The following is a message from our Public Policy & Advocacy Director, Charles Smith

Dear Mockingbird Community,

I wanted to provide you with an update regarding Senate Bill 5082. Unfortunately, our bill did not pass and did not make it through the cutoff into the Ways and Means Committee.

We knew from the start of this legislative session that given the state’s significant $13 billion budget deficit, the successful passage of our bill would be an uphill battle. Despite this challenge, I want to emphasize that our strategy, advocacy efforts, and most importantly, the powerful and compelling testimonies shared by our Mockingbird Society young people positioned us well.

From the beginning, our goal was to hold the state accountable and ensure it upholds its obligation to provide safe, stable housing for young people in Extended Foster Care — youth who are, in fact, in the state’s care. Sadly, the state has continued to fall short in meeting these critical needs.

Throughout this process, we worked closely with our legislative champion, Senator Claire Wilson, who has been nothing short of incredible. Her unwavering dedication to this cause and her commitment to amplifying the voices and needs of young people have been remarkable.

Given the budget constraints, we were asked to make concessions in our bill. After thoughtful deliberation, we agreed to include subject to appropriations language specifically for young people in Extended Foster Care who were at risk of homelessness, while prioritizing those who were already experiencing homelessness. While not ideal, we believed this compromise maintained the integrity of our efforts by ensuring support for young people facing the greatest housing instability.

For those unfamiliar, "subject to appropriations" means that funding for these services would be contingent on the availability of resources within the state budget. In other words, even though the language would establish these supports in law, they would only be implemented if funds were available — adding an additional layer of uncertainty for the young people who desperately need stable housing.

However, we were later asked to make additional cuts that would have significantly undermined the bill’s intent. Further reductions — particularly limiting support to those already experiencing homelessness — would have severely weakened the bill and compromised its core purpose. After careful consideration and conversations with our policy team, legal partners, community stakeholders, and young people, we made the difficult but necessary decision to stand firm and not concede further. We could not risk losing the very heart of what this bill sought to achieve.

While this outcome is disappointing, our commitment to ensuring young people in Extended Foster Care receive the housing stability they deserve has not wavered. We remain steadfast in our efforts and will continue to explore every opportunity to push this work forward.

One thing is certain — and this was echoed by Senator Claire Wilson — "Senate Bill 5082 was the right bill with the right intent, and Mockingbird Society and its young people should be proud of their efforts and advocacy. Stay in this fight and bring this bill forward again in 2026."

I assure you, we will bring this bill back in 2026. This is not the end — it is part of the journey toward ensuring young people in Extended Foster Care receive the housing stability they deserve.

Thank you for your unwavering dedication and commitment.

To our youth and young adult advocates:

At The Mockingbird Society, we understand that moments of national change bring both profound challenges and opportunities to reimagine what is possible. This year, the convergence of Inauguration Day with Martin Luther King Jr. Day compels us to reflect deeply on Dr. King’s enduring legacy of justice, equity, and transformative action. It serves as a poignant reminder of the progress we’ve made—and the urgent work that still lies ahead.

In his inaugural speech, President Trump outlined initiatives—including efforts to restructure public education, enforce a binary understanding of gender, limit social programs, and impose stricter immigration policies—that threaten to deepen inequities and disproportionately harm marginalized communities. These policies are intertwined with systemic racism, and will only perpetuate existing disparities in housing, education, and justice. Youth of color and LGBTQ+ youth—who are overrepresented in foster care and disproportionately impacted by homelessness—bear an especially heavy burden under these proposals.

Despite these challenges, we firmly believe that transformation is possible. It begins with embracing our shared humanity, nurturing relationships, and taking purposeful action. At The Mockingbird Society, we remain steadfast in our commitment to cultivating systems of care that uplift the diversity, resilience, and creativity of all young people, while centering racial equity in every aspect of our advocacy and actions.

Our commitments to you are unwavering:

• Advocating for inclusive policies that celebrate and affirm every identity, because justice begins with belonging.
• Fighting for equitable access to education, housing, and services, with a focus on addressing the barriers disproportionately faced by youth of color and other marginalized groups.
• Amplifying your voices, knowing that the solutions to the challenges we face already exist within the communities we serve.

Small, intentional actions have the power to create ripples of systemic transformation. In moments like these, it is critical to create spaces of healing, support, and community—places where care, courage, and connection can flourish. These spaces form the foundation of meaningful change.

You are seen. You are valued. You are heard. The strength of our community lies in its diversity and the powerful stories, dreams, and contributions of its youth. Together, we will honor Dr. King’s legacy by building a future where every young person—especially those from historically marginalized communities—can thrive authentically, safely, and fully.

Transformation begins with each of us. By centering racial equity, belonging, and justice, we can—and will—create a world where dignity, opportunity, and hope are not just ideals but lived realities for all youth.

In Community,

Natalie Lente, Executive Director of The Mockingbird Society

April 15, 2024 - Pictured: Mockingbird Family Constellation Members in Fukuoka

Hello everyone, I am Miho Awazu, Executive Director of the International Foster Care Alliance [IFCA], a non-profit organization with headquarter offices in both Japan and the United States.

IFCA's Mockingbird Family™ initiative began in 2018. Several foster parents and researchers traveled to Seattle from various parts of Japan for intensive training at the Mockingbird Society office. They brought what they learned from that training back to their home country and launched Mockingbird Family™ pilot projects in their respective regions.

By 2019, two constellations had officially launched in Sapporo (northern island) and three in Fukuoka (southern island) as a result of the pilot projects. During the two COVID-19 crisis years, foster parents at the regional hub and satellite homes and their host agencies continued to work together in creative ways to maintain their support network.

We held monthly national online meetings of the Mockingbird Family™,  and used these gatherings as consultation time with Dr. Miyako Shirakawa, a prominent child psychiatrist and trauma specialist in Japan, and IFCA's clinical director. Foster parents brought questions about children with challenging behavioral issues and each month we had lively discussions on a variety of topics. It was a Trauma Informed Care (TIC) based learning,  understanding children's behaviors through the lens of trauma.

Last month (March 2024), the Mockingbird Family Group of Fukuoka City led a new form of training in the city, drawing on the TIC learning to date. The first day of the two-day introductory training for professionals in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) was designed to include local foster parents and staff from child guidance centers and child protection facilities. This was the first time that foster parents and child welfare non-clinical staff shared their learning of TF-CBT with trainees with clinical background. 

This year, a new constellation of Mockingbird Family™ was launched in Tochigi Prefecture (main island), and the first monthly meeting was held this month. Tochigi Prefecture is already looking into offering TF-CBT training that foster parents can also participate in.

Dear Friends of Mockingbird,

What a whirlwind of activity since I arrived at The Mockingbird Society a few months ago! The staff, youth and young adults we support, the Mockingbird foster families, our founder Jim Theofelis, the funders and donors, our wide breadth of community partner organizations, and our board have all been stalwart guides to me, ensuring that I prioritize my learning in these early months to lead with decisions rooted in the heart of Mockingbird’s rich history.  For all of you, I am incredibly grateful.