FOSTER WASHINGTON: INFORM | IMPACT | INSPIRE
Overview:
Becoming a foster parent for children in our community is not just an opportunity; it’s a responsibility. Many people are unaware of the overwhelming number of children in Washington State in need of a safe, loving home and a brighter future.
Foster Washington is a grassroots initiative aimed at supporting the state’s foster care system, which faces significant challenges. With low funding, limited staff, and high demand, the system struggles to provide the care and attention these children deserve. Our annual campaign focuses on raising awareness, conducting investigative reporting, and hosting a year-end gala that celebrates foster care success stories, raises crucial funding, and promotes systemic change.
The Current Situation: Foster Care in Washington State
The foster care system in Washington is facing numerous obstacles:
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- Poor communication between foster families and caseworkers
- Overburdened caseworkers
- High numbers of children in the system
- Inadequate respite reimbursement rates
- Lack of adequate support for foster families
- Declining numbers of foster parents
SWOT:
The Foster Washington campaign identifies significant opportunities for change:
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- Strengths: Numerous grassroots organizations are ready to support the system.
- Weaknesses: The system lacks proper infrastructure for intake, individual analysis, and swift permanent placement.
- Opportunities: Increasing recruitment and promotion of foster parent programs could alleviate strain on the system.
- Threats: The ongoing lack of community involvement and low recruitment rates continue to weaken the system.
By organizing a more structured and efficient process for child intake and foster parent recruitment, we can begin to improve the lives of children in need. The state already provides education and licensing for foster parentsāour goal is to enhance these efforts through increased promotion and community engagement.
What We Do:
Foster Washington develops and implements programs and services that:
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- Provide support to families and ensure children’s well-being
- Facilitate child placement and permanency for children in out-of-home care
- Focus on child safety, fostering, and adoption
Communities are built on strong family units, and Children’s Administration is the safety net for those who have fallen through the cracks. Our mission is to rally the community to strengthen this safety net and provide better futures for every child in Washington State.
How You Can Help
Sponsors
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- Sponsor a child or family: Directly impact lives by providing vital support.
- Contribute to Foster Washington: Be recognized as a change agent in your community.
- Support the Foster System: Your contributions help drive systemic improvements.
- Annual Gala Recognition: Sponsors will receive recognition at our prestigious year-end event.
Educators & Academia
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- Submit Research: Be part of the solution by contributing to our annual field research on addressing foster care issues in Washington State.
Investigative Reporters & Journalists
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- Spotlight Your Work: Investigative reporters have the opportunity to present their work at our statewide gala, highlighting your commitment to a noble cause.
Sources
Johannesen, R. L., Valde, K. S., & Whedbee, K. E. (2008). Ethics in human communication. Long Grove, IL: Waveland Press.
Rachels, J., & Rachels, S. (2014). The Elements of Moral Philosophy (8th ed.). McGraw-Hill Humanities Social.
Hall, B. J. (1997). Culture, ethics, and communication. In F. L. Casmir (Ed.), Ethics in intercultural and international communication (pp. 11-42). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.
Zaharna, R. S. (2000). Intercultural communication and international public relations: Exploring parallels. Communication Quarterly, 48(1), 85-100.
Murphy, P. E. (1999). Character and virtue ethics in international marketing: An agenda for managers, researchers, and educators. Journal of Business Ethics, 18(1), 107-124.
Mikhail Oparin 