The Mockingbird Society 2014
Winter Newsletter
Dear Friends, This is the time of year when The Mockingbird Society is abuzz with activity. Our youth advocates recently voted to approve a youth-driven advocacy agenda with Extended Foster Care as their lead priority. Our policy team is actively meeting with policymakers across local and state governments to ensure Mockingbird’s priorities of safe housing and support for adolescent programs are advanced. And our family programs are celebrating the success of launching five new Mockingbird Family Model Constellations in Washington – with more to come! In addition, our Board of Directors is busy making strategic decisions about the future of Mockingbird. As most of you know, we are moving towards a leadership transition in mid-2015.
Board President Hickory Gateless and Jim Theofelis with youth speakers at Mockingbird’s 8th Annual Benefit Luncheon.
The board is also revising our mission statement to recognize our efforts to improve the lives of youth affected by homelessness, as well as foster care.
Our work seemingly never slows down. But we are honored to be trusted by so many to ensure that our foster care system is the best it can be, and that our youth always have a safe place to call home. Thank you for your unwavering support. We wish you a warm and joyous holiday season. With gratitude,
Jim Theofelis Executive Director and Founder
Hickory Gateless Board President
We are honored to be trusted by so many to ensure that our foster care system is the best it can be, and that our youth always have a safe place to call home.
The Mockingbird Society’s 2014 Board of Directors Officers Hickory M. Gateless, President Attorney & Community Volunteer Kim A. Justice, Vice President Washington State Budget & Policy Center
Amy Poley, Secretary Healthcare Realty Jennifer Krigbaum, Treasurer 2020 Development Company LLC
Members Stephanie M. Allen iWorkWise
Jana Heyd Society of Counsel
Yossi Banai Microsoft Corporation
Lisa Matchette Community Volunteer
Jenna Boitano Community Volunteer
John Nevelle Expeditors International
Elise B. Chayet Harborview Medical Center
Carol Wood Community Volunteer
Shanon Doolittle Shanon Doolittle + Co.
Robert D. Wyman Jr. University of Washington School of Law
Chris Duff, CPA Microsoft Corporation Kimberly Eiring, CPA Mutual Materials
Jim Theofelis, Executive Director (non-voting) The Mockingbird Society
J. Camille Fisher Perkins Coie LLP
INVEST IN CHILDREN, Y O U T H & FA M I L I E S T O D AY ! The Mockingbird Society relies on forward-thinking supporters like you! Your year-end gift will help our organization remain a respected and independent voice for reform. We advocate for policies, programs, and practices that benefit more than 15,000 children, youth, and families impacted by foster care and youth homelessness. Please support our year-round advocacy efforts! Make a contribution in the enclosed envelope or donate online at www.mockingbirdsociety.org
New Youth Homelessness Training Offers a Firsthand Perspective The Mockingbird Society’s new Youth Advocates Ending Homelessness program has had a busy year. Through the first nine months of 2014, the program has engaged more than 90 youth. A program highlight was the launch of a new training called Stories of Youth Homelessness, which is conducted by youth advocates for community partners. The training aims to change perceptions people may have about homeless young adults through empathy-building. The training shares some of the complex real-life scenarios youth face and asks participants to consider what they would do in those situations. One question asks participants to consider whether they would rather steal from a corner store or eat food from a dumpster. Another activity has participants consider what possessions they would take, and which they would give up, should they become homeless and be forced to live with only the items which can fit in a backpack. Mockingbird youth recently conducted the training for dozens of librarians across King County, who expressed how grateful they were to have a new perspective. Many homeless youth rely on libraries as their connection to technology and as a safe place to get respite from the streets.
Lamar Campbell, a young leader in the Youth Advocates Ending Homelessness program, is helping to change the way people think about the choices homeless youth are forced to make.
Lead advocacy priorities The 2015 legislative session is approaching quickly and The Mockingbird Society’s policy team is gearing up for what is expected to be a long and difficult session. A significant gap between state revenues and expenses continues, which will force the legislature to make difficult funding decisions. Mockingbird’s priorities were cemented in November when our Mockingbird Youth Network and Board of Directors endorsed our advocacy agenda. Extended Foster Care: Youth in care with significant medical conditions are currently the ONLY group that does not qualify for the Extended Foster Care program. Help us ensure the most vulnerable of the vulnerable receive the support they need to avoid homelessness at age 18.
Homeless Youth Act: Create an office of homeless youth programs—one of the first of its kind in the nation—that will help ensure youth experiencing homelessness across the state have the support they need.
Adolescent & Family Services: Protect critical funding for Street Youth Services, Hope Centers and other key programs for vulnerable youth and young adults.
Turning the Tables in the Classroom: Mockingbird Youth in Action When the young people involved in Mockingbird’s youth programs show up to Professor Lisa Kelly’s University of Washington Law Clinic, they aren’t there to learn. They are there to teach – by helping future lawyers learn how to interact respectfully with youth. Mockingbird Youth Network participants like Jessica, age 23, offer law students the chance to engage in mock interviews. With eight years of foster and kinship care experience, Jessica knows what it’s like to be a “client,” and she offers valuable feedback on how law students can engage with youth in an empathetic way.
