OLYMPIA— Each May, Washington state joins the nation in acknowledging the many people who make foster care possible – foster parents, relative caregivers and the child welfare workers who support them and the children and youth in their care. Along with commemorating National Foster Care Month and Kinship Caregiver Day, the Department of Social and Health Services’ Children’s Administration hosts We Are Family Day with the Seattle Mariners on Sunday, May 20 as the M’s take on the Detroit Tigers at 1:10 p.m. at Safeco Field.
“We Are Family Day is a wonderful partnership that helps raise awareness for the needs of foster kids,” said Connie Lambert-Eckel, acting assistant secretary for DSHS’ Children’s Administration. “It’s a time to recognize how each of us can play a part in enhancing the lives of children and youth in foster care.”
This year marks the 10th anniversary of We Are Family Day and the last one hosted by DSHS before Children’s Administration becomes part of the Department of Children, Youth, and Families. The celebration features a pre-game carnival of activities for foster, adoptive and relative caregiver families and a souvenir custom-designed commemorative beanie. Renae, a 14-year-old Nooksack Middle School student who is in the process of being adopted by her foster family, will throw the first pitch of the game. Discounted tickets are available online until 5 p.m. Friday, May 18.
“We thank the Mariners for their continued commitment and dedication to Washington’s foster children and the people who care for them,” said Meri Waterhouse, program manager for the recruitment and retention of foster parents in Washington state. Waterhouse has coordinated We Are Family Day for the past several years and will retire in September 2018.
We Are Family Day also serves as the state’s largest recruitment event for foster families. At any given time, Washington state has more than 9,200 children in out-of-home care and 5,000 licensed foster homes, roughly the same number of family caregivers and hundreds upon hundreds of other individuals and organizations who support child welfare. To learn more about becoming a foster parent or how to support children in foster care, visit dshs.wa.gov/fosterparents.
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Children’s Administration protects children, promotes healthier families and supports foster children and families through strong partnerships with communities and tribes. With a $330 million annual budget, its 2,600 team members serve approximately 245,000 individuals each year.