LEONARDTOWN, MD (Jan. 28, 2014) – St. Mary’s County Health Department nurse Michele Burnette, R.N., is the national winner of the Foster Parent Award. This award is given by the Casey Family Programs, which is the nation’s largest operating foundation focused entirely on foster care and improving the child welfare system.
The highly distinguished award recognizes Burnette’s hard work, dedication, and exceptional leadership to improve child welfare systems in America.
“As a mother of seven children, three who we’ve adopted from the foster care system, and as a foster parent to more than 40 children, it is my goal and the goal of the Casey Family Program to have every child grow up in a healthy, safe, and permanent family, and within a supportive community,” said Burnette. “It is important that we continue to focus on safely reducing the need for foster care and build hope for vulnerable children and families in our community.”
At the health department, Burnette oversees the Healthy Start Program, which provides education and nursing outreach to eligible pregnant women who are at high risk of pregnancy complications, and to infants and toddlers from birth to two years who are at highest risk for death or disability.
In 2000, Burnette started a Resource Parent Association in California, Md. that became a statewide association in 2005. In addition to serving on the board of the association she helped to begin, she has served on the National Foster Parent Association’s board of directors since 2008 and is currently the chairperson for the annual education conference for Resource Parents. Three years ago, Burnette developed the nation’s first non-traditional Parent Teacher Association for Resource Parents and has represented the National Foster Parent Association in congressional hearings. She also has authored several publications.
The award was presented to Burnette early January during the annual Casey Excellence for Children Awards ceremony in Seattle, Wash., and announced by the Casey Family Program late last week.
To view a video about Burnette’s journey, click here. For more information about the Casey Family Program, visit www.casey.org.