Millers named Adoptive Parents of Year

Cumberland couple housed many children over nine years

For the Cumberland Times-News

CUMBERLAND — Adoptive parents Gene and Jeanne Miller of Cumberland have made a home for many children and youth of all ages over the past nine years. For their extraordinary service, the Allegany County Department of Social Services honored the Millers as Adoptive Parents of the Year during a statewide recognition luncheon held at the Baltimore Zoo.

“Lots of factors came together that led us to take children into our care,” said Jeanne. “We had friends through church who had been foster and adoptive parents. We had gone on service trips to Haiti and Guatemala to do work in the orphanages there. I heard a discussion about adoption on a TV show, and read something in the local paper about the need for homes, and then we decided to make the call.”

That call was to the Department of Social Services, and the Millers were approved as foster and adoptive parents in 2000. They had training before children were placed in their care, but they say that “there is nothing that can really prepare you. You just have to do it.”

The Millers have had quite a range of experiences. They have provided one-night emergency care, short-term respite care and extended-stay foster care. The couple have assisted young adults transitioning to independence. They became adoptive parents in 2008.

Safety, security, and stability for children are the goals of the agency’s child welfare services. Foster parents provide temporary care to children, many of whom return to the care of birth family members who have received supportive services. Some children make a permanent connection with a new family through adoption.

The Millers described their experiences at times challenging, often joyful, but most days just flow with routine activities like helping with homework and getting children to their activities. “Lots of people say they couldn’t do it,” said Jeanne, “but how can you hear what a child has been through and not want to do something?”

November is National Adoption Month, a month set aside to raise awareness about the adoption of children and youth from foster care who need permanent homes. The Department of Social Services celebrates the community’s adoptive families, and invites anyone who would like more information to call (301) 784-7060.