Support young advocates to transform systems

Support the work of young advocates.

I am a supporter of The Mockingbird Society, an advocacy organization dedicated to transforming the foster care system and ending youth homelessness. Mockingbird partners with young people who have lived experience in the foster care system and homelessness to elevate their voices, inform policies and practices in child welfare systems, and advocate for meaningful change.

For Mockingbird's GiveBIG 2026 campaign, I have set a goal to raise $1,000 to support Mockingbird's work. Support the advocacy efforts of young people by making a gift today!

Your gift for GiveBIG 2026 will provide tangible support through Mockingbird's three 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™ 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.

More About The Mockingbird Society

Over the years, Mockingbird has won 70+ major policy reforms in Washington state, changing the outcomes for over 200,000 children, youth, and families and prompting more than $252 million in state investment in services and support. 

Mockingbird focuses on positive youth development in support of advocacy—being visible and vocal—which has been identified as a “protective factor” for at-risk youth and young adults. Our community-building activities support our young advocates by bolstering their confidence in their abilities, values, and voice. The skill of self-advocacy is powerful in building youth's leadership and awareness that they can have a role in not only improving their individual circumstances, but also enacting societal change.