Seattle’s Child “The Unsung Heroes Issue” May/June 2025 by seattleschild

HEROES unsung

FOSTERING PARENTS

KIN CARING FOR KIDS

PAYING FOSTER CARE SUPPORT FORWARD

PROVIDING RESPITE FOR FOSTER PARENTS

www.hopelink.org/events/

NEIGHBORHOOD FAIR

May/June 2025 // Issue 511

“Seattle is my town. I know this city inside and out… or so I thought until I had kids.”

Seattle’s Child is your guide to getting to know your city all over again. Finding things to do, places to eat, and how to get around — it’s a whole new ballgame with kids in tow. We’re interested in how parents make homes in a space-challenged urban environment, how families create community, and what parents are really talking about. Seattle’s Child reflects real Washington families and their broad range of parenting experiences.

One parent’s approach to raising independent kids 3

»What Parents Are Talking About

Standing with immigrant families

CATALINA VELASQUEZ

I am vividly aware of how intertwined my personal journey is with the collective struggle of immigrant communities across Washington. When I entered the U.S. at age 14, my family migrated after witnessing violent situations including a kidnapping attempt and a shooting. As

a young adolescent, my parents were detained and deported, preventing me from hugging them for 15 years. Now, as a transgender feminist advocate and executive director of the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network (WAISN), the largest immigrant-led coalition in Washington state, I witness

daily how history repeats itself with brutal efficiency under a renewed deportation agenda, as well as the power of community solidarity to resist it.

The Crisis Unfolding in Our Communities

The reality facing undocumented families in King County is stark and increasingly dangerous. Washington is home to approximately 234,000 undocumented parents, 17,000 of whom

reside with at least one non-U.S. citizen child. These families now live in constant fear, with children afraid to go to school, parents afraid to seek medical care, and entire communities retreating into the shadows. Since President Trump’s inauguration, WAISN has received a threefold increase in calls to our Deportation Defense Hotline. Families contact us in cri-

WATERLAND ARCADE

one of the largest collections of classic arcade games in Washington, unlimited play with admission.

OPEN MON-SAT 12PM-11PM SUNDAYS: RENT THE ENTIRE ARCADE FOR YOUR PARTY

«What

Parents Are Talking About

sis, reporting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at their doors and loved ones disappeared into detention facilities. The executive orders authorizing “expedited removal” of immigrants and permitting arrests in previously protected spaces like churches and schools have shattered what little security our communities had managed to build.

It’s critical to understand what children in immigrant families are experiencing. Children of all ages are exhibiting symptoms of severe trauma: nightmares, anxiety, and withdrawal from social activities. Some are taking on adult responsibilities, such as acting as translators and navigators for their families through complex legal systems and even developing contingency plans for who will care for them if their parents disappear. Children cannot learn or thrive when they’re consumed by fear for their family’s survival.

I recently spoke with a mother of three in King County whose husband was detained during a workplace detention. Her youngest child, just five years old, now refuses to let her leave for work, clinging to her legs and crying that “the bad people might take you too.”

This is not simply an immigration enforcement strategy — it is a systematic assault on human dignity. We must forcefully reject any narrative that frames migration as invasion and immigrants as criminals. Instead, we must recognize and uplift our truth that migration is a human right and immigrants are bearers of knowledge, resilience, and community wisdom.

A Call to Action for Seattle Parents

At WAISN, we are responding to this crisis through collective care and community power. Our Deportation Defense Hotline provides emergency support, legal referrals, and rapid response coordina-

tion when ICE is conducting operations, and our Fair Fight Bond Fund assists Washington immigrants in detention. Perhaps most importantly, we are creating spaces of mutual aid and solidarity where immigrant communities can gather in safety, share resources, and build collective power.

I invite you to consider how you might stand in solidarity with immigrant families in your community. Here are concrete ways to help:

1. Talk to your children: Help them understand what their immigrant peers might be experiencing and how to be supportive friends.

2. Advocate for stronger state policies: Contact your representatives to support the Keep Washington Working Act and other legislation that protects immigrant communities.

3. Join our rapid response networks: Community witnesses provide crucial support to families during immigration enforcement actions. Attend our upcoming Know Your Rights with ICE virtual training on Thursday, May 8, at 6–8 p.m. and consider hosting a watch party. Register at 3shorturl.at/QCl7j

4. Support WAISN’s work financially: Our Deportation Defense Hotline and Fair Fight Bond Fund operate entirely on donations. Even small monthly contributions sustain these vital services.

5. Contact WAISN to report immigration activity Monday to Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. through the WAISN Deportation Defense at 1-844-724-3737. Our work is about creating a courageous, nurturing world where families can remain together in dignity, and where all children can grow up without fear. Join us in making that vision real.

ABOUT THE WRITER

Catalina Velasquez is executive director of the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network (WAISN) and is a social impact strategist and movement builder.

» Dad Next Door

A little encouragement from across the fence

by JEFF LEE, MD

What kids do best

I went for a run this morning at our local middle school. There was a youth soccer game in progress on the field in the middle of the track and a couple of little boys were tussling on the sidelines. At first, I thought they were fighting, but as I got closer it became clear that what I had mistaken for cries of distress were actually squeals of delight. They couldn’t have been much older than three, yet apparently they had just invented the funnest game in the history of funness. It went something like this:

Step 1: Grab your friend in a tight bear hug.

Step 2: Wiggle around in a random and increasingly violent fashion, while maintaining your embrace and screaming at the top of your lungs.

Step 3: Lose your balance and tumble to the ground, laughing hysterically.

Step 4: Take the minimum amount of time necessary to catch your breath, then spring back to your feet.

Step 5: Repeat.

I had to stop my run just to watch them. Seldom have I seen such exuberant, inextinguishable glee emanating from another human being — much less two. I can’t recall any personal experience, at least not with my fading middle-aged memory, that has even come close. And when I look at my life right now, it feels like a Soviet-era documentary compared to the bliss-riot that was unfolding on that field right before my eyes.

It led me to one undeniable conclusion: grown-ups are bad at play. What passes for play in adults is kind of sad. Not that there’s anything wrong with book groups, or dinner parties, or fantasy football leagues. They all have their place. It’s just that real play — the kind two little boys make up while they’re not watching their older brothers play soccer, is so much more impressive.

Let’s consider the true genius of the “Hug-Wiggle-Plop” game. First of all, it’s entirely original. There’s nothing like novelty to amp up the dopamine hit in any activity. Also, it’s accessible to everyone. You don’t have to buy an Xbox or a PlayStation. You don’t have to pay a registration fee. You don’t need private lessons, or a new set of expensive gear that you’re going to outgrow in three months. All you need is a willing co-wiggler and a landing surface

a little softer than concrete.

Another advantage is that it doesn’t have to be entered into your calendar with precisely predetermined start and end times. You just do it when you feel like it, and you stop when you run out of wiggle.

So let’s review: it’s cheap, it’s inclusive, it’s social, it’s creative, and it’s spontaneous. And, oh yeah — it’s really, really, really fun!

I’ve heard so many parents complain that kids don’t seem to just play anymore. Well, who’s bleeping fault do you think that is? Who’s signing them up for day camps and summer classes and after-school programs? Who’s planning out their play dates, and scheduling their activities down to the nearest quarter of an hour? Who’s making kids’ lives look more and more like grown-ups’ lives, and kid activities look more and more like grown-up pastimes? Somehow, I don’t think it’s the kids.

Maybe it’s time we put play back into the hands of the real experts. As a matter of fact, maybe we should consider hiring them as consultants. For your next corporate retreat, why not bring in the groundbreaking design team behind “Hug-Wiggle-Plop?” Can’t you just imagine them working with Harold in sales, or Janice in accounting?

“Okay, can you explain the wiggle part again?”

“You just wiggle — like this.”

“Like this?”

“Yeah. But don’t make that face.”

“What face?”

“That face.”

“This is the only face I know how to make.”

“Okay. Then just wiggle more.”

I predict Q3 earnings would skyrocket.

On the other hand, I’m not sure I want to adulterate kids’ play with, you know, adults. Maybe the best thing would be to just leave them alone. Put them out in the sunshine, on a grassy field, and make believe you aren’t watching them.

But pay attention. They know things we forgot a long time ago, and if we give them the time and the freedom to do what they do best, they’ll show us the way.

ABOUT OUR COLUMNIST

Jeff Lee hugs, wiggles and plops, though not necessarily in that order, in Seattle, WA.

»ToolBox

What every parent needs to have on hand

Protect kids with the HPV vaccine

What parents need to know

by DR. SUSANNA BLOCK

We all seem to be navigating a lot out there right now. One place I can help parents navigate is with science-based medical information about the HPV vaccine. It’s so important to protect our children from HPV because doing so can protect them from cancers caused by some types of the virus. Let’s talk about HPV and clear up some misconceptions about this cancer-preventing vaccine.

HPV: What it is, why it’s dangerous HPV is a common group of viruses that at some point almost every person will get. Most will never know they have it, but other times, the immune system can’t fight it off. Eventually, some strains of the virus can directly cause cancer, such as cervical and vaginal cancer.

