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 11: Julie Kerr – Bellingham, WA:
Julie is the biological mother of two daughters (Sarah, 22, and Emily, 16), the adoptive parent of two (Marissa, 10, and Dakota, 9) and has been a foster mother to 72 kids over the past 12 years. Every child that has arrived at Julie's door as a foster child has immediately been welcomed into the family. All of the kids, no matter their legal status or their age, participate in all of the fun activities that Julie plans: playing on the beach, visiting a pumpkin patch, swimming at the lake, going to the zoo, etc. In July 2012, a 5-year old, Lilly, joined Julie's family as a foster child. Six months later, Lilly had been to Disneyland with the family, had a real birthday party, enjoyed a Christmas morning and spent a weekend at the Great Wolf Lodge. Nobody is ever left out; Julie's arms are big enough to hug them all, and her heart is big enough to love them all.
Some of Julie's foster kids have had significant problems with anger, drugs or alcohol, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, the emotional distress of recovering from abuse … but all are treated equally and fairly by Julie. She has cared for kids from a variety of backgrounds and ethnicities, and has loved each and every one of them. Some of Julie's foster kids have returned home, and the child(ren) and/or parents maintain contact with her. Some were adopted by her. Some were very short term, and one stayed for 4 years before being adopted and reunited with her birth brother.
Julie advocates for the best care and services for the kids in her home. And, she tries to make life fun: on the first Saturday of every August, Julie celebrates National Kids Day by serving ice cream for breakfast to all of the kids in her home.
Nominator: Sheri Rego
