MOCKINGBIRD SOCIETY
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Mission Statement
The Mockingbird Society’s mission is to transform the foster care system and end youth homelessness. We create, support, and advocate for racially equitable, healthy environments that develop young people at risk of or experiencing foster care or homelessness. Working in partnership with young people with lived experience, we change policies and perceptions standing between every child and a safe, supportive, and stable home. We envision each young person, regardless of race or individual experience, reaching adulthood with an equitable opportunity to thrive. For over twenty years, The Mockingbird Society has worked to elevate and empower the voices of youth with lived experience with foster care and homelessness so they can develop and advocate for upstream solutions that positively affect Washington foster care and youth homelessness support systems.
About This Cause
The Mockingbird Society was founded in 2000 on a simple principle: that young people closest to the issues are uniquely positioned to know how they need to change or improve. Through direct advocacy, community and coalition building, and positive youth development, The Mockingbird Society was one of the first organizations in the country to partner directly with young people with lived experience to drive lasting change for those experiencing foster care or homelessness or at risk of experiencing those systems in the future. We change the life trajectory of both young people who directly participate in our programs and thousands of others who benefit from our policy and budgetary wins. Our dual-pronged approach incorporates both positive youth and leadership development, as well as systemic reform to create lasting change. Over the last 20+ years, our 70+ policy wins have impacted 100,000+ young people and have prompted more than $252 million in state investments in services and support for young people experiencing foster care or homelessness. Last year, 100% of surveyed youth and young adult participants said participation helped them see themselves as leaders—helping heal the trauma of these systems and empowering them as positive change agents in their communities. YOUTH PROGRAMS: We train young people ages 13-26 with lived experience in foster care and/or homelessness to become their own best advocates. Through 6 youth chapters across WA, participants build skills in public speaking and community engagement; create yearly legislative agendas; and advocate for change. PUBLIC POLICY & ADVOCACY: In partnership with our youth participants, we activate the community, media, and policy makers. Young people shape and vote to approve Mockingbird’s annual legislative agenda and participate in advocacy to create change during the legislative session. MOCKINGBIRD FAMILY™ creates intentional communities with an experienced “Hub” foster parent providing support and guidance to a “Constellation” of 6-to-10 foster families, improving foster parent retention and care. YOUTH LEADERSHIP SUMMIT: Our annual summit provides a critical opportunity for our youth advocates to share their policy recommendations with public officials from government agencies, including the WA Office of Homeless Youth and the WA Supreme Court Commissions on Children in Foster Care. YOUTH ADVOCACY DAY: Youth plan and lead Youth Advocacy Day annually at the WA State Capitol in Olympia. At the event, young people meet with elected officials and present their policy proposals, as well as provide critical testimony about their personal experiences. Our brightest hope and our best answers for change come from young people who see the path forward to a better world, where young people in foster care have the same opportunities to thrive as their peers. Your support helps pave the way for that world.