Jessica added that questions can trigger many emotions, but through practice, she feels the law students are better prepared. “The clinic took me back to the other side of those experiences and really made me appreciate the practice and work UW Law is putting in to help ensure their students can be culturally and socially competent when it comes to working with foster youth.”
This year, Jessica and her peers in Mockingbird’s youth programs, the Mockingbird Youth Network and Youth Advocates Ending Homelessness, have conducted Jessica, right, shares her experiences with Professor Lisa Kelly and law student Amy Wang at the University of Washington more than 25 trainings to help our Law Clinic. community’s service providers effectively and respectfully work with those affected by foster care or homelessness. “Many are unfamiliar with the trauma many youth go through To request a training, please contact us at in foster care. We offer the students the chance to interview youthprograms@mockingbirdsociety.org or call 206.323.5437. us and learn from our perspective, our feedback, and our advice on how they can interact with youth.”
Results by the Numbers through Third Quarter
399
7.6
93%
92
65%
5
173
96%
47
Youth who participated in Mockingbird Youth Network. The MYN brings together youth in a positive, peer environment.
Youth who participated our Youth Advocates Ending Homelessness program.
Youth who participated in youth programs leadership trainings. Trainings are an important part of developing advocacy skills.
Average number of foster care placements experienced by our youth while in care.
of Foster Youth and Alumni Leadership Summit participants who have experienced homelessness.
of Summit participants think that, through their work with Mockingbird, they are acting as positive role models to their peers.
of Summit participants who feel empowered by helping make changes to the system.
New Mockingbird Family Model Constellations launched in 2014 in partnership with DSHS Children’s Administration.
Washington families served by the Mockingbird Family Model.
The New Era of Mockingbird Family Model Support Diana Hardwick-Smith spent 11 years as a single mom. After meeting her husband Pete, they expanded their family to include four boys in foster care, each of whom they later adopted. So after raising seven kids, you might think Diana and Pete were ready to slow down. Think again.
Diana Hardwick-Smith (center) on being a foster parent: “It is always challenging to be a foster parent. Being a Hub Home provider allows me to share my experience to make it easier on other foster parents. I see such a sense of community in the Mockingbird Family Model.”
Their family is among a team of Hub Home parents that have signed up to lead five new Mockingbird Family Model Constellations in Shoreline, Smokey Point, Kent, Bellingham and Carnation. These experienced foster parents join three other Constellations in Western Washington. Their mission? To support new and existing foster parents by providing respite care, monthly trainings, and a range of services designed to give foster parents added support to care for kids! Additional planning is underway to launch another 10 Mockingbird Family Model Constellations in Pierce County with support from private funders. The ultimate goal is to conduct an evaluation that compares outcomes from MFM-supported families to those in traditional foster care. Once conducted, Mockingbird is confident policymakers will agree that our state can improve foster care outcomes for children, youth, and families.
A place where every child feels wanted, loved, and supported There is no question foster care can be lonely. Patrice, found the Constellation gave her motivation to turn her who has been in foster care since birth, knows all too well. life around. “I was one of the older kids and the other kids She experienced nine different home placements before in the Constellation looked up to me. I was able to share moving in with foster parent my story and it helped them and me.” Anne Travis-Barker at age 9. Before that, Patrice felt unwanted, Patrice, now 21, is studying full-time unloved, and on her own. Patrice to become a surgery technician. She found hope and love with Ms. is a proud mother of a 17-month Anne, who taught her how to old daughter. Despite aging out of become a better person and to foster care, Patrice still attends all find hope in herself. Patrice’s the Constellation meetings and stays circle of support grew larger and involved by helping Ms. Anne and stronger when Ms. Anne became mentoring Constellation youth. part of a Mockingbird Family Model Constellation as a Hub When asked what she would say to Home parent. other youth in foster care, Patrice Patrice stays involved with her local Mockingbird Family Model Constellation and mentors youth says, “Being in foster care is not a participating in the program. “Having so many other kids around bad thing. Sometimes we have to who were also in foster care made experience certain things so that we me feel more comfortable. I didn’t feel like the outcast,” can find out who we really are. This made me find out who Patrice says. Life didn’t change overnight for her, but she I am and that I am loved.”
OUR VISION We are dedicated to building world-class systems that ensure the care, support, and resources necessary for children, youth, and families to thrive.
OUR MISSION To improve foster care and end youth homelessness.
www.mockingbirdsociety.org 206.323.5437 Connect with us:
Please help us stop duplicate mailings. If your household receives more than one copy, please contact Kerri Martinez at kerri@mockingbirdsociety.org.
Foster youth from across the state advocating in Olympia at Youth Advocacy Day.
Engage. Connect. Advocate. YOUTH ADVOCACY DAY, 2015 Show your support for vulnerable youth impacted by foster care or homelessness by joining us for Youth Advocacy Day in Olympia! Mockingbird supporters are invited to join youth in visiting elected leaders to encourage support of our legislative agenda. Feel inspired while exercising your civic duty along with our youth! February 27, 2015 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. State Capitol, Olympia, WA All ages welcome! RSVP or questions? Contact Kerri Martinez: 206.407.2190 or kerri@mockingbirdsociety.org.
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