HPV causes approximately 36,000 cases of cancer in the U.S. each year. Globally, HPV is responsible for 690,000 new cancer cases and 310,000 cervical cancer deaths annually. This is heartbreaking because many of the deaths are preventable.

We can protect our children — boys and girls — against these kinds of HPVcaused cancers with the HPV vaccine. In fact, within the first 12 years of the U.S. vaccination program, HPV infections decreased by 88% in 14- to 19-year-olds and by 81% in 20- to 24-year-olds due to direct vaccine effects and herd immunity.

HPV vaccine: Who needs it, and when

The HPV vaccine is recommended for both boys and

girls, as anyone can get HPV or transmit it. The vaccine is recommended between the ages of 9 and 12. Research also shows that the vaccine seems to work better with preteen immune systems. HPV can be transmitted by many kinds of intimate exploration, not just through bodily fluids or intercourse. It’s best to get the vaccine before being exposed to HPV.

HPV vaccination does not affect people’s reproduction or fertility. But cancer from HPV does affect reproductive health and, in some cases, can lead to infertility. With HPV vaccination, we are trying to avoid these cancers and the risks that go along with them.

There are 30 years of research tracking the HPV vaccine’s effects, showing it is safe and effective to use. This includes clinical trials with more than 70,000 people with up to 14 years of follow-up monitoring after vaccination.

This vaccine is used in more than 80 countries around the world with no serious safety concerns.

HPV and the vaccine: more facts

You can become infected with HPV without having intercourse. HPV spreads through skin contact, not through bodily fluids, so many kinds of intimate exploration and contact can lead to HPV. Unfortunately, a person infected with HPV may have no symptoms and spread the infection (and the risk for cancer) without knowing it.

Getting the HPV vaccine is not sending the message to have sex, it’s sending the message to care for our bodies and health. It’s a vaccine that’s about staying healthy over a lifetime, not just at the time it’s recommended to be given. While it may be hard to manage the idea that at some point your children will be sexually

active teens or adults, getting the vaccine at the ages of 9 to 12 can help protect them later in life.

You can find further information on reputable websites like the CDC or by talking to your clinician.

In case you’ve encountered them online or elsewhere, here are a few myths to dispel: the vaccine (Gardasil) has not been banned anywhere, it is not infectious, and it cannot cause cancer.

Getting a cancer-preventing vaccine is like eating well and exercising, it will help keep our bodies healthy over a lifetime.

ABOUT OUR COLUMNIST

Dr. Susanna Block, MD, MPH, is a pediatrician with Kaiser Permanente in Seattle and lives with her family in Queen Anne.

»Romp

Things to do with kids

Let's

Biking to school is a great part of our family routine. My son and I gather bikes, helmets, locks and backpacks, and we’re off. We’re able to stick to mostly quiet routes, and we get off our bikes to cross the one busy intersection. Biking to school allows us to skip the dreaded car drop-off and pick-up lines, and to spend great time together.

There are many reasons to tune up the bikes and roll with kids: It gets you all outside, it’s good for your health, and it’s good for the environment. And there’s no better time to encourage family biking— May is National Bike to School Month, an opportunity to launch a child’s lifelong love of cycling. Just do it

Many schools in Seattle and

throughout Puget Sound have a Bike to School Day on their calendars, but why not make it a month-long family challenge? To get started, consider mapping your route on a weekend test-ride, when it’s quieter and you have more time to find the best way to school.

For my family, biking to school provides an excellent boost to start our day, and the research supports this. According to a study of 20,000 Danish kids ages 5 to CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE > Make bike to school month the

Need inspiration for the treehouse your kids have been begging for? Or just think treehouses are cool? Check out these great structures right here in Puget Sound.

The Treehouse SAMMAMISH

Head to Big Rock Park Central to explore a classic house, suspension bridge, and more. Reservations needed for a free 20-minute visit and should be made at 3sammamish.us before you go.

Pete’s Treefort FALL CITY

No registration needed to visit this amazing fort built at Fall City’s Aroma Coffee Co. The fort’s namesake, Pete Nelson is known far and wide for his builds.

IslandWood Tower and tree houses

BAINBRIDGE ISLAND

3 2 1 4

Yet another reason to head to this beautiful Bainbridge Island learning center: The canopy tower not only gets you in the trees but above them.

Treehouse Point ISSAQUAH

Temple of the Blue Moon, what a name for a treehouse. Then there’s the Upper Pond (you could live here) and the Trillium with its 80 glass panes. These are just a few of the treehouses you’ll find here. One-hour tours for those age 4 and above cost $40 per person. Plan way ahead as tours fill fast at 3treehousepoint.com/ tour.

Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center treehouse BELLEVUE

Not only do children of all ages enjoy hands-on experiences in Mercer Slough’s wetland environment and forest, but this small treehouse lookout provides a great view.

—Cheryl Murfin 5

Orion Baum and his mom, Aimee Verrall, riding to school.

«Romp

19, biking to school increases blood flow to the brain and boosts concentration, which in turn helps kids with their schoolwork.

Bike Ed for every student

If there’s no better time than May to start biking to school, there’s no better place than Seattle.

Next year, Seattle will be the first and “only school district in the United States that will offer bike and pedestrian safety education to every student,” says Lori Dunn, manager of Seattle Public Schools Physical Education and Health Literacy Program. Edmonds School District also offers students bike safety education in PE classes.

“We are arming students with the skills and content knowledge to be safely physically active for a lifetime,” adds Dunn.

Bike groups and programs:

Get out and ride

• Cascade.org: Let’s Go! bike skills and safety class for students from Cascade Bicycle Club.

• Pedalheads.com: Learn to ride and gain advanced skills.

• Bikeworks.org: great youth programs

• Walk, Bike, and Roll Program provides safe ways to get to school. 3shorturl.at/kLU9m

• Bike Bus Resources: Learn to ride to school as a group, a “bike bus.”

3bikebus.world/how-to-start-a-bike-bus

Family cycling events:

• Bicycle Weekends in Seattle: Bike or stroll on car-free blocks between Seward Park and Mount Baker Park’s beach.

3shorturl.at/4HSTT

• Traffic Gardens: An awesome opportunity for cycling practice. 3cascade.org

Returning to a childhood right of passage

For many parents, including myself, biking feels different today than when we were kids.

“When I was young, we biked everywhere and learning to ride was a normal rite

• Seattle Neighborhood Greenways: THE place to find safety resources.

3seattlegreenways.org

• Take bikes camping: Learn more at 3parks.wa.gov.

5 Great biking routes:

• Elliott Bay Trail is a very enjoyable ride at the north end of the Seattle Waterfront, north of the new Overlook Walk.

• Alki Trail offers the classic Seattle skyline from West Seattle.

• Burke-Gilman Trail includes a kid-friendly ride near Seattle’s Golden Gardens.

• Sammamish River Trail extends the Burke-Gilman trail for a daylong ride.

• Interurban Trail stretches 24 miles between Seattle and Everett along the region’s old electric railway.

of passage for many children,” says Paul Tolme, spokesperson for Cascade Bicycle Club.

“But over the decades that changed due to heightened safety concerns and changes in parenting and society.”

To address those changes, and following the lead of

Emerald Ballet Academy presents

&

Seattle and Edmonds school districts, Washington is now partnering with Cascade Bicycle Club to expand bike education to school kids statewide.

Getting started

If getting your kids to bike every day is a hurdle, consider inviting their friends (and their friends’ parents) to join your morning ride.

Biking as a family allows you to model how to ride safely. Put on helmets together and do an ABC Quick Check (air, brakes, chain, and quick release). Here are a few more tips:

• Set cycling ground rules and safety expectations.

• Take it slow — start with short rides, then expand as kids build confidence.

• Involve kids in cycling choices: what color bike do they like, which helmet, what snacks, even what kind of bell.

Don’t stop

So you rode to school in May; what could be better? How about continuing to ride in June and returning to school by bicycle in September? Trick out your bikes as a family, encourage your kids to make their bikes their own, and roll out some exciting, unforgettable adventures over the summer. You’ll be teaching lasting habits for improved health and freedom.

More great family biking

For more awesome options for going for a roll with kids, check out these stories online at 3Seattleschild.com

“10 Bike trails to explore around the Eastside and beyond”

“Great, safe routes to bike or scoot with kids in Seattle”

Nikolas Gaifullin, Principal Dancer of New Orleans Ballet Theatre

Viktoria Titova,

Photography by Olga Dmitrieva

Give Back

Mentor a military child

Are you an active duty or recently retired military service member with time to spare? Consider spending that time as a mentor for kids who have lost a parent or sibling during military service. Applications are now open for Wear blue: run to remember’s Gold Star Youth Mentorship Program, which pairs kids in grades K-12 with adults who provide encouragement, guidance, friendship, and a sense of belonging. Pairs meet at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in DuPont. To apply, visit the official Gold Star Youth Mentorship Program page at 3wearblueruntoremember.org —Cheryl Murfin

Becoming a voice for children »Care

Court

Like many people, I knew I wanted to make a difference in my community, but I didn’t know where to start. Recently it became clear to me that my own life and circumstances offered a direction.

