4Montgomery’s Kids enriches the lives of abused and neglected children and youth in Montgomery County’s child welfare system by providing them with opportunities and services they would not otherwise receive.
ABOUT US
4Montgomery’s Kids provides critical support and enrichment for some of the most vulnerable children in Montgomery County, Maryland, where on any given day more than 400 children are living in foster care. They were removed from their biological families because of physical or sexual abuse or chronic neglect. Another 100 or so at-risk children remain with their families but are being carefully monitored by county social workers.
Our services range from something as simple as buying a gift card for a birthday celebration, to sending a child to summer camp, to paying rent to prevent a young adult from becoming homeless when aging out of Child Welfare, to subsidizing transportation to get to a job — all things that Montgomery County cannot normally fund.
Thanks to the generous contributions of our supporters, 4Montgomery’s Kids responds to requests made to us from county social workers, who know the needs of each child and young person in their caseload. This collaborative relationship with the county’s social workers is at the heart of 4Montgomery’s Kids.
The support that 4Montgomery’s Kids provides has played an important role in helping children and young people succeed. We’ve helped children and youth of all ages, enabling them to do better in school, participate in new activities, and reach goals like learning trades or attending college. But as proud as we are about where our “kids” go when they leave us, our goal is not about where they end up. It is about giving these kids a little bit of normalcy they otherwise might not get.
To learn more about our work in service to children and youth in Montgomery County, please click here.
Board of Directors
Leslie ShedlinPresident
Leslie Shedlin is an attorney with over twenty five years of experience in the area of child abuse and neglect. Ms. Shedlin’s work includes litigation, advocacy and training.
Agnes LeshnerSecretary
Agnes Leshner is a psychologist and family therapist who served for over 25 years as the director of Montgomery County Child Welfare Services. Ms. Leshner has a Masters degree in Psychology and has extensive experience working with children, youth and families.
Ronna CookTreasurer
Ronna Cook is an independent research consultant focusing on social-services and early childhood education programs. Ms. Cook has Masters Degrees in both social work and special education with emotionally disturbed children.
Susan Gardner has 18 years of experience doing health related research and 15 years in a management position at the Food and Drug Administration. Dr. Gardner has a Ph.D in Medical Sociology.
Alan Kraut is a developmental psychologist with over 40 years’ experience on the faculty of Virginia Tech, as senior staff at the American Psychological Association, Executive Director of the Association for Psychological Science, and currently, as Executive Director of the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System. Dr. Kraut also served on the Board of Tree House, Montgomery County’s Child Advocacy Center for abused and neglected children.
A retired Child Welfare Services Supervisor, Cynde Burgess is a Licensed Certified Social Worker-Clinical with over 30 years of experience serving children, youth and families of Montgomery County. With an expertise in transitioning youth services, Ms. Cynde worked with her team to empower youth and to help them develop the vital skills necessary to achieve their educational and employment goals and to live independently. She is currently a psychotherapist in private practice.
CONTACT INFORMATION
4Montgomery’s Kids
10421 Motor City Drive
PO Box 34864
Bethesda MD, 20817
info@4montgomeryskids.org
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How Can I Get Involved?
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