Show rA r r P W s 4 ep S' S rt t DAVIS COUNTY HONORS FOSTER PARENTS Praised Probed for their unselfishness and their devotion to helping help helpIng ing the foster children they have taken Into their homes these are three of the couples who were honored by Davis County last lat Friday night In n celebration of Foster Parents Parenti Week These Thee were three of four fou couples who were presented pre rented certificates by Mrs Wilma McClellan County child Gov Rampton Hampton signed a procla proclamation mati mation on setting forth May 7 as Foster Faster Parent ceremonies ceremonies' were were to be conducted conduct conduct- ed In each county throughout the state The purpose of the ceremonies was to pay tribute to foster parents parents parents par par- for the fine unselfish service service ice that they render to children in need of homes It has been recognized recognized that foster parents often sacrifice of themselves their time and their families in order that deprived children might have healthy family experiences Although foster families r receive re receive re- re financial help from the Di Division Division Division Di- Di vision of Childrens Children's Services Ice s while caring for foster children the help is extremely small compared compared com com- pared to the amount and quality of service they render It is fitting therefore that they receive public public public pub pub- lic recognition as a token of appreciation appreciation appreciation ap ap- not only from the child welfare agencies but also from the children th they y serve Davis County had a special hon hon- or program May 7 at In Inthe the Farmington Elementary School The program was presided over overby overby overby by Woodrow J J. J Taylor Director of the Davis County Welfare De De- De Bishop Robert VI W. W Telford Telford Tel Tel- ford gave the invocation After the invocation 0 n J John a h n Park Davis County Clerk ad addressed addressed addressed ad- ad dressed a few remarks of praise to the he 40 foster parents and pu- pu nu numerous numerous nu- nu county officials and their spouses that were present Mr Park lauded foster parents for their unselfish service to children children children chil chil- dren and families Elvin Tanner child welfare su supervisor supervisor supervisor su- su also praised foster parents for far the work they are doing doing doing do- do ing He drew their attention to the lasting contributions contribution they are making not only to children now but to future generations Mr Tanner indicated that personal strengths Instilled in foster children children children chil chil- dren through their experience in foster homes wo would ld reap benefits for years to come After Alter Mr Tanners Tanner's remarks a film entitled Debbie wh which I c h portrays some of the problems facing both foster children and foster parents was shown The film was followed by a short talk by Mike Meadows a teenage fos foster foster foster fos- fos ter child Mike related what it meant to welfare worker left for having participated In the program program pro pro- gram for more than five years They are arel Mr and Mrs Mark Johnson Johnon Layton Mr and Mrs George P. P Boyce East Layton Laylon and Mr and Mrs Vernon Clay Fruit Heights Not present when picture was taken was Mr and Mrs Floyd Shumway lay Layton ton him to be a foster child and what it meant to have a good foster home with parents that care for forand forand forand and love him Mike was followed by his foster mother Mrs Mark Johnson of Layton Mrs Johnson told how she be became became became be- be came interested in foster loster care and what it had meant to her to tobe tobe tobe be a foster parent She pointed out that there are sorrows as aswell aswell aswell well as pleasures involved She felt that being able to see children children children chil chil- dren grow to maturity and then continue their close relationship with her just as if she were their natural mother was very re re- re warding The Johnsons Johnson have fostered 30 children since they took the first foster child into their home in 1931 Of these children four were girls and 26 were boys They are the natural parents of one daughter One boy who was taken into their home at the age of 14 and lived with them until he married is now 36 years old and brings his wife and four children out to visit his Mom and Dad every few weeks Mrs Johnson also told of hav hav- ing one son now serving on anLoo an Loo mission A highlight of 01 the evening was when Mrs Wilma McClellan child welfare worker presented certificates of awards to four sets of 01 foster parents for five or more years of 01 service A five live year certificate was presented to Mr and Mrs Floyd Shumway of S S. S Fort Lane Layton For seven years of service Mr and Mrs G G. G Preston Boyce of East Layton received a certificate Mr and Mrs Vernon Clay of Fruit Heights received a 13 year certificate And for their many years of service Mr and Mrs Mark Johnson of Layton were also presented a certificate The benediction was given by Reese Montgomery a county welfare welfare welfare wel wel- fare board member After the benediction refreshments were served to all present Refreshments were furnished and served by Mrs Kathryn Jen Jennings and Mrs Afton Alton Ellison county welfare board members and Commissioner Stanley M. M Smoot chairman of the county welfare board |