In 2021, my husband was killed by a mentally ill woman. In the time it took to bring her to trial, she gave birth to two children. In my grief and trauma, I couldn’t understand her life experience or circumstances, but my heart ached for her children, knowing that their mom was going to prison. I felt helpless.

Having heard about Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs), the dedicated volunteers who represent the needs of kids and give them a voice in the court system, I decided in March 2025 to take the CASA volunteer training.

I’ll never be involved in the lives of the children whose parent caused my husband’s death, of course. But I know that as a volunteer CASA, my understanding of the life circumstances that lead to such tragedy will grow. I hope I will make a difference in the lives of

Creating communities where kids flourish

the kids I serve, and, in that process, continue my own healing.

There is a great need for CASA volunteers, and the work can be difficult as it may involve abuse, violence, substance use, sexual assault, or mental illness. I do understand the job will require emotional fortitude, but I think the work will be very rewarding.

King County Dependency CASA Dependency CASAs are appointed by a judge to advocate

for the best interests of a child placed in foster care. Their duties include gathering information, facilitating dialogue with all parties, monitoring parent compliance with court orders, and bringing recommended changes to court orders to the judge’s attention.

Michael Griesedieck, program manager for the King County Dependency CASA Program, says the question of if, when and how a child can be safely reunited with their

parent is utmost in mind in a dependency case.

“Our cases can involve allegations of abuse; the risk of harm and neglect is the primary issue in our cases,” Griesedieck says. “Neglect often stems from substance use disorder and untreated mental illness.” Dependency CASAs help the court determine what is in a child’s best interest as parents work to address risks and their underlying causes..

Appointed Special Advocates for kids in King County by RUTH PURCELL photograph by JOSHUA HUSTON

Rachel Caulfield has been a Family Law CASA for two years and serves on the Family Law CASA board of directors.

«Care

Bill McJannet has been a Dependency CASA volunteer for nine years.

“There are many times that a CASA is a key element in helping the child get what they need,” he says. “The big advantage a CASA has is that we can devote more time and attention to each child.” Check out “CASA: What it means to be the voice of a child” at 3Seattleschild.com to learn more about Bill’s experience.

Family Law CASAs

The work of a Family Law CASA is similar to that of a dependency CASA, but is limited to representing children in custody disputes.

Deidre McCormack Martin, executive

director of Family Law CASA, explains the role: “When a parent files a petition in court for the modification of a parenting plan, and the court commissioner sees that this is a high-conflict case with other issues, they will appoint a Family Law CASA to gather additional information for the court to determine what is the best for the child.” This is the CASA role I will provide.

Rachel Caulfield has been a Family Law CASA for two years and

now also serves on the Family Law CASA board of directors.

“The vulnerable children in these situations don’t have any power,” she says. “You are there to be the voice of the children, and represent what is truly in their best interest. They deserve a safe and happy home.”

Becoming a volunteer

Both organizations have a rigorous training program for new volunteers. There is considerable emphasis on inherent bias.

Martin explains it

PA’AKAI

this way: “Potential volunteers need to understand that there are systemic inequities in our society that create the conditions and trauma that prevent some people from being successful. The volunteer needs to understand it’s not a level playing field, and they need to help break the cycle so the children have a better outcome.

“It’s a vulnerable process for the parent,” Martin adds. “Our approach of humility, sensitivity and compassion is important.”

Family Law CASA: 3familylawcasa.org/

Family Law CASA is currently recruiting 25 volunteers to add to its roster of 120.

Bridging a gap

When I reflect on the person who killed my husband, we could not be less alike. She is a much younger, impoverished woman with schizoaffective disorder.

I’m a middle-aged, middle-class, college-educated woman, yet now our lives will forever be intertwined.

Griesedieck says more volunteers are needed. “We currently have 240 kids who are waiting for a CASA,” he says. “Our 200+ volunteers are only able to serve about two-thirds of the children entitled to a CASA.”

WE BRING THE MAY 7 -

I will still worry about her children, but in going through CASA training, I have become hopeful that someone else will be their voice.

The Seattle-based Hunger Intervention Program is looking for hands big and small to join its Wednesday packing parties. Volunteers work in an assembly line style during the parties to assemble packs of shelf-stable foods for those in need at local elementary and middle schools. Packing parties are on one to four monthly Wednesdays from 3:30-5 p.m. All ages are welcome to volunteer, but a guardian must accompany kids under age 14. Learn more at 3hungerintervention. org or by emailing 3zahraa@ hungerintervention.org.

Bill McJannet, a Dependency CASA volunteer for nine years.

Meeting their needs No bright lights, volume down

If you are looking for sensory-friendly outings for a child in your family, you live in the right place. Seattle and its neighboring communities have options for children sensitive to stimuli such as bright lights, loud sounds, and large crowds. Writer Allison Peterson, mom to an autistic child, has curated a list of inclusive live theaters, cinemas, museums, animal viewing opportunities, parks, and more — all committed to providing accommodations that make outings, entertainment, and learning opportunities more accessible. Check out her “Guide to sensory-friendly outings around the Seattle area” online at 3Seattleschild.com.

»Inclusion

Help and hope for students with disabilities

Jana Parker’s journey into education advocacy began in 2017 after years of struggling to get adequate support from her eldest son’s Seattle school, following his mental health breakdown. Parker says she learned a lot about the “complicated maze” of the U.S. education system in that long process.

“As an immigrant with English as a second language and as a person with disabilities and a medical background, I felt like it would be meaningful to help others and share the knowledge I’ve gained,” says Parker, who is now president of the Seattle Special Education Parent Teacher Student Association (SSEPTSA), a district-wide nonprofit organization that supports and advocates for students with disabilities in Seattle Public Schools.

Soon after she learned about the group, Parker got involved, eventually joining the SSEPTSA board.

“Having a children’s advocacy org right in my community inspired me to volunteer and serve, because I kept hearing from other parents that they were going through the same struggles as my family did and I thought it was completely unnecessary,” Parker says.

We asked Parker to tell us about the organization’s work with parents, students, and educators and in support of students with disabilities.

Seattle’s Child (SC): Tell us more about Seattle Special Education PTSA.

Jana Parker: We are a part of the Washington State Parent Teacher Association (WSPTA) and we are all-volunteer, relying primarily on donations to support our work. We support all students with disabilities, whether formally identified

A chat with the president of Seattle Special Education PTSA by CHERYL MURFIN photograph by JOSHUA HUSTON Supporting

Jana Parker, an advocate for students with disabilities in Seattle Public Schools.

«Inclusion

and supported by the school district or not.

SC: What does that support look like?

Parker: We advocate for individual students and systemic change and help families navigate the complex and often overwhelming education system by sharing information, resources, and guidance. Educating the community, helping families know their rights, and advocating for their students is essential for making informed decisions.

Without the knowledge or the help of an education advocate, navigating special education laws and policies can feel impossible. Unfortunately, the state does not provide support for education advocates — this is where we step in. As an immigrant, I had never heard of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) or other laws protecting people with disabilities until my own child needed support. Only then did I realize that what the law requires is not always reflected in the practices of public schools.

We also amplify student voices. Many disabled students are not yet able to effectively self-advocate.

SC: How do you work toward improving education for students with disabilities?

Parker: We push for systemic change at both the district and state levels. IDEA guarantees a free and appropriate public education for children with disabilities, while protecting the rights of students and parents. However, the education system remains deeply flawed — IDEA is underfunded and has not been updated since 2004, despite significant advancements in child development and pedagogy. We work to address these issues by partnering with organizations like The Arc of King County, PAVE, Disability Rights Washington, and the Seattle Education Association, and with lawmakers to pass laws that support students with disabilities. Teachers are often some of the strongest advocates for their students. Yet they too face barriers to providing necessary support. We partner with them and special education staff by sharing information and advocating for their unmet needs.

SC: Tell us about some of the events and resources you offer parents.

Parker: We publish the Guide to Special Education as well as offer free, ASL-assisted informational events where families can connect. We don’t charge for events — we want to reach those families that need us the most

Learn more To learn more about the Seattle Special Education PTSA and its 2025 legislative priorities, go to 3seattlespecialeducation ptsa.org or email the organization at 3hello@seattlespecial educationptsa.org.

and make our events accessible to all. Events include:

• The annual Soft Landing event welcomes families new to the district and invites them to ask questions, share ideas, and begin learning about special education in Seattle.

• Sip & Chats meetups bring families together to connect, celebrate their children’s successes, and exchange information and experiences.

• Our annual legislative advocacy workshop is a collaboration with The Arc of King County.

• Monthly general membership meetings are open to everyone — no membership is required. They feature a variety of guest speakers and experts. Families and educators alike consistently report that these sessions provide invaluable knowledge.

SC: What are you focused on when it comes to legislative advocacy?

Parker: Our organization has been an active participant in the legislative advocacy effort to remove the cap on how many children with disabilities get their educations funded by the state. Our main focus is on inclusion: appropriate, timely identification of students with disabilities; equitable access to education and resources; addressing the student mental health crisis; and increasing equitable family engagement.

SC: What do you most want parents to know?

