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.
Mindy Livingston, Stanwood
Mindy Livingston is a STAR!
She has been a force of a foster parent at Youthnet but also for the State of Washington. Mindy and her husband began fostering a couple years ago with the thought of helping parents, cheering them on and reunifying families.
Their first placement became a forever placement through guardianship with a local tribe. Mindy and Steven created a genuine and sweet relationship with their child’s bio father, grandfather and his tribe. The tribe recognized the Livingston family as family and they have created a home that is inclusive and celebratory of their child’s cultural connections.
Mindy wanted to share with those in her neighborhood about how there is a need for foster parents. She put a sign in her yard that says “Become a Foster Parent” and had to remove it as it went again homeowners’ association rules. Youthnet was able to get her a big magnet for her car and she drives proudly around with the “Become a Foster Parent” magnet on her car.
Every chance she gets, Mindy talks about how hard, wonderful, tear-inducing, worthwhile foster parenting is. Mindy enjoys mentoring new foster parents, sharing in the joys and sorrows of foster care. Mindy and her husband are medically experienced and had two medically complex children, and during this time Mindy decided to go back to school to study social work. On top of parenting, going back to school, Mindy also feeds needing families and created a grassroots clothing closet for those in need.
In addition, Mindy recently became a court-appointed special advocate (CASA) in her local community and is continuing to advocate for youth and families to help the reunification process of foster care. Mindy deserves the Unsung Hero award for all she does as she had made foster care her life mission.
Nominator: Katharine Gray
More Unsung Heroes:
Chelsea Hope is a model of resilience and a gem of a person
