The Moore County Department of Social Services would like to take this opportunity to honor an individual who has been a foster parent since 2004. Besides her willingness to accept placement of foster children into her home, she also knows the importance of keeping siblings together. Shared parenting comes very naturally to her. Even after a foster child leaves her home they never leave her heart. She continues to attend the child’s school functions and brings the former foster child to her church and family activities. She is affectionately called “grandma” by the many foster children she has helped to reunite with their birth parents. Moore County Department of Social Services would like to recognize foster parent Alyce Caldwell for her dedication and commitment to the foster children of Moore County and present her with the MCDSS 2009 Foster Parent of the Year Award.  

In 2008 a premature infant entered foster care as a result of dependency. The medical staff was not optimistic that the 1lb. 3oz. infant would survive. Heart surgery was performed and appropriate medical care was put into place.

 

Six weeks later, Ross and Diane Moreton were contacted and agreed to become the infant's foster parents. They were the first non-medical people to care for her. From that day forward they were with her as much as the hospital would allow. They held her, fed her, changed her, and participated in her bathing. She progressed so rapidly it surprised everyone.

 

The baby recently turned one year old and has several special needs that continue to be addressed. They include retinopathy, viral pneumonia, an underdeveloped immune system and delayed fine and gross motor skills. The Moreton’s have worked in partnership with many agencies and have taken training to help provide for these needs.

 

Anyone seeing the baby today would not believe the miracle that has taken place. The 24/7 phenomenal care and stimulation the Moreton’s have provided has gone way beyond normal expectations of foster parents. Even though the baby’s adjusted age is still only 10 months, she has already met all of the developmental criteria for a 14 month old.

 

All of the professionals that have followed the child’s development believe it is the outstanding love, dedication and care she has received from her foster parents. Recently the child’s father relinquished his parental rights to the Moretons. The Moreton’s shared with him they knew his decision was difficult and was done out of love for his daughter. The Moreton’s expressed that they want to stay connected to him and personally thanked him for allowing them to adopt this special angel who brought so much joy to so many.