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
News Type: In the News
Amara Presents to Pierce County Council Human Services Committee
We love being in community and sharing about our work for kids and families. Nicole Mazen, Amara’s Chief Program and Policy Officer, and Julie Hoffman, our Pierce County Early Childhood Court Program Coordinator, recently presented about our programs and impact in Pierce County to the Human Services Committee at the Pierce County Council. Amara and
Washington Will No Longer Pursue Parents of Kids in Foster Care for Child Support
The state of Washington will no longer attempt to collect child support payments from parents whose children have been placed in licensed out-of-home care. The Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families ended this practice as of September 1, 2022. A recent study found that referring parents to child support collection lengthened the time
New State Settlement Proposed in Class-Action Foster Care Lawsuit
Youth in foster care and foster caregivers in Washington have an opportunity to comment on a proposed settlement agreement in a class-action lawsuit involving certain youth in foster care and Disability Rights Washington (DRW), and the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF). The lawsuit was filed to end multiple one-night foster stays and group
State Begins Child-Specific Licensing for Kinship Caregivers
The state is taking steps to make it easier for extended family and close family friends to receive monthly foster care payments when they care for children in foster care who cannot live with their parents. This kind of caregiving is called kinship care. It is often preferred for kids in foster care because these
Amara On TV
Amara was featured May 22 on the Me TV/Washington & Me Community Affairs program that aired on select television channels throughout western Washington. The half-hour program highlighted how Amara has learned and grown over our 101-year history. We started as an adoption agency decades ago and are now leaning into supporting connections and partnerships between
Preparing to Meet the Needs of Children Coming into Foster Care
As many Amara foster families are aware, referrals for children needing foster care have changed significantly since March 2020. While this appeared to be due to the pandemic, we know now it’s more than that. Our counterparts at the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) have shared that they are making concerted efforts to
Amara Stands With Trans Youth & Families
Amara stands with our partners at Human Rights Campaign (HRC) who “envision a world where every member of the LGBTQ+ family has the freedom to live their truth without fear” and we stand with the United States Children’s Bureau in their call for equity and inclusion throughout Child and Family Services work. We know that
Focusing on Amara’s Foster Care Service Area
At Amara we strive to ensure that everyone we work with receives quality professional service delivered with compassion and respect. We believe the hallmarks of quality service are integrity, confidentiality, and cultural sensitivity. We are committed to positive long-term outcomes for children, youth, and families. We promote healing, racial and LGBTQIA+ equity, and re-envisioning our