Parker: Disability does not exist in isolation. The barriers students face are compounded by intersecting identities such as race, immigration status, language, and socioeconomic background. Too often, students of color, immigrant families, and multilingual learners experience systemic discrimination and exclusion, further limiting their access to an equitable education. Addressing these disparities requires more than policy changes — it demands a collective commitment to dismantling ableism and other forms of oppression within our schools.

5 tips to prepare a nervous child for a doctor visit or hospital trip

BY JULIE HANSON

Try to answer any questions your child has about the upcoming visit. One of these questions might be: “Why?” (A totally fair question, by the way, Bishop says.)

If the child says, “But I’m not sick!” and wonders why this is necessary, explain that it’s important to go to the doctor to keep your body working well or, as Bishop puts it, “to make sure your body is doing its job, growing properly and staying healthy and strong.”

(Parents, if you need any more persuading, know that a doctor will check developmental milestones and can notice issues that parents might not see, things that can best be dealt with when caught early.)

2 Bring an activity

This serves several purposes, Bishop explains. You can keep your child occupied during the inevitable wait times, and a familiar distraction can help keep nerves under control. What to bring? A book, game, stuffed animal, electronic device… something portable, familiar and fun to help keep small hands and curious minds busy.

3 Have a plan

To the extent possible, know what the visit is likely to involve. (This of course is easier with a checkup than, say, an unexpected trip to urgent care.) Kids, naturally, will want to know if there will be shots. You might as well be upfront with them, although sometimes you’ll have to answer, “I don’t know.”

Beyond that, some practical considerations: Will the child sit on your lap, or independently? Would they like you to hold their hand? “Make a game plan,” Bishop says.

If you know that a potentially painful or uncomfortable procedure will happen, know the options for pain management. Mary Bridge Children’s clinicians sometimes use a device called Buzzy that delivers vibration and cold to help reduce pain – during injections, for example.

4 Ask for a demonstration

If your child is uneasy about having their blood pressure or temperature taken, or their heart listened to, ask the practitioner to take your vital signs ﬁrst. “The parent can be an example,” Bishop explains. “Then the child can see that the stethoscope isn’t scary or threatening.”

5 Speaking of “be an example”…

“Kids read parents’ anxiety,” Bishop says, so try your best to model the calm that you’d like your child to show. Take slow, deep breaths, have a positive attitude and encourage them to do the same.

More to think about

Should you reward your child for a successful doctor visit? Bishop understands the allure of the sticker, toy or trip to get ice cream – and far be it from her to tell you to skip these things!

She’s a bigger fan, though, of positive reinforcement and letting kids know that they are capable. “Tell your child they did a great job. Point out that they were scared, but they got through it!”

She also likes to see parents come at this with a certain matter-of-factness: Getting medical care is a fact of life, something we might not always want to do but from time to time will need to do. So childhood checkups are a form of skill-building.

Providers at Mary Bridge Children’s are here to help this process by giving you and your child useful information and the best possible experience during what can be a difﬁcult time. The goal is to make a medical visit as bearable as possible and – who knows? – maybe even something to look forward to.

HEROES unsung

Caring for kids who aren’t their own

More than 50,000 children (5%) in Washington live in homes where neither parent is present.

About 5,000 of those kids are in the state foster care system. The rest live with grandparents or other kin, says Barb Taylor of Catholic Community Services of Western Washington Kinship Services and the King County Kinship Collaboration.

"We hear the story over and over: My grandchild came to stay with me for what I thought would be a month, and now it's been five years," says Taylor.

While such nonprofits help informal kinship families navigate the costs of caring for a relative child (which are not covered by the state), the state’s Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF) is working to make the process of licensing as a foster parent easier for relatives. The hope? If kin receive the financial and other support available to foster parents, more will step up and thus improve kids’ chances of lifelong success.

According to the research group Child Trends, kids living with relatives have fewer behavioral problems, do better academically and have higher rates of high school graduation, college attendance, and employment as adults than kids in unrelated foster care.

Licensed Foster homes and foster parents: Foster parents undergo a rigorous application process and must pass a background check and home safety visit. They receive monthly payments, referral to services, case management, paid family leave, adoption support, and other benefits. To receive the same benefits, relatives (kinship caregivers) must become licensed foster parents.

Unlicensed, state-appointed kinship caregivers: State-appointed kinship caregivers are not licensed as foster parents but do receive case management and support in adopting a child. They may receive lesser monthly financial support through a "non-needy" Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) grant.

Informal kinship caregivers: These are relatives who care for kids outside the state child welfare system. They don't receive state support to adopt but can apply for TANF and Apple Health (Med-

icaid) and for limited funds from the Kinship Caregivers Support Program (KCSP).

Respite caregivers: Some licensed foster parents are paid to offer time-limited, temporary care of kids while their long-term foster parents take a break for personal or professional reasons.

In this issue, we talk to families who have answered the call to care for children in Washington who, for myriad reasons, cannot live with their parents. Some are doing it as licensed foster parents, others as relatives working hard to keep their family together.

You’ll also hear from a former foster child who has a lot to share about how to help foster kids thrive. And you’ll hear from a leader in foster youth educational support.

Finally, you’ll meet five kinship and foster parents honored in the DCYF’s Unsung Heroes Awards program. In fact, you’ll learn about them in the words of those who nominated them.

All of these families and organizations need and deserve our collective support for the heroic work they do every day with Washington’s most vulnerable kids.

—Cheryl Murfin

LED BY THEIR FAITH to foster

Family of seven includes two active toddlers by MELODY IP photograph by JOSHUA HUSTON

Jason and Abby Low, with their family, including two foster children.

When Abby and Jason Low got married in May 2005, they didn’t foresee that the next 20 years would encompass infertility, adoption, biological births, an interstate relocation, and foster parenting. But over the years, the family’s Christian faith and spirit of service have meant opening their hearts and home — their family now includes five kids.

The Lows adopted their eldest, 14-year-old Micah, when he was 2 weeks old after about three years of trying to conceive. The plan to adopt a second child was interrupted by surprise pregnancies — first with Delanie, now 12, and then Owen, now 8. Even then, fostering was on their radar.

They moved from Torrance, California, to Edmonds in 2021 to be closer to Jason’s brother and his family. A lower cost of living and competitive pay for teachers in the area allowed Jason to leave his job as a youth pastor to be a stay-at-home dad while Abby continued her work as a veteran special education teacher.

Jason’s ability to stay home has helped the family better meet the demands of fostering.

“If we were both working, I think we might have quit [fostering] already,” Jason says.

A SEASON OF CHANGE

The family’s first placement was 1-month-old Alex, now 2. The first week was a haze of feedings, diaper changes, and interrupted sleep. Jason fielded endless phone calls scheduling medical appointments, social worker visits, and check-ins with Olive Crest, the agency that arranged the foster placement. (Note: To protect children’s privacy we are not using their real names in this article).

After 7 ½ months with the Lows, Alex went back to his mom, freeing the Lows up to receive Paul, now 3. But six months later, Alex returned to the Lows, where he and Paul have been since June 2024.

“I can’t count how many times people have said CONTINUED ON PAGE 18 >

PRESCHOOL

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17 >

to us, ‘I could never do it,’ meaning the emotional rollercoaster of loving a child as your own and then having to say goodbye,” Jason says. “I think of the emotional and spiritual suffering that [Jesus] endured for our sake, and I think we see it similarly, where we’re carrying a lot of the burdens and trauma that [the kids] suffered. We’re not necessarily trying to cushion them from it, but love them in the midst of their trauma.

“Their story might end really poorly … and we may feel it’s unjust and make us angry,” Jason adds, “but my faith will be what has to carry me through that.”

FOSTERING SUPPORT AND GENEROSITY

“I CAN’T COUNT HOW MANY TIMES PEOPLE HAVE SAID TO US, ‘I COULD NEVER DO IT,’ MEANING THE EMOTIONAL ROLLERCOASTER OF LOVING A CHILD AS YOUR OWN AND THEN HAVING TO SAY GOODBYE.”

-JASON LOW, FOSTER DAD

Strong connections with family, neighbors, their church, and respite care families have given the Lows an invaluable village. This is essential as they tend to Alex’s medical conditions that require daily support and many doctor appointments, and Paul’s behavioral and emotional issues. Balancing the older kids’ needs is also an ongoing challenge. Occasionally, one parent will stay home with napping littles while the other takes the older kids out. At home, the foster kids mostly spend time upstairs where their bedrooms and common areas are, while the older ones can retreat to their space downstairs. Yet even with this tension of multiple needs, the Lows’ children have fully embraced the toddlers.

“Whenever I need help, and if Jason is gone, Micah is like, ‘I got you, mom,’” Abby says. “It warms my heart because I know they annoy him, and he doesn’t get to do the things that he wants to do.”

Owen says while the littles’ activity level is frustrating, he enjoys always having someone to play with. Micah has similar sentiments. “When they cry and have tantrums, it’s a bit much. But they’re cool, they’re fun,” he says.

Delanie has advice for would-be foster parents: “Be patient because [the kids] have been through a lot, and they’re in a new environment.”

