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Olympia, WA — Beginning Feb. 1, the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) will honor parents, caregivers, and advocates who have shown their commitment to help reduce child abuse and neglect.
Each day, during the month of February, one of the 28 honorees will be featured in Seattle’s Child Magazine as part of Parent Recognition Month.
The list of honorees features people from all over the state, including foster parents, CASA advocates, parents, grandparents, and those with lived experiences who have used their past child welfare involvement to improve outcomes for children.
“We had many wonderful nominations from across Washington of incredible work being done to bring joy and light into the lives of children,” said Assistant Secretary for Partnerships, Prevention, and Services Dr. Vickie Ybarra. “This year’s stories remind us of all the good being done across our state by our neighbors to create safe, healthy, and happy childhoods.”
Those selected by the parent-led panel demonstrate one or more of the five protective factors known to reduce child abuse and neglect. These factors include:
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Parental Resilience – the ability to bounce back from stress.
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Concrete Supports in Times of Need – awareness of where and how to get essential items and resources to minimize and avoid crisis.
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Social and Emotional Competence of Children – empathy and support toward a child’s social and emotional wellbeing.
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Social Connections – having strong support system to help get through challenges during hard times.
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Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development – an understanding of a child’s developmental needs and the parenting strategies to support a child’s physical, cognitive, language, social, and emotional development.
The winners will be honored during a reception in February.
Since 2011, DCYF has honored 394 individuals in Washington for the roles they have taken with their families, schools, and communities.
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Contact:
Nancy Gutierrez, Director of External Communications, DCYF | 360-742-6418 |nancy.gutierrez@dcyf.wa.gov
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