About Us
From victims to advocates. From alone to independent. From child of foster care to productive citizen. What one aspires to be is based largely on what he or she believes is possible. A world-class foster care system is possible.
In 2001, Executive Director Jim Theofelis founded The Mockingbird Society, and since then we have worked tirelessly to improve the lives of the children, youth and families in the child welfare system. For now and for the future. We are an advocacy based organization that has led efforts to pass policies and legislation on behalf of those we serve. In the past year, our staff and board have grown by leaps and bounds to ensure that the work gets done.
Every day, The Mockingbird Society is making a difference in the lives of Washington State’s nearly 14,000 children and youth in foster care. We have designed new cutting-edge programs to engage children, youth and families in foster care. Together we are leading the way in advocacy efforts. Our innovative model of foster care, The Mockingbird Family Model, is becoming a national model based on local successes. And we’ve only just begun.
We are in the process of launching six to nine chapters of The Mockingbird Youth Network across the state. The Mockingbird Youth Network is an organized, focused network of youth advocates who are informed, trained, and empowered to transform the quantity and quality of child and family services while strengthening their peers, their communities, and themselves.
Everything we do is based on knowing what children and youth in foster care need most: unconditional care, safe and loving homes, and hope for a bright future. We focus on changing the laws, policies and system practices necessary to reduce the damage to kids and to increase their opportunities for a healthy, successful, positive life.
View The Mockingbird Society’s brochure (1.7MB PDF) to learn more about our mission and programs.