The toddlers’ immense needs require family teamwork, Jason adds:

“All three of our kids have seen the need and joined the effort,” he says. “If [they] look back on this experience and it has helped them to be more selfless, that’s one of the things we really want.”

OUR FOSTER HOME LICENSING EXPERIENCE step-by-step

by JASON LOW

photograph by JOSHUA HUSTON

We knew we’d eventually get our license as a foster family. We were determined. But the journey that began in April 2022 didn’t end until March 2023. It required a measure of endurance we didn’t expect, but certainly laid the groundwork for our fostering experience.

We began by choosing to work with Olive Crest, one of many child placing agencies (CPA) authorized to license foster families in Washington. We chose a CPA — rather than getting licensed through the Washington Department for Children, Youth & Families — for several reasons:

Olive Crest would provide wrap-around support from the beginning of the licensing process until we decided to end our foster care story.

We feared facing the foster care “rollercoaster” without experienced guides committed to seeing us thrive as foster parents.

We wanted partners in our journey who understood our motives and convictions. Here’s the process we went through to become a licensed foster home:

Step 1 - Forms: We received a welcome email from Olive Crest containing seven forms, including a home study application, a financial worksheet, and a statement of faith unique to Olive Crest, a faith-based organization. As we slowly completed those forms, we attended a Foster 101 Orientation. The two-hour zoom presentation provided a broad sense of what it meant to be a foster family.

Step 2 - Training: This step was probably the most demanding. We set aside two weekends for Caregiver Core Training. In 24 hours over four days, we were flooded with all the ins and outs of life as foster parents. We covered procedures, culture, communication, state requirements, and available resources. There were testimonials, videos, role-playing, and case studies. Time and again throughout these days we were assured that we weren’t expect-

ed to remember everything. That made me feel better.

Over the next several months we did more paperwork and completed things like CPR training, background checks, and medical reports. There were also online, self-guided trainings we needed to finish.

Step 3 - Home study: Three months after core training, the person who would write our home study contacted us and scheduled two meetings, one in our home and the other online. Her job was to complete an assessment of our family and our suitability to be foster parents. She interviewed each member of the family individually and then my wife and me together. We discussed our family culture and history. We explained our philosophies on discipline and finances, among other things. We reflected on our childhoods and how our parents raised us. We talked about our faith and how it influences our choices.

Step 4 - Home inspection: As we waited for our application to be sent to and processed by the state, and we scheduled our final home inspection. The checklist included things like smoke alarms, outlet covers, and medication securely stored.

Step 5 - Waiting: We got the news of our licensing approval at the end of March 2023. We had finally reached the finish line of our year-long marathon.

About a week later we said “yes” to our first placement. We’ve been fostering for two years now. Our licensing journey seems ages ago. But when we think of the children placed in our home, jumping through all the hoops was worth it.

LOVE AND CHALLENGE GO hand-in-hand

Committed to making a forever home for their foster child

by MELODY IP

For the first two years that 12-year-old Anna was with her foster family, all family birthdays were celebrated in secret. While Anna stayed in another room, the family would whisper-sing “Happy Birthday” in the kitchen.

“If she knew it was your birthday, she’d throw a tantrum and ruin it for you,” says Granite Falls foster mom Jennifer Christensen, who also has three biological children between 15 and 21. “I thought, wow, it’s really strange that she’s never noticed that nobody has birthdays but her.”

Those early years are still vivid for Christensen as she remembers Anna’s shocking and destructive behaviors that began within an hour of welcoming her home in 2019. But she also equally emphasizes the progress her foster daughter has made since then, largely due to Christensen’s compassion, patience, and grit in finding vital resources for Anna. Today, the Christensens are in the process of adopting Anna.

STRUGGLING THROUGH THE PANDEMIC

The discreet birthday celebrations are just one of the adaptations the Christensens have made since Anna joined the family.

Shortly after Anna’s arrival, COVID shut the world down. This forced Christensen, a preschool teacher, to teach online while also

UNSUNG HEROES

helping her kids navigate virtual schooling. Also, says Christensen, “I’m trapped in a house with somebody who’s violent towards me.

“It was traumatic and challenging … but it really was the best thing for [Anna] because once we got a schedule and figured stuff out, for the first time, she had solid consistency,” she adds. “With her, the tighter the reins, the safer she feels.”

While the older kids attempted to navigate online learning, Anna often threw tantrums lasting for seven hours. In a small house, the disruption was hard to ignore. Yet the older kids pitched in to help, especially while Christensen’s husband worked nights.

“One kid would be writing down every word she said during her tantrums to try to figure out [what she wanted], and another would be marking down the anteceding behavior,” Christensen says, explaining the family’s efforts to understand what Anna needed. “We would take turns listening to her scream.”

SEARCHING FOR SOLUTIONS

Although Anna’s behavior improved at home, she was aggressive with peers and her paraeducator at school and required a private room when she had meltdowns. She ripped out the carpet and painted the room with blood.

Christensen worked hard with the school district to send Anna to the Academy for Precision Learning, a K-12 school in Seattle for neurodivergent students, which has transformed Anna’s behavior at school and at home.

“She’s like a totally different kid,” Christensen says. “I do feel like there’s hope now, whereas for five years, I was like, what am I doing? Getting her out of the district that I’m

'Truly amazing'

CINDY SYLVESTER Sequim

Cindy is my mother-in-law.

Last July, her family of five adopted a 7-year-old girl from the local Jamestown tribe who was relocated here from Oklahoma. Cindy and her husband, Joshua, welcomed her with open arms and tried to comfort her after her many years in foster homes and trauma. Not even four months later,

Cindy’s family was called upon to be emergency, and now long-term, foster parents to their two young grandchildren. Their family has gone through so much change over the past year, and they are trying hard to make everyone feel loved and welcomed.

Cindy is a longtime staff member of the after-school/

working in and into a place that is set up for a child like her really changed her life. Now we’re going through puberty, though.”

Even with Anna’s growth, she still needs certain accommodations. To keep Anna from destroying the carpet, the Christensens’ house now has laminate flooring. Her room is minimally furnished, with furniture bolted to the floors or walls so she can’t wield them as weapons. Alarms on her window and door keep her from getting out unnoticed, since she tries to escape when she gets into a foul mood.

“At first, I was very sad when we had to

childcare program of the Jamestown S’Klallam tribe. She de-

votes long hours to serving the families there, as well as taking

COURTESY PHOTO

take stuff out of the room,” Christensen says. “I just wanted her to have a normal room. Her Court Appointed Special Advocate said, ‘Don’t feel bad because it doesn’t look like what other kids need. She needs simple because it hurts her brain.’ It took me a long time to come to terms that her life is going to be very different from my other three.”

Prior to the Christensens, Anna bounced around to six other families. The Christensens are committed to becoming her forever family.

Today, the Christensens are in the process of adopting Anna.

care of her own children, adopted child and grandchildren. For several years she has learned about and learned from the children she cares for and provides a safe place for all the children she looks after.

She is always encouraging, extremely creative, and always thinking of others. The Jamestown tribe, as well as the Olympic Angels, have been a huge blessing to her and her family over the years, providing food, meals, respite care when needed, and activities for the whole family to do together. Cindy and her family embody the unsung hero name and are truly amazing people.

— Rosalind Sylvester

Jennifer Christensen is a preschool teacher and a foster mom since 2019.

WHEN THEIR DAUGHTER COULD NOT they stepped up

Not everyone takes a challenging experience and turns it into an opportunity to help others.

But Reshell Wilson isn’t like everybody else.

Having raised six children between them, Wilson and her husband, Freddie Wilson, should be enjoying their empty nest, perhaps vacationing. Instead, they’ve been raising their grandkids, 17-year-old Tashaun and 16-year-old Tamia for the past 11 years.

As kinship caregivers, the Wilsons join a community of individuals and families who provide full-time care to children of close family friends or relatives. Wilson has become an unofficial ambassador for her kinship caregiver support group. Having experienced an arduous process to gain legal custody of the grandkids, she advocates for other relatives trying to do the same.

In 2018, Wilson testified in Olympia about her struggles to become a kinship caregiver.

by MELODY IP photograph by JOSHUA HUSTON

“It took me a year [to gain custody} because I had to do it by myself, and I didn’t know the process,” Wilson says. “I’m at the courthouse two, three times a week. They’re giving me stuff, and I don’t turn it in the right way or at the right time.”

Wilson’s testimony to state lawmakers helped win passage of Senate Bill 5651 in 2019. The law created a kinship care legal aid coordinator in the Office of Civil Legal Aid to walk kin through the legal custody process to become kinship caregivers. Two years later, Senate Bill 5151 gave the Department of Children, Youth, & Families go-ahead to expedite the process for kin to become licensed foster parents, and access financial assistance, legal guidance, education support and other benefits available to unrelated foster parents.

Seeing the grandkids with their daughter, who struggled with drugs, alcohol, and schizophrenia — or with strangers — was not an option for the Wilsons. That same stance leads

Reshell and Freddie Wilson, playing a game with their granddaughter Tamia.

Reshell and Freddie Wilson are raising their grandkids

many grandparents or relatives to become kinship caregivers.

