Foster parents honored by agency

Baldriges retire after 20 years serving county children

Teresa Simpson, GAZETTE REPORTER | Oct 06, 20220

Teresa Simpson | The Gazette count

Area Department of Children, Families and Youth Administrator Erik Larson, left, Region No. 1 Administrator Jeff Kincaid, second from left, and Deputy Regional Administrator Rob Larson, right, recognize Barb Scheffler who is retiring after working 34 years with the agency.

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COLFAX - Two county residents were honored Sept. 24 for their years of service as foster parents.

The state Department of Children Families and Youth honored Gregg and Mary Baldrige of Pullman on Tuesday, Sept. 25, for their 20 years of foster parenting children and teenagers of Whitman County.

The agency also honored Barb Sheffler, who is retiring after 34 years working for the agency.

"I've held a lot of different roles," Sheffler said. She is a licensed foster parent in Washington.

Supervising for 10 years, she noted that, "Trauma work is hard."

The Baldriges first became licensed in 2002,...