Foster parents celebrated

By Racquel Porter    

 

Some 145 people who have offered their homes to wards of the state were recognised on Thursday for their invaluable contribution to the national foster care programme.

 

The Child Protection and Family Services Agency celebrated caregivers who have dedicated more than 10 years of service.

 

Of the total number of awardees, 99 have served as foster parents for up to 14 years, while 39 have served for 15 to 19 years.

 

Seven people have been fostering children for 20 years.

 

"It's just the love of trying to help others," says 87-year-old Lilla Sterling who has been a foster parent for 35 years. 

 

Ms. Sterling says it was not planned but she sprung into action after her daughter who was a teacher at St. Mary High School, brought home a little girl. 

 

The little girl had issues with her sight, and each month it would cost the family to travel to Kingston to see an eye specialist. 

 

"To find that money monthly to go to Kingston, go to the eye doctor to do her eyes, it was tough," she admits. 

 

But despite the challenges, says the journey has been satisfying. 

 

"Sometimes it's good. Sometime you feel you just can't bother.... Sometimes you happy when you and them happy, and another time you feel like you could throw them a bush; dem give you trouble man," she chuckles.  

 

Clutching her walking stick and dressed in gold, Ms. Sterling gingerly made her way inside AC Hotel with her last foster daughter, Danielle Grant.

 

Ms. Sterling took Danielle into her home 23 years ago.

 

Danielle is now 26 years old.

 

She admits that she was not the best behaving of children. 

 

"It has been a roller coaster, mostly on my part cause mi gi har pure problem, stress her right out. But I think that the stress that I gave her kept her young," she jests.   

 

She now holds a bachelor's degree in social work, and credits Ms. Sterling for her dedication, love, and sacrifice in helping her get to this point. 

 

Meaanwhile, a group of foster mothers wants more adults to open their homes and hearts to needy children.

 

Dionne Kelly, who has been a foster parent for more than 10 years, is among those calling for others to follow suit.

 

She spoke highly of her teenage daughter who has been living with her since age two.

 

The mother of two adult children said her foster experience has been a journey of love. 

 

"The child that I foster is a very talented child. She's an athlete. I travelled to Miami Classic twice; many, many medals. And I must say thanks to CPFSA for assisting on that journey to go overseas. She was the winner of the Gibson relay 2024 at the National Stadium, and still progressing on her journey," the foster mom gushed. 

 

"I could recommend others to be a foster parent, help a child, love a child, take a child in your home to let them have a better education, show them love," she encouraged. 

 

Dorret Smikle has a similar call.

 

She was surprised with an award for fostering children with special needs and could not hold back tears at the recognition.

 

Mrs. Smikle says after experiencing a miscarriage, she felt lonely.

 

Shortly after, she visited a children's home and fell in love with a little girl who she raised until she was 18 years old.

 

Years later, she agreed to raise a four-year-old boy with special needs.

 

He will be celebrating his 10th birthday tomorrow. 

 

"I love him so much. I tell him, look here, son, you [are] not my birth child, but you [are] my heartbeat."    

 

Meanwhile, CPFSA says of the 190 foster parent applications between April 1 and December 31, last year 128 were approved.

 

Some 152 children were formally placed within the national foster care programme.

 

As at December 31, 2024, the agency says 4,620 children are in state care, with 2,719 of them being fostered.