In Memory of Craig Foster

Some months back, I was at my wits’ end in exasperation. Despite providing DFCS with the proper documentation, signed consent to treat, and estimate of costs, my foster child’s dental surgery to remove wisdom teeth was neither scheduled nor approved. Despite my child’s caseworker indicating the removal was set, Franklin Dental in Smyrna provided an unexpected fill-in. If you think you know my chagrin, I encourage you to inquire with my husband, whose patience was exhausted by the end of this charade or my colleague in Virginia, who was kind enough to have our check-in via phone with the dentist’s office’s parking lot in the back because it was somehow quieter than the office itself. As an aside, I would encourage the proprietors of Franklin Dental to revisit their considerations of cleanliness, timeliness, professionalism, and courtesy. After the birth certificate fiasco in the winter/ spring, and now missing the opportunity to have wisdom teeth removed during the summer because DFCS dropped the ball again, I reached out to Commissioner Broce. I requested that I be trained as a caseworker. I was encouraged to speak with her Chief of Staff, Craig Foster.

He gave me a call. He caught me while I was in the midst of working on some things within Quorum, and he was familiar with the system. He had worked with it while in the Governor’s Office. The common professional ground probably helped me to demonstrate that I was sincere in not looking for a job, I’m not looking to be compensated in any way, I was willing (and am still willing) to sign a nondisclosure agreement, and I’m happy to indemnify the Department. All I want is to understand the system to better provide for the kid in my care (FK). If I can make it happen, by the end of my life there will be multiple kids who have been in my care. 

Mr. Foster and I spoke for an hour, give or take.  He told me “this is a very unorthodox request” and I agreed and told him I was a very unorthodox person. 🙂

Mr. Foster understood wanting to do the best for your child wholeheartedly. And while he thought the request was unusual, it was clear he understood I was sincere and tentatively agreed. He needed to “run it by a few folks” and told me he’d get back to me. He called me a week later, just to update me that he hadn’t forgotten about me. His HR person was on vacation, and wanted to get their ok before giving me the go ahead. 

You can’t imagine my shock to learn of Mr. Foster’s death last Friday. We aren’t that far apart in age.

For whatever it is worth, I just wanted to share that this rather busy and powerful man took the time to consider my strange request- a woman he didn’t know from Adam’s house cat and who frankly has written pointed posts about his current and previous boss. He took me seriously though, and seemingly worked to make it happen. I have been meaning to call him back for weeks, but life and other things with FK have gotten in the way. I regret I didn’t follow up and thank him again for his work on my behalf. 

It meant a tremendous amount to me to be heard, for someone to care, and for him to take his time with me. These are the marks of a public servant, and from all I can tell, Craig Foster was one. I share that because while many more important people than me will speak of him and for him, I hope his family knows that he treated random irate strangers with a kindness and level of public service that was heartwarming and meaningful. 

I wish we had more Craig Fosters in Georgia. His passing is a loss for us all.

His obituary has been shared by the Governor. I would like to share the GoFundMe page that has been organized for his own son’s college fund. Dear reader, I hope you’ll consider donating in Mr. Foster’s memory. While only monetary, I hope that donations to this fund illustrate to his family what a significant mark Mr. Foster made on Georgia and the world around him. May this be the foundation that gives his son the opportunity to continue in his father’s legacy of kindness.