February is Parent Recognition Month. Strengthening Families Washington, of the Department of Early Learning for Washington State, believes there is no better way to recognize a parent, grandparent, foster or adoptive parent than by acknowledging the numerous and impressive things they do to strengthen their family and those around them in their community.

Seattle’s Child is proud to sponsor the Washington Unsung Hero Awards, recognizing our everyday heroes and honoring the important role caregivers play in children’s lives. There are 28 nominees for the 28 days of February, and Seattle’s Child will highlight each and every one.

Congratulations to the Unsung Hero for February 10: Anna Kagley – Everett, WA:

Anna and her husband, Robert have completed their family by becoming parents to 6 special needs Native American children through adoption and guardianship. In 2012, Anna began talking with other adoptive families in her community and developed a post-adoption support group. In less than three months, the group has 8 families parenting a total of 23 children. Anna is seeking grants to expand the group. She has partnered with Spirit of Grace United Methodist church (spiritofgraceumc.org) to provide child care to the children during the once a month support meeting and an additional night for respite for the kids and families. Anna is arranging for professionals in the community to come assist the families with their children's complex needs surrounding prior abuse and neglect. Anna and Robert are parenting children with multiple diagnosis, including Autism, ADD/ADHD, Deaf-blind, CP, Anxiety, Reactive Attachment Disorder, Oppositional Defiance Disorder, epilepsy and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, just to name a few. In addition to the support group Anna mentors biological families of former foster children; volunteers by teaching CPR and First Aid (www.redcross.org); volunteering for Lighthouse Cooperative school (www.lighthousecoop.org); volunteering in class, for the food bank and recently obtained a grant for $15,000 to improve the science curriculum at Jefferson Elementary (http://cms.everett.k12.wa.us/jefferson), her local school; helping the Jefferson Woods Nature Park program to secure green space for local kids (yourjeffersonwoods.com); and is a huge force behind KidsDream of Snohomish County (www.kidsdreamofsnohomish.org), a clothing bank for foster families.  She also works full time as a fisheries biologist for the Federal Government on salmon and habitat restoration efforts (noaa.gov). Anna has gone way above and beyond for our kids and for other families in our community.

Nominator:  Paulete Caswell

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