On behalf of the Department of Children and Families I would like to formally thank Denise Yourison-Moore and Anthony Moore for your outstanding commitment to Connecticut's children in need. As a PRIDE instructor, I come across countless families who come forward with an expressed interest in becoming a foster or adoptive parent. Throughout the process, many families get weeded out based on hidden agendas or couples not being on the same page. Your case was the opposite. Not only was your sincerity easily identified, I believe your bond with each other actually grew from week to week. Throughout the classes both of you demonstrated a strong willingness to learn which was coupled with humility and attentiveness. Your warmth and ability to engage others made the other families feel safe enough to open up and participate in group discussions.  Both of you assumed leadership roles throughout the modules which appeared to come naturally.

What was most impressive was your ability to immediately put your applied knowledge into action.   It seems you were barely out of class before you agreed to open your home to a child in need. While most people tend to shy away from teens, you willingly accepted the challenge. You were not intimidated by the child's history, and you made a conscious decision to reserve judgments. Although this was a short term placement, you played an instrumental role in advocating for him and helping him to organize some of his goals and objectives. A classic example of this is the "Firehouse" situation. The teen in your home had no real desire to further his education, but he expressed an interest in becoming a firefighter. You decided to use this as an entry point and not only did you validate his ambitions, you set up a personalized tour for him at the local station! He left out of there feeling important, along with a clearer understanding of what is needed to pursue that career. It was clear in the picture you shared he had an unforgettable experience! Regardless of what life brings him, he will always remember that moment and the people who cared enough to embrace his aspirations. This is just one example of the many thoughtful gestures you have made without hesitation in your short time as foster parents. These kind acts require little to no money, but they have the ability to create a wealth of fruitful memories. Thank you again for all that you do.

Sincerely,

Marcus Stallworth, MSW

DCF Social Worker
Waterbury Area Office