Reimagining Child Welfare in Pierce County - Amara
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Big red Amara sign in front of Amara's Pierce County office on a sunny day with blue sky and trees

Reimagining Child Welfare in Pierce County

Strengthening Community Support for Kids and Families

In 2018, Amara purchased 29 acres in Pierce County seeing it as a key moment to build something for – and with – children and families who are at risk of experiencing foster care, not just once they’re a part of the child welfare system but to support their wellbeing and prevent separation. We see the potential to ease burdens on families by making critical services available in one location. Additionally, we are creating spaces for families, youth, and community to come together. Our free teen drop-in center is located here, and soon, more services for families will be here too. 

It takes a community for children and families to thrive – and the community came together through an extensive community engagement effort just prior to the COVID 19 pandemic, to help envision and build this opportunity for Pierce County. While we welcomed everyone’s ideas, we invited people of color, who are disproportionately impacted by foster care and adoption, to lead the conversation. The recommendations for developing the property were created by a Community Leadership Team, a group of individuals – the majority of whom are people of color – with lived experience of foster care and/or adoption and who lead with equity.

Land of the Puyallup and Coast Salish People

We acknowledge that we are on the traditional land of the Puyallup and Coast Salish People, who have stewarded this land for generations and we pay our respect to elders both past and present. We further acknowledge the great harm and injustice done by white people to the native people on their sacred land and provide our deepest appreciation for graciously hosting us on their lands today. Acknowledgement is only a first step – there must also be relationships, support, and action. 

When We Invest in Children and Families

  • High school and postsecondary completion rates increase
  • Children have a stronger sense of identity
  • Youth become advocates for change and are leaders in their communities
  • Support systems exist to help families through crises and challenges
  • The entire community thrives

Community Leadership

Our Community Leadership Team was the heart and soul of the vision and final recommendations for this property. Twenty people, the majority of whom are people of color who have lived experience with foster care and/or adoption, gathered regularly for months spending countless hours in meetings and dialogue, to contribute their deep expertise to this project. Without them, none of this would be possible.

The vision includes tangible elements, like buildings and programs, and intangible elements, like the spirit of the place, cultural empowerment, and leadership grounded in racial equity. 

Read the Summary Report
 
Read the Full Recommendation

Next Steps

We are working on implementing the vision we’ve received from the community. While some of the plans had to be modified due to the expansion of wetlands on the property, we will remain true to the spirit of the recommendations. Our next steps include ground-breaking, remodeling, permitting, building partnerships, and raising funds. What can YOU do?

  • Volunteer when we have opportunities to work on the property
  • Donate online to help make this transformational work possible