However, the decision often requires sacrifices. Money that the Wilsons had saved for retirement went toward buying a new house that would fit the grandkids.

“We were almost $100,000 from paying our old house off, and now we’re about $400,000 in the hole at 60 years old,” Wilson says. “We had to change a lot in our lives.”

The couple has been together since 2003, married since 2016, and have never been on a vacation together. They provided care for Tashaun and Tamia off and on — sometimes weeks or months at a time since both were babies — as their mother struggled with substance abuse. When the kids were younger, their day care often called Reshell at work, asking her to pick up her grandkids due to behavior issues. Yet her supervisors and co-workers were gracious and supportive, even donating clothes, diapers, and milk for the babies.

“WHETHER WE LIKED IT OR NOT, THE KIDS NEEDED US, AND TO HAVE ENOUGH LOVE FOR A LITTLE PERSON TO CHANGE YOUR ENTIRE LIFE, TO TAKE THEM IN AND RAISE THEM AS YOURS — I DON’T THINK ANYONE CAN DO IT BETTER.”

-RESHELL WILSON, KINSHIP CAREGIVER

“It was really hard,” Wilson recalls. “It wasn’t an easy thing to be parents a second time around.”

To make sure their own cups are full, the Wilsons have been part of a marriagecentered church group for the past 20 years. During monthly meetings, the couples discuss marital issues and process them as a group. They also participate in Atlantic Street Center’s Kinship Care Support Group, which is both a resource and source of community for kinship caregivers.

Last year, the family mourned the death of Freddie’s daughter, which triggered destructive behaviors from the grandkids. The couple had to navigate new territory in validating the kids’ pain and anger while discouraging negative behavior. Reshell cites the kinship group as a fount of support, hand-holding, and encouragement by other caregivers who had addressed similar circumstances.

“I truly believe things happen for a reason,” Wilson says. “Whether we liked it or not, the kids needed us, and to have enough love for a little person to change your entire life, to take them in and raise them as yours — I don’t think anyone can do it better. It’s a strong lifetime commitment, and the joy comes when you can smile, they can make you smile, and you can have good times.”

Nonetheless, Wilson jokes, “I foresee them being with me until midnight when they turn 18. I’m, like, ‘You gotta be working or in college, because Papa and I — we’re ready to travel.’”

UNSUNG HEROES 'Unwavering support and dedication'

AURA NEYRA Everett

Aura is an incredible example of parental resiliency and strong social connections. When her 4-year-old granddaughter, Alayah, entered dependency in February of 2024, Aura made the tough decision to leave her life in California and come to Washington in order to provide kinship care for her beloved granddaughter.

Aura’s sister Claudia and their mother Yolanda have been fierce financial and emotional supporters of Aura and Alayah, taking turns coming to Washington for weeks at a time to allow Aura to return home to her other children — including a 16-yearold in high school and a 22-year-old with autism.

Aura balances her own medical needs, the finances of living in two states at once, and the emotional stress and heartbreak of watching her daughter struggle with addiction while missing out on her son’s final high school years. I firmly believe that Aura (as well as Yolanda and Claudia) deserves recognition for her unwavering support and dedication.

She has made tremendous sacrifices and continues demonstrating her commitment by being present and involved in Alayah’s needs. Alayah is so fortunate to have her, and this Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) is grateful to witness their strong bond.

— Ashley Anderson

PAYING IT forward

A former foster youth gives back

by MELODY IP

photograph by JOSHUA HUSTON

Seattle resident Kyle Martinez, 24, became a foster child when he was 15, moving in with his sister and brother-in-law. The couple was in their 20s and had just welcomed a new baby. The placement by the state Department of Children, Youth, & Families (DCYF) removed Martinez from the tumultuous home life he experienced with his parents.

Martinez attended school in Bellevue and started receiving assistance from foster support organizations like Seattle-based Treehouse and the DCYF Independent Living Program. When he turned 18, Martinez moved in with a partner and her family and remained in extended foster care until he aged out of the system at 21.

Today, Martinez is a freelance audiovisual tech and works part-time as a mentor with Route 21. The program connects former foster youth with current youth in care. He is determined to spread the word about the programs that have shaped him — including giving a talk at a Las Vegas educators conference advocating for nationwide replication of the LifeSet program’s comprehensive support for foster kids beyond age 18.

We asked Martinez about his experience as a foster child. Here’s part of that conversation:

Seattle’s Child (SC): How did being a foster youth shape who you are?

Kyle Martinez: When I first started high school, I didn’t really imagine myself doing a whole lot. It wasn’t until there were people in my life who asked about my academics and goals and encouraged me that I felt I had any sense of capability.

A small example was when I was in elementary and middle school, I played a snowboarding game called SSX Tricky, but

I never saw it as a possibility for me to go snowboarding. I didn’t know anyone who snowboarded. My foster dad taught me to be frugal enough to find [equipment], and then Treehouse covered a season pass. It’s not even about making my dreams come true, but more like encouraging me to have a dream in the first place.

SC: Tell us about your work with Route 21.

Martinez: The idea is we’re with [our mentees] until they’re 21 and potentially beyond that. I get to help in this person’s life and model a lot of things. So I’d say being in foster care taught me to dream and it also inspired me to be the one to inspire the next generation of foster youth.

SC: Were there other positive fostering experiences?

Martinez: There were a lot of great things about living with my sister and her husband, but also kind of hard things. They really tried to be present in a lot of ways, but there were a lot of things I just had to do for myself. I had to get around on my own. In my late teens, I had to be very independent and learn how to deal with all my own paperwork and learn how to cut through red tape, specifically being in foster care and working with the state.

One of the biggest things that my foster dad taught me was to utilize my resources to get things for free. There was a wide bank of resources and he encouraged me to seek them out. I asked for tutors when I was struggling in my classes. I figured out what sort of scholarship programs there

Kyle Martinez, shares his experience being a foster child by being a mentor with Route 21.

were at my school. [Now] I’m really good at searching for things. I’m really a stickler for getting stuff used or free.

SC: You also connected with an organization called Juma, offering foster youth employment and skill-building opportunities. Tell us about it.

Martinez: It was my first job, my first experience with making money. The program required us to take financial literacy training, so I learned about credit and the difference between banks and credit unions and different types of financial accounts. We also did a lot of workshops around credit, mock interviews, how to make a resume, and how to build a LinkedIn account.

I was really spoiled by that program because I had employers that really cared about me and taught me my rights as an employee. A lot of people don’t get that at their first job, specifically learning about your rights and encouraging you to stand up for those.

Juma filled the hole in my education that high school should have fulfilled. I have a really rounded education on how to survive as an adult because of Juma.

SC: What advice would you give someone in foster care?

Martinez: There are so many services and programs, especially for people in Washington state and even more so in King County. So definitely find resources and get in contact with an adult who can inspire you to dream and can help serve you for whatever your dreams are.

UNSUNG HEROES

'I couldn't be happier for her'

CHRISTINE GERMAN-MOLA Renton

Christine was 64 years old when we first met. She was trying to enroll her grandson Gio in our Early Head Start program. She had emergency custody of her grandson, who was 16 months old at the time.

I enrolled this family into our program and started to work closely with Christine. Christine is hard of hearing, so meeting in person was a little challenging due to scheduling, but we both managed to work things out. We were able to refer Gio to Kindering because a doctor and Christine had some concerns about his development. Gio started getting services through Kindering. Christine managed to take Gio to all his wellchild exams, dental appointments, and any other doctor visits that he needed.

To support Gio, Christine needed to look for another part-time job. Her journey was not easy, but she never gave up and was never discouraged. At the same time, she was filing for full custody, without hiring a lawyer. Fast forward: She was successful on both. She got a job and gained full custody. Gio completed our program in July 2024, when he turned 3. He was placed on the waiting list to attend the ECEAP program. Christine sometimes sends me updates, and I could not be happier for this family.

—

Esperansa Ocampo Family Circle Learning Center

WHEN FOSTER PARENTS need a rest

Amy Baker provides time away from kids to recharge

by MELODY IP

Amy Baker of South Seattle loves being the fun auntie. When kids visit, they can expect to make pancakes and cookies and create with Play-Doh. What differentiates her from most aun-

ties is that the children who stay with her are in the foster care system — and kids stay with Baker only briefly.

As a respite caregiver, Baker supports full-time foster parents when they need a break — whether they want a breather at home or need a more extended vacation to refresh their compassionate parenting stores.

In 2017, Baker was fully licensed as a foster parent through City Ministries Child Placement Agency (CMCPA). Because she’s licensed, she is able to give other foster parents the flexibility to be off the grid while she has their kids.

“They can turn off their cell phones, they can go camping, and I am fully responsible for the child,” Baker says. Families and respite providers can access a joint calendar for easy scheduling of respite care days.

BALANCING WORK AND RESPITE

Baker has had about 80 respite visits over the past eight years, caring for a total of 11 kids. Two of them were twin 9-year-olds when they first stayed with her; today, they are 17. The twins were eventually adopted, but they still spend time with Auntie Amy.

On rare occasions, she might care for kids for a week or two. But more commonly, kids stay for a weekend, accommodating her weekday job as an accountant.

