Amara received a generous multi-year grant totaling $2 million from the Ballmer Group earlier this year. This grant is supporting Amara’s mission to help children and families most impacted by Washington’s child welfare system. Together, Amara and the Ballmer Group intend to help transform the child welfare system in ways that reduce systemic injustice and
Category: Foster Care
Amara Partner Works to Expand Free & Discounted Services for Kids in Foster/Kinship Care
Local barber and Amara partner Tommy Andrade, and his partner Jeff Chou, have been reaching out to service providers to build a network of supporters who provide free and discounted services to kids in foster and kinship care. Friends of Southpaw invites other service providers to join them in making it a little easier for
Amara STAR Youth’s Summer of Care and Connection
Amara launched our new youth development program, STAR Youth (Supported, Thriving, Authentic & Resilient) this summer and we are excited to share our experiences and our gratitude to everyone who made our summer camps possible. For five weeks in July and August, our Youth Development Team led week-long day camps for kids and teens ages
Coming Together for Cameron
Liam* and Anela* were unsure if becoming foster caregivers was right for them. “We heard stories that foster care [was] really difficult because you develop a bond with a kiddo and saying goodbye is hard,” said Anela. Through Amara, they learned that providing foster care meant providing a temporary and loving home for kids until
Supreme Court Upholds ICWA
Amara is relieved the Supreme Court today affirmed tribal sovereignty by upholding the Indian Child Welfare Act. ICWA is a necessary protection for Native American children, families, and culture. Native families endured decades of forced family separation that sent Indian children to harsh, abusive “boarding schools” where any expression of their tribal culture was forbidden.
Jeremy’s Journey of Growth
Oftentimes, children impacted by foster care struggle to cope with the trauma that comes from being separated from their families. For these kids, their entire life has been turned upside down, leaving them feeling stressed and anxious. Almost immediately, they must adapt to living in a house that smells different, eating food that tastes unusual,
A Big Day for Amara’s Family Connections Program
Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed HB 1204, better known as the “Implementing the Family Connections Program” bill, into law April 20, 2023. This means that Amara’s Family Connections Program is now a permanent program, serving parents and caregivers involved in the child welfare system. Several Amara staff testified in support of this important bill, including
Lilianna’s Story
At Amara, our foster caregivers and caseworkers go the extra mile for kids and families involved in the child welfare system. They not only navigate multiple foster journeys, they blaze new paths forward in connection and healing. One of our foster families is on the road to reunification for a child in their care for
Speaking of Change in Foster Care and Adoption Series
We’re peeling back the curtain on foster care and adoption! Join us on March 30th from 12:00-1:00pm as we take a deep dive into what our foster care program actually does for kids and families, what makes Amara’s approach unique, and what we’ve learned as we’ve transformed our approach over the past decade.