to make days a little better and brighter for children and families.
