MENTOR Stands by Their Word
At only 28-years-old, Markie McWashington has already made the difference of a lifetime for children she has welcomed into her heart as a foster parent and as a mother. She adopted a teenage boy and young girl from care, and for children on the road to reunifying with their families of origin, Markie has helped them on their journey. She credits the support and skill development MENTOR provides to helping her open her mind and understand children’s behaviors so she can help them heal and thrive.
Finding Her MENTOR Family
When Markie found MENTOR, she was already a foster parent but felt unsupported by the provider she was working with. From the start, she saw the MENTOR difference.
“I told them I need people who are going to be a support and I can call no matter what,” said Markie. “To this day they stand by their word.”
Markie enjoys the individualized care her family gets and has developed a personal relationship with the whole team at her MENTOR program. She knows she can count on them.
There’s been times where I’ve had to call in the middle of the night and they don’t leave you on your own to figure it out. They take care of everything. They’ll help with transportation, they’ll connect you with nearby foster families, just things like that it’s really almost like a family.
Markie also appreciates the philosophy and approach that sets MENTOR apart. Unlike the provider she had previously been working with, she felt that MENTOR’s clinical model Family Vistas® addressed the emotional needs of children who have experienced trauma.
Empowered to Take on Challenges
The skills Markie has learned through the Family Vistas® model and the support she receives from her MENTOR team have helped her make a difference with kids who are often seen as challenging—teens in care. Markie has chosen to work with preteens and teenagers. She recognizes the need for homes for teenagers and reminds herself she was a teenager once too. “I feel like they’re so overlooked,” said Markie. “They deserve a chance.”
Another challenge of being a foster parent is having to say goodbye. For some children in care, the permanency goal is to reunify with their parents. When working with biological parents, Markie keeps the child’s best interest at heart. “There’s no way you can help the child without supporting the parents. Sometimes you may have to tell them, I’ll worry about the family, you worry about yourself,” said Markie.
