When was Baptist Family & Children’s Services founded?
1920. is exceptionally proud of its 90-year-long record of service to kids and families in need of a new start.
What is the agency’s mission?
Baptist Family is committed to fulfilling its mission to give children, the elderly, individuals, and families in crisis a new start. The agency’s mission is to plan, develop, implement, and promote services that encourage the physical, mental, social, and spiritual well-being of those whom we serve.
The agency is equipped to serve people in Maryland, Delaware, Southern Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. It is currently active in Western and Central Maryland, the Eastern Shore, and Southern Delaware.
What is Treatment Foster Care?
Treatment Foster Care (TFC) is one of the State of Maryland’s many approaches to addressing the problems of child abuse and neglect.
TFC is a level of care reserved for children who have been removed from their biological families by one of Maryland’s Departments of Social Service. It is distinct from what one might call “regular” foster care in that the children assigned to TFC demonstrate significant emotional, psychological, behavioral, and/or health challenges.
Success in TFC depends on a partnership among the referring Department of Social Service (each county in Maryland has its own DSS), the professional social workers at the TFC program, the parents who shelter and nurture the child in their home, and the foster child.
What kinds of kids do you serve in CHOSEN?
CHOSEN serves kids from birth through age 18. Generally, Most CHOSEN referrals come from counties in Central Maryland, with Baltimore City and Prince George’s County referring the most children in FY10. Also in FY10, 64% of referred children were African-American, 23% Caucasian, 7% Hispanic, and 6% biracial or other races.
What are Case Management Services?
Case Management Services utilize time-tested social work techniques to help an individual or family overcome a crisis. Staff work with clients to assess strengths and weaknesses, create a road map for success, and work toward stability and independence. Where possible, the agency applies a “wraparound” approach, enlisting the client’s neighbors, family members, and other volunteers to support the client as they work to build a solid foundation for the rest of their life.
How much of my donation goes toward fundraising and overhead expenses?
Very little. The organization’s total annual administrative percentage is 11.4%. This figure is calculated by referring to our IRS form 990, adding our fundraising expenses and management/general expenses and dividing the result by our total expenses.
Besides donations, how is Baptist Family funded?
Baptist Family is funded by private giving and a contract with Maryland’s Department of Human Resources (to provide Treatment Foster Care services). Typically, this contract provides 80-90% of the agency’s annual revenue. In FY10, this amounted to $2,432,527.
PRAYER REQUESTS
...for a foster parent whose brother passed away unexpectedly last week. She is also still grieving the loss of her uncle who passed away two weeks ago.
...for one of our volunteers who will undergo a heart procedure on Wednesday.
...for a Safe Family child who returned home to her biological mother this month.
...for a Safe Family biological mom who is having a rough time with her chemo treatments.
...for a CHOSEN teen who is leaving us, for his successful future.
...for a staff member and her family at the loss of her grandfather.
...for a CHOSEN teen who is not doing well emotionally or behaviorally.
SUCCESSES!
Note: All names have been changed to protect the identities of our kids and families.
Derrick is going to be baptized! Derrick and his brother are CHOSEN children placed with parents who are staff members at a Montgomery Baptist Association church. Without the prior knowledge of his foster parents, Derrick went forward on Sunday, fell into his foster father's arms, and cried out, "I want what you have. I want to be baptized!" There was not a dry eye in the congregation.
As the spring semester comes to an end for college students, we wish a fond farewell to our three interns: Kristina and Stacey, who worked with CHOSEN, and Clarissa, who worked with Safe Families. They not only served successful internships from the learning and work standpoint, but also were valued members of the Baptist Family team. They will be missed.
Two of our CHOSEN kids, siblings Travis and Shannon, have been doing a great job with remembering to bring home their behavior point sheets from school. And we cannot forget Zanna, who is Student of the Month at her school!
An adoptive family has been found for two little boys who were placed with one of our Safe Families after their family was no longer able to care for them. Please also pray for a smooth transition for the boys.
We have a story to share about a family who recently moved into our transitional apartment. This homeless family was referred to us by a church they attend in Baltimore. The dad works, but has been underemployed for the last few years. They have three children currently living with them and four others staying with their grandparents. Another baby is due in May. The plan is for mom, dad, and three of the children to stay in the apartment while the transitional house is being made ready.
We are so grateful for everyone who responded to our email blast about the immediate need for household goods. Food, bedding, household items, and even gas cards have come in through your outpouring of Christian love. God is good!