Community Corner
Morris County Resident Recognized as a FAFS 40 Club Member
Monmouth Junction, New Jersey, April 10, 2014 – Foster and Adoptive Family Services (FAFS), as part of its 40th Anniversary year celebration, is recognizing exceptional individuals throughout New Jersey. The FAFS 40 Club celebrates New Jersey foster parents who have been fostering 40 years or more or have fostered 40 children or more. The effort is bringing attention to outstanding men and women who have gone the extra mile in providing safe and nurturing homes for children in foster care.
Such an individual is Patricia Shackleford of Morris County. Ms. Shackleford has been a licensed foster parent for over 20 years. During that time, her family has helped 120 children in foster care. When describing her reasons for becoming involved, Ms. Shackleford said, "I'm a praying woman and I asked God what I should do. It came to me that I should take care of old people or young people – I chose the young people." Over the years, Ms. Shackleford has adopted two children and is in the final phase of adopting a third child.
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Ms. Shackleford's advice for other foster parents is, "Treat these kids like they are your own blood that you gave birth to." When asked what her message for children in foster care would be, she simply answered, "I love you!"
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Additional information about Ms. Shackleford and all FAFS 40 Club members is available online at the FAFS website www.fafsonline.org. Our congratulations are extended to Ms. Patricia Shackleford and her entire family.
The mission of FAFS is to provide support, training and advocacy to meet the special needs of foster, adoptive and kinship families, who provide safe, stable and nurturing homes for children in foster care in New Jersey. FAFS is a federal 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization, with headquarters on Route 1 in Monmouth Junction. The organization serves as a catalyst for positive advances in the child welfare system. Simply stated, FAFS is the voice of foster, adoptive and kinship families in New Jersey.
