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Record of Proceedings

Prince George's County Foster Care Task Force Meeting - September 25, 2026

County Council & Boards — Friday, September 25, 2026
BodyPrince Georges County, Maryland
SessionCounty Council & Boards
DateFriday, September 25, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:49:04

Original source
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0:00

Madam Co-Chair, we're ready whenever you are.

0:07

Okay.

0:08

Good afternoon, everyone, and welcome to today's meeting of the foster care task force.

0:13

My name is Autumn Joy Barrett, and I am honored to serve as co-chair of this task force.

0:20

And thank you all so much for being here today.

0:22

Your time and commitment to this work are truly appreciated.

0:26

I would also like to recognize in place for our other co-chair is Ms.

0:32

Sheila Curry, who is representing DCAO Reed today.

0:37

Hello, Ms.

0:38

Curry.

0:40

And thank you so much for being here.

0:43

Absolutely.

0:44

Thank you guys so much for having me.

0:45

I was trying to come off mute and turn on my camera.

0:48

There we go.

0:49

Hi, everybody.

0:50

Yes, I'm here.

0:52

Representing Ms.

0:53

Shaka Reed, the DCAO for Health and Human Services here in the Prince George County Executive's office.

0:57

So thank you for having me.

1:00

Absolutely.

1:01

So today's meeting, our main item on today's agenda is a presentation from the Department of Social Services.

1:09

And we, of course, are looking forward to that discussion.

1:13

Now, before our main, before we get there, I'll now turn it over to Anya for uh for a coordinator update.

1:22

Good afternoon, everybody.

1:23

Just for the record, my name is Any Makarova.

1:25

I serve as a committee director for Public Safety, Health and Human Services Committee.

1:30

And I am also the coordinator for Force the Care Task Force.

1:36

Thank you so very much, Madam Co-Chair.

1:40

Just a couple of um couple of updates to help us move through today's agenda.

1:46

First, um our last meeting was held on September 17, and minutes from that meeting will provide it to the members in advance for review.

1:56

So at first, I would like to turn to our committee assistant, Miss Rhonda, to call the vote on adopting the minutes.

2:02

Ronda, I yield to you.

2:04

Thank you.

2:05

Miss Sheila Carey.

2:10

Yes.

2:13

Okay.

2:15

And co-chair Autumn Joy.

2:18

Yes.

2:20

Okay.

2:22

Yolanda Johnson.

2:26

Yes.

2:30

Is that Jocelyn Route?

2:33

Go and I.

2:34

Okay.

2:35

Thank you.

2:36

Angela Smith.

2:43

Is Ms.

2:44

Smith available.

2:48

Miss Smith, if you can hear me, can you come off of mute, please?

2:54

Okay, I'll come back to her.

2:55

Miss Carolyn Floyd.

2:59

I'm present.

3:00

Thank you.

3:03

And Miss Jamie Dixon.

3:08

Yes.

3:09

Okay.

3:10

And I was supposed to go back to Ms.

3:12

Angela Smith.

3:13

I see her.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Foster Care█████████████████████████████████████████████66%
Out Of Home Care██████████████████████32%
Procedural█1%
Youth Programs█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Prince George's County Foster Care Task Force Meeting - September 25, 2026

The Prince George's County Foster Care Task Force met on September 25, 2026, from approximately 3:15 PM to 4:52 PM. Co-Chair Autumn Joy Barrett presided, joined by Co-Chair Sheila Curry representing DCAO Reed. The main agenda item was a presentation from the Department of Social Services (DSS) on child welfare services, data, and capacity challenges. The task force also received updates from Coordinator Anya Makarova, adopted minutes, and discussed next steps including an interim report due November 12, 2026.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes Approval: The task force voted to approve the minutes from the September 17 meeting. The vote included: Sheila Carey (yes), Autumn Joy Barrett (yes), Yolanda Johnson (yes), Jocelyn Route (yes), Carolyn Floyd (yes), and Jamie Dixon (yes). Angela Smith was unavailable at the time of the vote. The minutes were passed.

