The MASSB Minute

Greetings, Everyone! This month's message is simple – please plan to attend our annual conference, scheduled for October 6th and 7th in beautiful Harford County. We have an exciting agenda planned for you! We will be streaming parts of the conference, so if you cannot attend in person, please register to attend via Zoom.

Don't forget to submit your nominations for board officers and the Sandy Spring Bank Award for Innovative Programs! Submissions must be emailed to trustee@massbfoundation.org no later than September 15th. If you must have an extension, please let us know. The agenda is attached to this message, and additional information about the conference, including the registration form, link to the hotel and previous Innovative Program Award Winners is available on our website at www.massbfoundation.org. As always, please feel free to email us if you have any questions or need assistance.

Best regards,
Chris

Harford Community College, Bel Air, MD

DHS Secretary Lourdes Padilla
Elder Abuse Awareness
Queen Anne's At Home — Seniors Helping Each Other THRIVE
Making the Most of Your Board
Social Media Management
Telling Your Story
The Sandy Spring Bank Award for Innovative Programs
…and more

View Agenda & Registration Form

Gabrielle Williams, LMSW, Foster Care Social Worker/Kinship Navigator, Washington County DSS

We are grateful to Gabrielle Williams for taking the time to answer our questions about Kinship Care. Gabrielle received a Bachelor's in Social Work in 2015 from Salisbury University and a Master's in Social Work in 2017 from the University of Maryland, School of Social Work. Her mother was in the human services field and she inspired Gabrielle to want to help people as well. She has always enjoyed working with children and families so Social Services was the right fit for her. She has been with Washington County DSS since December 2017.

What is Kinship Care? How does it differ from Foster Care? There are two different types of kinship care: informal kinship care and formal kinship care. Informal kinship care is when a caregiver voluntarily undertakes the responsibility of fulfilling parental duties without petitioning a court for custody or guardianship. During this time, a parent retains all authority. If a caregiver files for custody and is granted this through the courts, their authority becomes greater in aspects of the child's life regarding most decisions. Informal kinship care can differ from foster care because it does not have to be done through the courts or with the Department's oversight.

Formal kinship care is when a child is in state custody, when the local Department intervenes in the parent-child relationship and places children with a relative, by blood or marriage. It is always done through the court.

"I would like to say how thankful I am for kinship caregivers and their willingness to be a support for the youth in their care, without them we would have many more children in foster care."

Read More About Kinship Care

The mission of Project Linus is to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new handmade blankets. Blankets are collected locally and distributed to children in hospitals, shelters, social service agencies, or anywhere that a child might be in need of a big hug. Almost all Maryland counties and Baltimore City have Project Linus chapters. If your board is serving children who would benefit from this special gift, contact your local coordinator.

Find Your Local Chapter