ABOUT US
Who We Are
our vision
Each and every young person, regardless of race and individual experience, reaches adulthood with an equitable opportunity to thrive.
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our mission
Our mission is to transform the foster care system and end youth homelessness. Mockingbird creates, supports, and advocates for racially equitable, healthy environments that develop young people at risk of or experiencing foster care or homelessness.
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our history
The Mockingbird Society is an advocacy organization founded in 2000 by Jim Theofelis to provide meaningful opportunities for youth across Washington state to participate in the social justice effort to improve the foster care system. Its first project was The Mockingbird Times, then a monthly newspaper written by young people who have experienced foster care that aims to have a positive impact on the public perception of young people experiencing foster care and/or homelessness. Since then, our work has expanded to include working with foster families and child-placing agencies to improve outcomes for both young people and their caregivers. Recognizing a clear link between experience in the child welfare system and homelessness, Mockingbird also began addressing issues around youth homelessness in 2013.
Our Programs
Youth Programs
Partners with youth and young adults (YYA) ages 13-26 with lived experience in foster care and homelessness to become leaders and advocates for systemic change. Youth Programs focuses on building the power, agency, and opportunity of the youth and young adults who participate in the programs through advocacy and engagement in policy change.
Public Policy & Advocacy
Collaborates with our YYA change makers to educate and activate the community, media, and policy makers, and to ensure that young people are included at decision-making and policy implementation tables. Mockingbird elevates the voices of young people with lived experience in foster care and homelessness, empowering them to share their stories, identify systemic barriers, and co-create solutions.
By centering young peoples’ perspectives, Mockingbird ensures that the policies it champions are responsive to real-world challenges and designed to meet the diverse needs of communities impacted by foster care and youth homelessness.
MOCKINGBIRD FAMILY™
MOCKINGBIRD FAMILY™ is a globally recognized, award-winning foster care delivery method that is redefining systems of care by strengthening safety nets for children, youth, and caregivers. Through MOCKINGBIRD FAMILY™, experienced foster parents provide support and guidance to 6 to 10 foster families, which creates the structure of an extended family.