“Overall, it’s been very rewarding for me,” Baker says. “I haven’t had the typical challenges that a lot of people expect, like major behavior issues or kids trying to run away. When you work with a child placement agency, they know you, and they know what you can handle and what your training is.”

CREATING A FUN AND SAFE HAVEN

Through questionnaires completed by foster parents, Baker learns about the children’s needs, routines, food preferences, and interests. Respite caregivers also undergo extensive training during the licensing process — and through ongoing education — that emphasizes building empathy and understanding behavioral issues related to abuse, trauma, and being in environments with substance abuse. Baker says she’s learned to look past surface behaviors to identify underlying root problems.

As the fun auntie, Baker says she doesn’t have to enforce a routine like a full-time parent would. However, she is attentive to nighttime routines or fears, especially when a child stays with her for the first time. Otherwise, she wants the children to have fun, feel safe and comfortable, and look forward to returning. Dedicated playtime and creating traditions so kids know what to expect and be excited about help to bring that goal to fruition.

“I want it to be something that will

Amy Baker supports fulltime foster parents when they need a break.

provide the foster family support so they don’t feel guilty,” Baker explains. “I think there’s a lot of guilt with needing a break from a kid, so I want the kids to look forward to coming to my house, so it’s a positive thing for everyone.”

Several children have recently told Baker how grateful they are that she sits on the floor and plays with Lego bricks or Play-Doh with them.

“It’s surprising and really cool that it really doesn’t take much,” Baker says. “[Spending time together] can be pretty simple, and the kids have a great time.”

A SEED PLANTED FOR FUTURE CAREGIVING

Baker remembers her parents trying to adopt when she was a child. Even though that fell through, a seed was planted in Baker’s mind to consider caring for a non-related child in her future. As an adult, she worked with children at church and spent many days and nights supporting her best friend, a single mom with 4-year-old twins.

“I THINK THERE’S A LOT OF GUILT WITH NEEDING A BREAK FROM A KID, SO I WANT THE KIDS TO LOOK FORWARD TO COMING TO MY HOUSE, SO IT’S A POSITIVE THING FOR EVERYONE.”

-AMY BAKER, RESPITE CAREGIVER

The seed began sprouting when her church, founded by CMCPA, asked for volunteers to work with foster kids. She began assisting at events, like monthly craft sessions. She also helped with landscaping at the Rose Hill Cottages, a neighborhood developed through donations from Baker’s church to provide affordable housing for foster parents. Baker began building relationships with foster families and became familiar with respite caregiving.

“It was really helpful to ease into it,” Baker says, adding that she volunteered with the agency for three years before becoming licensed. “All those things contributed to helping me be more comfortable around kids and be willing to provide respite care for all ages, including for babies and toddlers. That all just kind of made [respite caregiving] a doable situation.”

UNSUNG HEROES 'A selfless beacon of truth'

CYNTHIA GRAYSON Mukilteo

Cynthia Grayson prevails!

She has been a counselor and child welfare and adoption worker. She has been tireless in developing programs such as supervised visitation, Parents as Teachers, and other services for children who have experienced trauma or have special needs. She’s created a fathers’ network and a kinship mentorship program for African American and Native American families. She has been a stellar individual for change on a statewide level.

As an informal community advocate, she influenced Washington State’s efforts to reduce and eradicate racial disproportionality in the child welfare system.

When I think of Ms.

Grayson, I reflect on a quiet, strong, powerful, selfless beacon for truth, justice, and equity. In the end, all her stamina, compassion, and good work comes back to being present for the grandson she reared first with her husband. She then prevailed in her husband’s honor as a grieving yet attentive widow through her grandson’s formative years. Her grandson is but one of many African American children who are stronger because of her.

However, her tenacity and voice impact all the children Ms. Grayson has touched with her care and vision. It has been three and a half years since I retired from working for Ms. Grayson. Her standards and practices continue to motivate me. Even though she is shy of being in the limelight, it seems important that I nominate Ms. Cynthia Grayson as an Unsung Hero for 2024.

— Linda J. Porter

UNSUNG HEROES

'She gives everything she has'

TIFFANY BUCHANAN

Aberdeen

I have had the pleasure of knowing Tiffany Buchanan for many years.

She is a single mother of five! She is an adoptive mother to four beautiful previous foster children, a current kinship foster parent to a baby sibling of her adopted children, and she works for a transportation company taking foster kids to visits with their parents.

Tiffany has run a group home in Texas with her mother for several years, eventu-

ally adopting nine kids from the foster system between Tiffany and her mother. Tiffany moved to Washington with her children to help a sister here. She currently supervises visits for kids in care. Tiffany has completely wrapped her life around the foster care system and supports kids, parents,

and foster parents in any way she can. She gives everything she has to her children and job and does so with the biggest heart filled with love. Tiffany is truly an unsung hero every day! She is a wonderful person, and I am so proud to call her a friend!

— Alisha Andreason

TREEHOUSE IS built of hope

Creating a village foster youth deserve

by DAWN RAINS

Editor’s Note: Seattle-based Treehouse is a nationally recognized leader in education support for foster youth. We asked Treehouse CEO Dawn Rains to tell us about her organization’s work.

This morning, nearly 5,000 children across our state woke up in foster care. When Child Protective Services intervened, likely at school — most never saw that school again. They left behind their favorite clothing, treasured belongings, and their sense of stability. Many are wondering when or whether they’ll see their mom or siblings again. For some, this is their first foster care placement; for others, it’s their tenth.

Imagine being a young person navigating school amidst that kind of transition, trauma, and loss. Many are forced to change schools when they enter foster care. They leave behind trusted teachers, counselors, and coaches — the very people who might have helped them cope.

They become the “new kid” once again. Records take weeks to transfer, delaying needed special education services. They miss out on extracurriculars because they weren’t there for tryouts. When court dates or therapy sessions interrupt their learning, they fall further behind. And when their trauma manifests into challenging classroom behavior, they are often suspended or expelled. This all sends the message that school is not a place for them.

We know that when youth in foster care do not graduate from high school, the impact can be devastating: poverty, homelessness, and/or incarceration. That’s where Treehouse steps in. We provide critical support to help youth in foster care feel included and empowered in school. By

supplying clothing, shoes, and school supplies, youth can show up feeling confident. Treehouse funds extracurricular and school activities so foster youth can experience the joy of being on a team, participating in a club, or performing on stage, leading to foundational relationships with peers and adult role models.

Treehouse educational advocates work with caregivers, caseworkers, and educators to ensure school records are transferred, educational testing is conducted, and exclusionary discipline is minimized. Our education coaches work directly with 8th to 12th graders to provide the educational stability and

encouragement they need to stay on track to graduate and plan for the future.

These direct interventions, anchored by human connection, are essential to changing the educational trajectory of foster youth, but without changes to the education and foster care systems themselves, our students will continue to face barriers. Treehouse’s leadership and advocacy have helped make Washington laws addressing the educational needs of foster youth some of the strongest in the country.

Our vision is a future where every young person impacted by foster care has what they need to determine their own path and build the life of their dreams. But we can’t achieve this vision alone. Sixty percent of our budget comes from our communities. Even as critical government funding is at risk, we are stretching to keep up with the demand.

Together, we form the village that youth in foster care so desperately need. They are counting on us.

READ THE FULL STORY ON THE WORK OF TREEHOUSE ONLINE AT 3SEATTLESCHILD.COM

CAMP GALLAGHER

Ages 12-18 (family and adult programs also available) 1304 Russell Road SW, Lakebay (888) 658-2230 info@campgallagher.org campgallagher.org

On the shores of Case Inlet in the south Puget Sound, Camp Gallagher is a place where teens, families, and adults embrace nature, friendship, adventure and stewardship while engaging in classic summer camp fun. From working together on the ropes course to learning more about how to paddle a canoe, from trying out new arts and crafts to playing beloved games like gaga ball and 9-square, we give campers both the support and the ﬂexibility they need to surprise themselves.

CAMP ZANIKA LACHE

Ages 6-18

16400 Cedar Brae Road, Leavenworth (509) 663-1609 campzanikalache@gmail.com campﬁrencw.org/camp-zanika

Looking for a summer camp that builds confidence, character, and independence? Camp Zanika Lache offers a safe, supportive overnight camp experience where kids unplug, explore the outdoors, make lifelong friends, and try new adventures—from canoeing, paddleboarding, and archery to ropes courses and campfires. Nestled on Lake Wenatchee, Camp Zanika is ACA accredited and has been creating lasting memories for nearly 100 years. Give your child the gift of growth and fun this summer.

CHARLES WRIGHT ACADEMY SUMMER CAMP

Entering Grades 1-9 7723 Chambers Creek Road West, Tacoma (253) 620-8388 summercamps@charleswright.org charleswright.org/community/camps

Give your child the ultimate Summer Camp experience at Charles Wright Academy. Campers entering grades 1-9 explore and learn in our state-of-the-art athletics, STEM, and art facilities and play in the sun on our maintained forest trails, playgrounds, and ﬁelds. We oﬀer general, specialty, and leadership camps, as well as sports clinics. Camps run weekly June 23-August 8, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., with optional aftercare until 5:30 p.m., and starts at $165/ half-day session.

