DHS celebrates the 2025 Foster Caregivers of the Year

May is National Foster Care Awareness Month, a time to celebrate our current foster caregivers and their commitment to providing stable, loving homes for children and youth in foster care. We have used this time to also raise awareness of the urgent need for additional foster caregivers across the state.  

Annually during National Foster Care Month, the Department of Human Services’ Division of Family & Children Services’ Caregiver Recruitment and Retention Unit recognizes a Foster Caregiver of the Year winner from each of the 14 regions across the state. The Foster Caregiver of the Year award honors foster caregivers and families who go above and beyond to provide stable and loving homes for children and youth in care.  

Meet the 2025 Foster Caregiver of the Year award recipients.  

Region 1: James Torres 

James has proudly served as a foster caregiver since 2021. Throughout his time as a caregiver, he has fostered 29 children and youth. Mr. Torres has a heart for older teens. He supports the youth in his care as they work to find jobs, participate in extracurricular activities, finish school, and get their driver’s licenses. Mr. Torres has dedicated time to learning Spanish to better communicate with the Latino youth placed in his home. He is a great partnership parent, and he goes above and beyond to encourage and assist in planning visits. Mr. Torres also partners alongside the agency to share his story and help recruit additional caregivers in the area. Mr. Torres’ compassion, patience, and love exemplifies what it means to be a caregiver. 

Region 2: Robert and Pamela Sarratt  

The Sarratts became foster caregivers in 2020, have provided placements for nine children and youth and assisted in reunifying four families. The Sarratt family supports and celebrates everyone’s accomplishments and dreams. Whether they’re gathered around the dinner table, cheering on a soccer match, or watching a dance recital, their love, compassion, and care is evident to all. When asked about their experience fostering, the Sarratts shared, “Over the past five years, the children we’ve had in our home have taught us so much about life and love. We’ve been incredibly blessed to care for them, and we encourage anyone who feels the pull, anyone with extra space in their home and heart, to consider fostering.” 

Region 3: Chakita Maye 

Since becoming a foster caregiver in 2016, Chakita Maye has provided a safe and loving home for 146 youth in care and six children she’s made part of her forever family. Ms. Maye enjoys fostering children with complex needs from all backgrounds. She encourages each child in her care to have their own identity and express themselves, and she pursues additional services for them to ensure their success. She works hard to support reunification efforts and encourages birth families to participate in the care of their children. Ms. Maye has created a safe, nurturing environment for every child, and she is an irreplaceable asset to her region 

Region 4: Sherri Cochran 

Sherri Cochran has been a foster caregiver for over 10 years. During her time with the agency, she has fostered 51 children, adopted three, has guardianship of two, and has assisted in reunifying 18 families. Ms. Cochran has a passion for fostering pre-teen and teenagers. She embodies patience and resilience and embraces each child’s personality to help them grow into healthy adults. She attends each child’s school meetings, appointments, visitations, and social functions, ensuring they all feel supported. Ms. Cochran is also actively involved within her community, networking with community businesses to sponsor Christmas gifts for local youth in care. Ms. Cochran constantly goes above and beyond to support DFCS, the youth placed in her home, and other youth in care and their caregivers. 

Region 5: Ryan and Andrea McQueen  

Since 2018, Ryan and Andrea McQueen have served as foster caregivers. They have four biological children and six adopted children. The McQueens have provided long-term, respite, and emergency placements for over 100 youth in care. When asked about what they’d say to someone interested in becoming a caregiver the McQueens shared, “If you’re thinking about becoming a caregiver, it’s one of the most beautiful and fulfilling paths you can take. Just imagine being the light in someone’s life, helping them through their toughest days, and celebrating their victories, no matter how small. It’s not just about providing physical help; it’s also about offering emotional support and friendship.” 

Region 6: Wade and Cherlyn Baggarley  

Wade and Cherlyn Baggarley have been foster parents since 2011. During this time, they have fostered 36 children and have adopted five, with plans to adopt more. The two have also assisted in reunifying over 10 families. The Baggarleys have a heart for service and are committed to providing a safe, loving home for as many children and youth as possible. They also support reunification efforts by working closely with birth families, ensuring the youth in their care maintain relationships with their biological families. 

Region 7: Ona Mae Mack  

Since becoming foster caregivers over 27 years ago, Ona Mae Mack, alongside her late husband, have provided a safe and loving home to over 200 children and youth in care. They also adopted three children. After the passing of her husband, Ms. Mack made the decision to continue her journey as a foster caregiver because she feels this is one of the things she’s been called to do in her life. Her dedication and patience throughout the years is admirable. Most of the children and youth placed in Ms. Mack’s home affectionally refer to her as “grandma.” 

