The Mockingbird Society was founded in 2000 to provide a voice for youth in foster care. We are a leading advocacy organization that has assembled youth and alumni of foster care, homeless youth, child welfare innovators, youth development experts, and public affairs specialists to change policies and practices that improve foster care and end youth homelessness for the 10,000 children in foster care and 30,000 homeless youth in Washington. Our mission is to improve foster care and end youth homelessness.
We operate four major programs:
Our largest program, the Mockingbird Youth Network, is the focus of this proposal.
The Mockingbird Family Model is an innovative foster care delivery model that has produced outcomes that improve on the traditional foster care experience. The MFM serves about 100 families and 200 youth in Washington state, with public and private providers adopting the model in Kentucky, Washington D.C., British Columbia, and the United Kingdom. We are expanding this program significantly in 2015.
Our newest program, Youth Advocates Ending Homelessness, builds public awareness and public will by working with youth and providers to educate the greater community on issues impacting homeless young people.
Our Public Policy & Communications program works closely with our youth programs to educate policymakers, community leaders, media, service providers, and constituents on issues facing youth and alumni of foster care.
Each of these programs is groundbreaking—no other agency in Washington state operates similar programs. Together, they constitute a multi-pronged effort to create a world-class child welfare system.