CONCORDIA SUMMER CAMP

Grades Preschool-5 7040 36th NE, Seattle (206) 525-7407 admin@concordiaseattle.com concordiaseattle.com/summer-camp

Ages 2.5-11 4211 W. Lake Sammamish Pkwy SE, Bellevue (425) 653-3970 summercamp@ﬁsw.org ﬁsw.org/summer-camp

Register now for summer camp at Concordia Lutheran School in Seattle. Your child will experience all the can’t-miss attractions of a Seattle summer with local, caring staff. Each week of camp has a unique theme with hands-on experiences, education, and activities. Our amazing staff make our camp intentional, versatile, educational, hyper-local and community based. This year’s experiences include a foam party, animal encounters, frogs and friends, Point Defiance Zoo, Mariners game, Museum of Flight, and the Seattle Aquarium (off-site field trips for K-5 camp only). Weekly sessions offered June 16-August 8.

Join us for an unforgettable French summer at FISW! Campers in preschool to 5th grade enjoy bilingual fun, outdoor games, weekly ﬁeld trips, and engaging global themes—Europe, the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Oceania.

Camp runs Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–3 p.m., with extended care available in the morning at 8:30 a.m. and afternoon until 5 p.m. Register by week and join us for as many as you’d like. We can’t wait to welcome your child for a summer of joy and discovery!

GIDDENS SCHOOL SUMMER BLAST

Ages 3-11

2120 21st Ave. S, Seattle (206) 324-4847 summercamp@giddensschool.org giddensschool.org

Giddens School invites children ages 3–11 to a vibrant summer camp filled with discovery, creativity, and fun. Each week features a unique theme, with mornings focused on hands-on academystyle classes in arts, science, sports, and more. Afternoons offer joyful programming led by our dedicated staff, blending outdoor play, imagination, and friendship. Campers explore, connect, and grow in a welcoming community. Join us for a summer of exciting adventures and meaningful experiences at Giddens.

ORANGUTAN STEAM CAMPS

Grades K-8

434 NE Ravenna Blvd., Seattle (206) 512-9546 chessape@outlook.com orangutanacademy.com/summer-camps

Looking for fun and educational summer camps for your K-8 graders? Orangutan Academy oﬀers ten indoor/outdoor STEAM camps near beautiful Green Lake Park in June, July, and August. All camps include instruction in chess and other strategy games. Camps feature a new STEAM theme each week, including Astronomy, Dinosaurs, Parks and Museums, Green Lake History and Ecology, Earth Science, Stories and Myths, Food Science, and MLB History. Our instructors have more than 30 years of teaching experience! Weekly, daily, or half-day registration options are available.

LITTLE GREEN ACRES

Ages 7-12 20911 NE Novelty Hill Rd., Redmond (425) 830-0837 lindacriddle1@hotmail.com littlegreenacres.com

At Little Green Acres, kids do more than spend time outdoors— they connect with it. Campers snuggle baby animals, explore forests and ponds, investigate ecosystems, and uncover the science behind the natural world on our 10-acre organic farm. Each week focuses on a unique theme—including hands-on projects, adventures, discoveries, and animal time.

With small groups and endless inspiration, this is where curiosity awakens, conﬁdence grows, and kids make memories rooted in wonder.

AIKIDO SUMMER CAMPS

Ages 6-18

604 19th Ave. E, Seattle (509) 433-7202 youth@seattleaikikai.com seattleaikikai.com

Aikido is a fun, acrobatic martial art that teaches kids safe falling, self-awareness, and cooperation. During Seattle Aikikai summer camps, kids will be immersed in Aikido practice, collaborative games, and Japanese language and crafts. Open to new and returning students; age ranges ﬂexible. We have camps in both July and August. Seattle Aikikai is a nonproﬁt dojo where youth can grow and thrive year-round as part of our intergenerational community.

Sign-up by March 31st to get 10% oﬀ ! Use Code: SC2025.

SPRUCE STREET SCHOOL CAMP

Ages 5-10

914 Virginia Street, Seattle (206) 621-9211 ofﬁce@sprucestreetschool.org sprucestreetschool.org

This summer, come to downtown Seattle and set oﬀ on a new adventure every day. Spruce Street School oﬀers eight week-long summer camp sessions for children ages 5-10. Weekly themes connect the daily activities, which include beach trips, playing at parks and playgrounds, visits to zoos and farms, indoor play time, art projects, and much more. Experienced counselors help campers to make friendships while enjoying a full Seattle summer experience. The cost is $475 per week and lunch is included.

JAMES FINLEY VOLLEYBALL CAMP AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON

Ages 5-18

IMA Building, 3924 Montlake Blvd. NE, Seattle (800) 645-3226

volleyball@ussportscamps.com ussportscamps.com/volleyball/nike/james-ﬁnleyvolleyball-camp-at-university-of-washington

Join us for a summer volleyball camp at the University of Washington in Seattle. This camp, designed by former DI Head Volleyball Coach James Finley, oﬀers expert instruction led by a team of experienced coaches. We cater to a range of skill levels, making it suitable for all athletes. We look forward to welcoming you to our volleyball camp this summer. Take the step to elevate your volleyball skills, have fun, and prepare for a successful season ahead.

TENNIS CENTER SAND POINT

Ages 5-17

Magnuson Park, 7135 Sportsﬁeld Drive NE, Seattle (206) 522-5008

Juniors@TennisCenterSandPoint.com TennisCenterSandPoint.com

Our indoor junior tennis camps oﬀer something for everyone, from beginners to seasoned players. Packed with exciting games, engaging activities, and top-notch coaching, our camps are designed to make tennis fun while helping kids improve their skills. Our philosophy is all about play, positivity, and building meaningful connections on and oﬀ the court. Sign your child up today for a half-day summer camp experience they won’t forget!

YMCA CAMP CASEY

Grades 1-11

1276 Engle Road, Coupeville (425) 374-5779 overnightcamp@ymca-snoco.org ymcacampcasey.org/overnight-camp

YMCA Camp Casey is an overnight camp where kids unplug, connect, and grow. Located on Whidbey Island, Camp Casey offers a mix of classic camp fun—like archery, skits, swimming, and campfires—with intentional moments that build confidence, independence, and friendship. Campers are supported by caring staff and surrounded by a welcoming community where they can be themselves. It’s more than just a week away—it’s an experience that stays with them long after summer ends.

Seattle’s Child “The Unsung Heroes Issue” May/June 2025

HEROES unsung

NEIGHBORHOOD FAIR

»What Parents Are Talking About

Standing with immigrant families

The Crisis Unfolding in Our Communities

WATERLAND ARCADE

Parents Are Talking About

A Call to Action for Seattle Parents

ABOUT THE WRITER

» Dad Next Door

A little encouragement from across the fence

What kids do best

»ToolBox

What every parent needs to have on hand

Protect kids with the HPV vaccine

What parents need to know

»Romp

Things to do with kids

Let's

«Romp

Get out and ride

Emerald Ballet Academy presents

&

More great family biking

Mentor a military child

Becoming a voice for children »Care

Court

Creating communities where kids flourish

«Care

Family Law CASAs

PA’AKAI

WE BRING THE MAY 7 -

Meeting their needs No bright lights, volume down

»Inclusion

Help and hope for students with disabilities

«Inclusion

Sponsored Content

1 Prepare for the visit in advance

5 tips to prepare a nervous child for a doctor visit or hospital trip

2 Bring an activity

3 Have a plan

4 Ask for a demonstration

HEROES unsung

Caring for kids who aren’t their own

LED BY THEIR FAITH to foster

A SEASON OF CHANGE

PRESCHOOL

FOSTERING SUPPORT AND GENEROSITY

OUR FOSTER HOME LICENSING EXPERIENCE step-by-step

LOVE AND CHALLENGE GO hand-in-hand

UNSUNG HEROES

SEARCHING FOR SOLUTIONS

WHEN THEIR DAUGHTER COULD NOT they stepped up

UNSUNG HEROES 'Unwavering support and dedication'

PAYING IT forward

A former foster youth gives back

WHEN FOSTER PARENTS need a rest

BALANCING WORK AND RESPITE

CREATING A FUN AND SAFE HAVEN

A SEED PLANTED FOR FUTURE CAREGIVING

UNSUNG HEROES 'A selfless beacon of truth'

UNSUNG HEROES

TIFFANY BUCHANAN

TREEHOUSE IS built of hope

Creating a village foster youth deserve

CAMP GALLAGHER

CAMP ZANIKA LACHE

CHARLES WRIGHT ACADEMY SUMMER CAMP

CONCORDIA SUMMER CAMP

GIDDENS SCHOOL SUMMER BLAST

ORANGUTAN STEAM CAMPS

LITTLE GREEN ACRES

AIKIDO SUMMER CAMPS

SPRUCE STREET SCHOOL CAMP

JAMES FINLEY VOLLEYBALL CAMP AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON

TENNIS CENTER SAND POINT

YMCA CAMP CASEY