Discussion Items

  • Coordinator Updates (Anya Makarova):
    • The task force successfully submitted its bylaws and scope memo to the council on time.
    • Outreach for youth alumni with lived experience: The task force has four vacant seats and is prioritizing filling them with individuals who have lived experience in foster care. Members were asked to submit names and contact information by October 2, 2026.
    • Trauma-informed training: A 90-minute training is being arranged in preparation for new members with lived experience. A meeting with PATHs for Families is scheduled for September 26 to discuss details.
    • Information requests to DSS: A first set of responses was received in August; a second request regarding placement capacity and utilization was sent in September.
    • Membership status: Mr. Morocco Battle, a student, requested modified participation status (not required to attend all meetings). Co-Chairs Barrett and Curry approved the request.
  • Department of Social Services Presentation (Jamie Dixon, Carlisa Peterson, Wanda D. Smith):
    • DSS overview: The department operates under state (COMAR) and county authority, with strategic pillars of culture, communication, and continuous improvement.
    • Child welfare process: Interventions include family preservation, kinship placement priority, and evidence-based services. Recent state legislation expedites kinship approval and provides resources.
    • Data on youth in care: As of the presentation, there were 304 youth in care. Placement types: kinship (priority), resource homes (formerly foster parents), group homes, independent living, residential treatment, and some incarcerated youth awaiting trial (6 youth). Majority of youth remain in Prince George's County.
    • Demographics: 77% Black, 18% Hispanic, 3.7% White, 1.3% Pacific Islander. Notably, a majority of youth are 14 years and older, which is unique compared to other Maryland jurisdictions.
    • Challenges: Placement disruptions for older youth, lack of crisis beds and respite care, difficulty recruiting resource parents for adolescents, and limited residential treatment facilities (zero in Prince George's County). DSS also faces staffing capacity issues due to unfilled positions and new paid family medical leave (PFMLA) affecting availability.
    • Recruitment efforts: Includes social media, bus wrappings, movie theater ads, radio, faith-based institutions, and targeted outreach (e.g., nurses associations). The department is open to suggestions.
  • Q&A and Member Comments:
    • Jocelyn Route (foster parent with 20+ years experience) highlighted the need for recreation and leisure opportunities for older youth, noting that such activities can lead to positive outcomes (e.g., a youth on full scholarship through football).
    • Celia Fly (Progressive Life Center) expressed interest in joining the task force and recommended youth with lived experience. She also promoted a kinship care conference on October 9.
    • Discussion on older youth: DSS noted that many youth enter care at older ages (often 17), with complex needs including behavioral health, DJS involvement, and medical comorbidities. Families sometimes request removal due to behavioral challenges, and DSS works to divert through family team meetings.
    • Regarding incarcerated youth: Youth awaiting trial remain in DSS custody and receive monthly visits and support. Cases close upon sentencing.
    • Incentives for foster parents: DSS shares compensation information during information sessions but does not lead with it to ensure the motivation is genuine care.
    • Anya Makarova raised capacity questions: DSS confirmed that kinship care has great potential due to new state laws, but resource homes are selective and need more recruitment. Residential treatment facilities are lacking entirely in the county. DSS staffing is strained by vacancies and PFMLA, with no additional positions allocated despite population growth.
  • Announcements:
    • The YES Center (Youth Experiencing Success) grand opening is scheduled for September 26 from 1-3 PM. The center provides a one-stop shop for older youth in or exiting care, offering resources like toiletries, computers, counseling, and resume help. It originated from a 2016 court initiative.
    • Yolanda Johnson (CASA) noted receipt of duffel bags from Alpha Kappa Alpha and offered to share with partners.

Key Outcomes

  • Minutes approved from September 17 meeting.
  • Modified participation status approved for Morocco Battle.
  • Action items: Members to submit names of individuals with lived experience by October 2 for task force vacancies.
  • Next meeting: To be scheduled in October; a trauma-informed training session will be arranged separately.
  • Interim report due to the county council by November 12, 2026. A draft will be circulated before the next meeting.
  • Open call for public comment – none were offered.
  • Meeting adjourned at 4:52 PM.

Meeting Transcript

Madam Co-Chair, we're ready whenever you are. Okay. Good afternoon, everyone, and welcome to today's meeting of the foster care task force. My name is Autumn Joy Barrett, and I am honored to serve as co-chair of this task force. And thank you all so much for being here today. Your time and commitment to this work are truly appreciated. I would also like to recognize in place for our other co-chair is Ms. Sheila Curry, who is representing DCAO Reed today. Hello, Ms. Curry. And thank you so much for being here. Absolutely. Thank you guys so much for having me. I was trying to come off mute and turn on my camera. There we go. Hi, everybody. Yes, I'm here. Representing Ms. Shaka Reed, the DCAO for Health and Human Services here in the Prince George County Executive's office. So thank you for having me. Absolutely. So today's meeting, our main item on today's agenda is a presentation from the Department of Social Services. And we, of course, are looking forward to that discussion. Now, before our main, before we get there, I'll now turn it over to Anya for uh for a coordinator update. Good afternoon, everybody. Just for the record, my name is Any Makarova. I serve as a committee director for Public Safety, Health and Human Services Committee. And I am also the coordinator for Force the Care Task Force. Thank you so very much, Madam Co-Chair. Just a couple of um couple of updates to help us move through today's agenda. First, um our last meeting was held on September 17, and minutes from that meeting will provide it to the members in advance for review. So at first, I would like to turn to our committee assistant, Miss Rhonda, to call the vote on adopting the minutes. Ronda, I yield to you. Thank you. Miss Sheila Carey. Yes. Okay. And co-chair Autumn Joy. Yes. Okay. Yolanda Johnson. Yes. Is that Jocelyn Route? Go and I. Okay. Thank you. Angela Smith. Is Ms. Smith available. Miss Smith, if you can hear me, can you come off of mute, please?

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