Mockingbird Society

Mockingbird family (mf) - mockingbird family recreates the positive qualities and resources found in naturally thriving and extended families. In a mockingbird family constellation (a network of 6-10 foster/kinship families), an experienced foster/kinship family, called a hub home, leads, organizes, facilitates, hosts gatherings, and provides respite to a cohort of satellite families in close geographic proximity. Constellations focus on the individual needs of its youth by ensuring foster parents are continually supported by child placing agency (cpa) staff, extended family networks, and are given guidance on providing the best care for their children. Mockingbird family staff work directly with communities to train on the fidelity of the program (to help build accountability, safety, and networks of support for young people within constellations) and to meet with cpas monthly to discuss potential for engagement with mockingbird's network of constellations.

Public policy & advocacy (pp&a) - the public policy & advocacy department partners with youth programs to educate and activate the public in support of child welfare and youth homelessness reform. Using a nonpartisan approach, pp&a builds relationships with policymakers and community partners to advance youth-informed legislation and equitable systems change.at the state level, the team leads policy research, bill development, and legislative advocacy on issues impacting youth, young adults, and families with lived experience in foster care and homelessness.at the local level - through the king county local policy and advocacy initiative - pp&a collaborates with young leaders, service providers, and government partners to identify and address county-level barriers, promote housing stability, and strengthen youth participation in local decision-making. This work ensures that policy solutions are grounded in community voice and drive sustainable change for youth and young adults across king county.additionally, pp&a connects each of our youth chapters across the state with their own county and city governments to engage in local advocacy efforts that will ultimately impact their wellbeing in their own communities.