While this post is a bit of an advertisement, I want to support it wholeheartedly. Over the years that I was a preteen and teenager, my parents opened our homes up as a Foster Family, and we took in many infants, toddlers and young children over the course of many years.

I know that Foster Families get a horribly unfair negative reputation in the mainstream media, but I feel it's important to speak out and say that I found it to be an extremely rewarding experience. I would strongly encourage anyone who feels they are up to the challenge to give it a try. These kids will benefit so much simply from having a stable home environment, and I can guarantee you will be blessed for it far more than you realize!

I would do it myself if I had a good stable marriage, but I'm currently the single parent of a somewhat troubled teen and don't think my home would be the best place for a child in trouble. But if any of you reading this have the slightest inclination to open up your homes to these kids, I would really encourage you to look into it.

I have heard of the foster program in Washington County, but I had always thought San Mar was a type of orphanage for Girls...is this true or is there new things going on there? Just wondering.

For as long as I can remember it was for both boys and girls.

Regardless, yes, this seems to be a separate system just for kids associated with San Mar - not exactly the same as the foster care programs run by the government.

The San Mar Children's Home offers a wide range of services for children. San Mar has been serving local children for over 100 years. The residential facility located near Boonsboro is exclusively for girls. However, the Treatment Foster Care program serves both boys and girls, from birth to age 18. The children in the foster care program come in large part from Frederick and Washington Counties but can come from any where in the state of Maryland. The foster children in San Mar's program have suffered a great deal of loss and have experienced a great deal of trauma. They need foster parents who are up to the challenge of providing a structured, caring home for them while they try to learn to cope with all the negative experiences they have had. Foster parenting is a challenging job but one well worth the effort. It is a way to give back to the community by helping a child learn to become a productive member of our society. It is a way to make a real difference in an individual child's life.

If you are interested in becoming a foster parent with the San Mar Children's Home, please contact us at 301-733-7070, ext 404 or email us at jbowers@sanmarhome.org.

There are kids who need a family, a family just like yours. These are local children in need of foster families, families that will give them a place to heal from the wounds of abuse and neglect. They are in need of a family that will keep them safe and give them the care and structure that they need so much. If you have room in your home and in your heart, contact the San Mar Children’s Home Treatment Foster Care program at 301-733-7070. Come to San Mar’s Education Building at 8504 Mapleville Road on Thursday, August 24th at either 11:00 or 7:00 to learn more about what you can do. Learn what it takes to become a Treatment Foster Parent, learn what it takes to change a child’s life.