FREDERICK, MD (April 15, 2013) –– The Frederick County Department of Social Services and several of its community partners will be honored for creating a successful partnership that provided 13 Frederick County foster children with a unique life skills experience. The Community Partnership Award will be presented to five Frederick County public, private and non-profit organizations during the closing ceremony of the Child Welfare League of America national conference in Crystal City, Virginia, on April 17.
The Frederick County Circuit Court, Legal Aid Bureau, Inc., Catoctin Forest Alliance, Bar-T Mountainside Challenge & Retreat Center, and the Frederick County Department of Social Services recognized the importance for the entire community to be involved with providing opportunities for foster children in their community.
As a result of the community partner’s outreach, monetary, in-kind and direct involvement, the foster children spent a weekend at the Bar-T Mountainside Challenge and Retreat Center of Urbana, MD. The children experienced trust-building exercises and participated in thrill-seeking events, such as a zip line and the “leap of faith” in which a camper wearing a safety harness climbs a pole and leaps from a platform to try to grab a trapeze-style bar several feet away. Other activities included traditional camping, educational activities, a tree planting and team-building activities.
Frederick County DSS provides a range of camping experiences to their foster children based on their age and abilities.
“We are fortunate in Frederick to have committed community partners willing to assist us in addressing the needs of our children,” said Diane Gordy, director of the Frederick County Department of Social Services. “Through these types of experience, our foster children acquire skills that will serve them well as they develop into productive adults.”
Leaders of this successful Bar-T Mountainside Camp partnership are working together to expand their efforts and are planning an annual spring and fall weekend retreat for Frederick County youth in foster care.
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