Region 8: Shakita Hall 

Shakita Hall has been a foster caregiver for over six years. During this time, Ms. Hall has fostered 75 children and adopted two. She has an unwavering commitment to the children she has welcomed into her home. The patience she models with the children and her ability to connect with young people who struggle to trust adults is a great asset to our region. She is committed, open-minded, and dedicated to providing an environment for children and youth to heal and grow so they can succeed. 

Region 9: Brian and Kendra Fitzgerald 

Brian and Kendra Fitzgerald have been foster caregivers since 2018. Since then, they have fostered 11 children, adopted one, and assisted in reunifying five families. The Fitzgeralds have gone above and beyond to make sure that the children and youth that enter their home receive the best possible care. They work hard to create positive, mentoring relationships with birth families so they can maintain relationships with their children. They also continue to be supports for those families when reunification is successful. The Fitzgeralds provide a loving, positive environment for each child placed in their home, supporting their well-being and needs. 

Region 10: Deana Crosby  

Deana Crosby has been a foster caregiver for over 15 years. She has fostered 48 children, adopted five, and assisted in reunifying 34 families. Her diligence and patience are truly admirable. She creates a loving, supportive, and nurturing environment for every child and youth placed in her home. She is persistent in her efforts to maintain bonds with birth families and the well-being of each child is at the forefront of every decision she makes. 

Region 11: Jessica Gonzalez  

Since 2020, Jessica Gonzalez has served as a foster caregiver, providing a loving and caring home for 56 youth in care and three adopted children. She has also assisted in reunifying three families. Ms. Gonzalez’s love, compassion, and dedication to Georgia’s families and children is unwavering. She provides open and consistent communication with DFCS staff and understands that each child needs a different level of support to thrive. She focuses on creating fun and unique experiences for each child, whether they’re playing games, cooking meals, traveling, or shopping. She ensures that love, joy, and connection are at the heart of each day. 

Region 12: Heather Alkire  

Heather Alkire became a foster parent in Georgia in 2010. Since then, she has fostered over 225 children and youth. Ms. Alkire is more than a foster parent; she’s a mentor, advocate, and pillar of support for the youth in her care and her community. Her commitment to making a difference is evident in her unwavering dedication to helping one child and one family at a time. Ms. Alkire promotes cultural awareness, philanthropy, and meaningful experiences for every child placed in her care. She understands that fostering goes beyond providing a home; it is about nurturing a sense of belonging, purpose, and connection. Her dedication, kindness, and leadership inspires those around her and have made a lasting impact on the community and the youth who’ve experienced her care. 

Region 13: Bruce and Donna Douglas  

Since becoming foster parents in 2013, Bruce and Donna Douglas have provided care for over 300 children. The Douglas family began their foster care journey after their youngest child joined the Navy. Facing an empty nest, they were drawn to the idea of providing a safe, nurturing home for children in need. They open their home to children of all backgrounds, and they make a point to listen, understand, and meet the individual needs of each child. They work closely with DFCS and service providers to provide medical, emotional, and behavioral support for the children when needed. They prioritize reunification efforts and have assisted in reunifying ten families. They’ve continued to maintain contact with many children and families after these successful reunifications. They are great examples of empathy, patience, and care. 

Region 14: Ariana Williams-Washington  

Ariana Williams-Washington has been a foster caregiver since 2020. Over the years, she has provided a safe and loving home for 72 children and youth. She advocates for the mental health, education, and overall well-being of every child and youth placed in her home. She is committed to accepting every child who comes her way, and diligently works to establish trusting relationships. Ms. Williams-Washington pours love and purpose into her mission, to ensure that each child knows that they are valued, capable, and loved. 

DHS is incredibly thankful for the dedication and support displayed by these caregivers and countless other families throughout Georgia. Our state could not thrive without the partnership from our foster caregivers and their families and their commitment to help keep Georgia’s children and families safe.  

On May 21, we held the Virtual Foster Caregiver of the Year Celebration to recognize National Foster Care Month and our 2025 Foster Caregivers of the Year. If you missed this celebration, you can watch the recording here.  

We are currently in need of foster caregivers for older youth, sibling groups, and children with complex needs. If you’re interested in learning more about foster care in Georgia visit fostergeorgia.com or call 1-877-210-KIDS.  

Related to: 

• Division of Family & Children Services