Local foster parents recognized for service
Polk County foster parents Greg and Vickie Chupp were awarded Department of Family and Children Services Division Director’s Award for their service to older youth in foster care for the year.
The couple were presented with the award on May 15 at the 2017 Foster Caregivers of the Year awards luncheon held at Georgia Tech Hotel.
The Chupps have shown a legacy of commitment to older youth in foster care through creating a culturally diverse home that makes everyone feel included, according to DFCS’s Robin Forston in a press release on Friday.
Throughout their tenure beginning in November 2002, they have served over 200 foster children and have adopted 10. Most of the older youth they adopted are now adults and have children of their own.
The Chupp’s are the proud grandpar- ents of 13 grandchildren, and recently took on the challenge of caring for a teen of another race who is also deaf.
The Chupp’s, along with their adopted teen daughter, began taking sign language courses so that they could communicate with the child and make him feel even more welcome.
“They open their hearts to the biological families of the youth they serve, encouraging regular visitation and calls, and keeping the family informed of the youth’s needs,” the release stated. “The Chupp’s are true examples of foster parents.”
The month of May is recognized national as Foster Parent Appreciation month.
Those interested in becoming a foster or adoptive parent in Polk or Haralson County please contact Forston at 404-895-6517 orrobin.forston@dhs.ga.gov, call 1-877-210 KIDS or visit fostergeorgia.com.