The Alabama Foster and Adoptive Parent Association presented awards for Foster Parents and Social Worker of the Year at their annual conference in Birmingham May 6th. The awards, given annually, recognize a foster family and social worker for providing exemplary services to the children of Alabama.
This year’s recipients for Foster Parents of the Year are John and Lynn Twitty of Andalusia. Together, they have been opening their home to foster children for over 6 years. The Twittys feel strongly that they are called to provide this caring and nurturing of children to their community. The social worker who nominated the Twittys was so compelled to do so that she hand wrote the nomination while traveling on vacation in the mid-west. Among the many thing stated in the nomination was that on one occasion the Twittys solicited lumber donations and helped deliver it so renovations could be made to a child’s home, enabling that child to return home. The Department would like to congratulate the Twittys on their award and offer a special thanks to them for what they do for the children they foster.
This year’s recipient of the Social Worker of the Year award is Holly Gibson of Colbert County. Ms. Gibson has been a resource worker for the Department of Human Resources for 3 years. Her nomination states that she partners well with families, agencies, and the community. She has been praised by both Juvenile Probation Officers and Judges and maintains the poise and presence normally seen in much more experienced workers.