2017 Foster Parents of the Year Award

In the spring of 2017, the Metropolitan Washington’s Council of Governments (COG) recognized foster parents from 10 jurisdictions across D.C., Maryland and Virginia recently as the region’s 2017 Foster Parents of the Year. Congratulations to long-time C.A.S.E. clients Jessica and Timothy Richmond for receiving this prestigious and well deserved award as the 2017 Foster Parents of the Year for Montgomery County, Maryland.

Watch their heartwarming video and then read below for their story.

The Richmonds

Jessica and Timothy Richmond have been licensed resource parents for Montgomery County since 2008. They adopted their twins in 2009 and just recently finalized the adoption of their second set of siblings as well. The Richmonds recognize the value of investing in relationships with the biological families whenever its possible and safe for the children, and have maintained an open adoption with the biological parents and families of their twins. They have opened their hearts and homes to challenging placements over the years and have been dedicated to advocating on behalf of and supporting the children in their care.

“Adopting our children has been a huge blessing for us and we are so honored to be our children’s forever parents,” says Jessica Richmond.

Jessica and Timothy have been C.A.S.E. clients since before their first set of adoptions in 2009. They have returned for counseling over the years to receive guidance with their foster or adopted youth during the times when they needed some additional support and resources.

Knowing how much their family has benefited from the counseling, education and resources they’ve received over the years from C.A.S.E., the Richmonds endeavor to help other foster and adoptive families get the life-changing support C.A.S.E. provides as well.

Once the adoptions of their two boys were finalized recently, friends and family members inquired about celebratory gifts. Jessica and Timothy chose instead to have loved ones donate to C.A.S.E. on behalf of their newly adopted sons. To date, C.A.S.E. has received 21 generous donations from the Richmonds’ friends and loved ones.

“We couldn’t help but think of the thousands of other kids that struggle in foster care and the countless others that need post-adoption support,” says Jessica. “We felt this was a great opportunity to direct the gifts people wanted to give us to kids and families that really need it.”

C.A.S.E. again congratulates the Richmonds not only for being awarded the 2017 Foster Parents of the Year for Montgomery County, Maryland, but also for the recent adoption of their two boys. We are humbled by their thoughtfulness and so appreciative of the exposure they’ve brought to the critical need foster and adoptive families have for mental health services.

Please consider donating to C.A.S.E. on behalf of the Richmonds.