Prince George's County Foster Care Task Force Planning Meeting - June 8, 2026
Prince George's County Foster Care Task Force Planning Meeting - June 8, 2026
This meeting of the Foster Care Task Force focused on planning an inaugural event to support and celebrate youth in foster care, their families, and alumni. Members discussed event logistics, venue options, engagement strategies, and incentives to encourage participation from older youth. The meeting concluded with decisions on event format and a follow-up meeting date.
Discussion Items
- Event Purpose & Scale: The event was initially envisioned as a small gathering of 75–100 people, but members expressed concern that this number was too low given the potential audience (youth in care, families, aged-out alumni, foster parents). The goal shifted to a larger, inclusive celebration (targeting 100+ attendees) where attendees can connect, learn about resources, and feel supported.
- Venue Selection: The originally proposed "tech lounge" was deemed too small (max 75 people including vendors). Members suggested alternative locations, including Allen Pond Park, Crystal Skating Rink in Temple Hills, and Seabrook Skating Rink. The group strongly favored a skating rink due to its ample space, built-in entertainment, and ability to host both fun activities and resource tables. A motion was made to pursue the skating rink idea.
- Event Format: Initially proposed as a panel discussion with professionals and foster parents, members raised concerns that a panel might feel too formal and discouraging for youth. After debate, the group agreed to pivot to a "celebration resource fair" – a fun, interactive event featuring a DJ, moon bounce, face painting, games, giveaways, and vendor tables. The skating rink would provide the venue, allowing for skating, music, and separate quiet spaces for confidential conversations.
- Incentives for Older Youth: To attract youth aged 17–19, members stressed the importance of incentives. Ideas included gift cards, Uber codes for transportation, and raffle prizes. A member from the Department of Social Services noted that older youth often require tangible incentives to participate.
- "Dream Tree" Initiative: Members proposed a "dream tree" where local businesses or residents could sponsor specific wishes of foster youth (e.g., a PSP, driving school tuition). This would be incorporated as an additional feature, not altering the core event theme.
- Marketing & Outreach: Members were asked to email Nathaniel with recommendations for organizations (universities, workforce programs, mental health providers, local businesses) to invite as vendors or partners. A member from Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission offered to bring outreach and arts departments. Another member suggested contacting "Hundred Black Men" mental health group.
- Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes: The minutes from the previous full meeting (June 12? – date not specified) were presented for approval. A motion was made and seconded; the chair called for a vote, and the minutes were approved without opposition.
Key Outcomes
- Event Format Approved: The task force officially agreed to plan a "celebration resource fair" at a skating rink (either Crystal Skating Rink or Seabrook Skating Rink), with fun activities and resource tables, rather than a formal panel discussion.
- Venue Investigation: The chair will contact the skating rinks to confirm availability and capacity. The group will also explore other central locations if needed.
- Next Steps: The chair will develop a revised theme for the event and circulate it for feedback. Members will send outreach ideas to Nathaniel. The group will address the "dream tree" logistics and secure incentives (gift cards, Uber codes).
- Next Meeting: Scheduled for Thursday, June 11, 2026, at 12:00–12:30 PM. The meeting will confirm the venue, finalize the dream tree concept, and discuss giveaways/incentives. The chair noted that a separate meeting with youth representatives would be arranged after this meeting to incorporate their input.
Meeting Transcript
The the children. Oh so any if you if anybody has any connections with any of the universities or local colleges, uh maybe any workforce um folks that we could invite to come out as well. Uh mental health and wellness providers. Again, those are always welcomed if you if you got if anybody has any connections there. Um and of course, local businesses, you know, um any local businesses that you know of that would love to be a part of this, um we would love to uh for sure have them involved. Um Jamie, I see that you have your hand raised. I'll I'll let you and I see I saw one more hand. So we'll we'll get to those questions now. Go ahead, Jamie. Hi, thanks. I just wanted to um clarify how you wanted us to submit the names of the organizations or any recommendations we have for participation. Absolutely, great question. Yeah, we if you guys could just email uh Nathaniel, um, and he we're in constant communication. Um and yeah, he'll he'll be able to get that over to the the right folks, and then yeah, we'd be able to approve, you know, the the people that you that you send over uh that way. I think I saw one more hand. Oh, sorry. Yeah, it was me, but I put my hand down because um I would like to my real my full-time role is working at Maryland National Capital Parks and Planning Commission. And I would love our outreach department, our arts department to come out. We have we have so many things that could like be activated actually at this space. So I just wanted to share that as a resource. Oh, that's amazing. Yeah, we'd we'd love uh parking planning to be a part of that. There's always I get all of the brochures and the magazines of all the different uh uh summer programs. Uh I've signed my son up for a few. So yeah, that would be great. And uh I'm sure they've got like some summer counseling uh camp counselor jobs possibly, you know, available. So yeah. Uh Lisa, go ahead, Lisa, you've got the floor. Thanks. And I'm sorry, I wasn't at the last meeting if you all already discussed this. So 75 to 100 seems small to me in terms of the potential of how many. I mean, if if I don't know if the vision is to invite, you know, any youth in care and their families, but um, you could have a family that has you know four or five kids. And so if we have 75, that's I mean, that feels like a very small number. I don't know how many folks would actually attend and looking at the flyer, like I don't know that as a family that I would know that that's for me and the kids. That it feels more like a professional like I I again, I'm not sure what the what the vision is, but um so that was my one question. And then since it's 11 to 2, and then this probably relates to budget. Are we providing food or are we looking for food vendors um for the event as well? Those are my own. Great questions. Thank you, Lisa. Um, so yeah, again, I apologize, guys. I'm not, I don't know how many total. So 75 now that we're saying it out loud, probably does sound a little low. Um, so yeah, I mean, I I'm assuming I would love for, yes, Lisa, we want to invite everybody, folks that have aged out, uh, folks that are, you know, parents, um, of course, the the youth. So, yes, I mean, as as many people as we can get out to uh my the biggest goal is for I want people to meet each other and and make some connections, right? And so, you know, make some friends if you will, by the end of the event, and then folks walk away with a better understanding of what we offer um and and know that we're a resource and that we're here. So so yeah, we we'd love the number to be as as as many folks as possible. So any again, back to what we were saying before, the space. If you know of a space that can hold 100 plus, um, then yeah. Um as far as the budgeting and all of the things, that's Nathaniel.
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