Seattle’s Child is proud to partner with the state Department of Children, Youth and Families Strengthening Families Washington to honor outstanding caregivers doing important work on behalf of children.
All month long, we’ll introduce you to Unsung Heroes from around the state: biological parents, grandparents, foster and adoptive parents. Some volunteer at local schools; some have started nonprofits; some mentor others in their communities. Enjoy their stories.
Skye & Michael Stuart, Seattle
We are nominating this couple to be 2022 DCYF Unsung Heroes because of their commitment to children’s first families and reunifications whenever possible.
Skye and Michael work together to support all the needs of the children and families they care about, including families with special needs, such as learning sign language. They create space for the children in their care to both explore and feel their emotions and to heal through them. They also work well with children’s parents to support their healing. They do all these things while remaining emotionally regulated themselves.
The couple is always open to suggestions and advice and values the expertise of all of the professionals involved in cases they work with, including with teachers and leaders at the children’s schools. They are willing to prepare children for new experiences by sharing step-by-step what children can expect.
Skye and Michael model trauma-informed caregiving, as well, and are willing to maintain connection with children and families, if the family is reunified, should parents be open to the idea. They also maintain connections to children’s previous foster families and help plan visits with them to reduce children’s sense of loss and encourage their knowledge of their whole stories.
Skye and Michael demonstrate deep knowledge of parenting and child development, which shows in how well children in their care do. They also are patient and do not try to rush fostering, including with parents who are reluctant to trust foster parents.
Nominators: Danielle Hammond & Kristen Wilson
More Unsung Heroes:
Ryan Eldred keeps his kids safe and loved, even in tough times
Ashley Bender is devoted to ECEAP and her child’s education
Sherry Dione pushes for equity while patiently meeting her grandkids’ needs
Mom’s courage and hard work got family out of homelessness, into stability
