Amara

09/03/2026

Amara has been busy this year building a new behavioral health program for children and families in King and Pierce counties who are at risk of being involved in the foster care system, or who are already involved. We’re excited to introduce our community to Ben Berger, Amara’s Director of Behavioral Health.

Ben has been identifying service gaps in meeting the behavioral health needs of our community and exploring ways to effectively meet those needs. “I’m grateful to the amazing organizations who have been sharing their wisdom with us as we move this program toward launch next year,” Ben said. “And we’re all so thankful that the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust chose to invest in this new program.”

Learn more: https://amarafamily.org/2026/09/planting-seeds-for-behavioral-health-at-amara/

09/02/2026

Our Family Resource Center and free teen drop-in center are open in our temporary space at Gates High School, 4608 128th St E, Tacoma. Our drop-in center is open from 2 - 5 pm today. Please check our FRC open hours online: https://amarafamily.org/family-resource-center/.

09/01/2026

This Kinship Care Month and every month we celebrate the incredible strength, love, and dedication of kinship caregivers, the extended family members and close family friends who open their hearts and homes to children in foster care.💛
Kinship caregivers provide stability, connection, and a sense of belonging when children need it most. Their compassion and commitment make a lasting difference in the lives of every child they care for.
Let’s honor and support kinship families by recognizing all they do and helping ensure they have the resources and encouragement they need to thrive. Know a kinship caregiver? Take a moment to reach out, say thank you, and show your appreciation.

08/31/2026

Being a kinship or foster caregiver can sometimes be…hard. But you don’t have to do it alone.💛
Amara provides free, one-on-one support for caregivers in North King and East Pierce counties helping you navigate "the system" and find what each child needs to stabilize and begin to heal. Whether it’s mental health services, school support, child care, or other helpful resources, we’re here to connect you.
Learn more: https://amarafamily.org/support-for-caregivers/

08/28/2026

Sharing from the wonderful people at Alliance CaRES...

"We had such an amazing month building community with kinship and foster caregivers at our "Pop into the Park" events! These local events with bubbles and sparkles took place at parks across the state. Find more events with CaRES at AllianceCaRES.org
Thank you to our incredible community partners for supporting our "Pop into the Park" events: Amara, Eileen & Callie's Place, The Fostering Growth Foundation, Olive Crest - Eastern Washington, Coordinated Care, Fosterful, Catholic Charities’ WiSE Program in Kitsap County, DYCF Kelso Office, Kitsap County Parent to Parent, Kitsap County Parent Coalition, Thurston County Kinship Navigators, The Mockingbird Society, and Youthnet!
"

08/28/2026

💈Free Haircuts for Kids in Foster & Kinship Care!💈
Getting kids ready for back to school is expensive. We're so thankful for Southpaw Barbershop in West Seattle for offering free haircuts every other Sunday to kids in and .💛
A huge thank-you to the awesome barbers, Tommy and Jeff, for making this possible and giving back to local families!🙏🙏
Foster and kinship families who would like a free haircut are encouraged to call or email ahead of time to reserve a Sunday appointment. Walk-ins are welcome too, though there may be a wait.
📧[email protected]
📞 512-595-9545
Please share to help spread the word to families who could benefit! ✂️❤️

08/27/2026

Wow! Thank you Ticket to Dream Foundation for helping us make sure so many young students had back to school this year in style! We appreciate all your help so much!

08/26/2026

When children in foster care reunite with their families, their foster caregivers sometimes wonder: “Did I make a difference? Has my time with them helped? Will they remember me?”

For Amara foster caregivers Kate and Sami, the answer is found in the small but lasting lessons they share with every child they welcome into their home. Along with providing emotional safety and individualized care, they teach each child a lifelong skill they take with them when they reunite with their families. They taught school-age twins how to make their favorite dish, homemade macaroni and cheese. They taught two other young siblings how to ride a two-wheel bicycle and how to keep their heads above water in a swimming pool. In this intentional way, Kate and Sami know that their time with each child makes a difference.

Read their story: https://amarafamily.org/2026/08/joy-in-the-journey/

08/25/2026

Sharing from the wonderful people at Tacoma Community House:

"🎒💙 Back to School Community Health Fair!
Join us for a fun and family-friendly event with free school supplies for the first 200 families, health screenings, food, raffles, health information, face painting, and more! 📚✏️
🗓️ Friday, August 28, 2026
⏰ 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 Tacoma Community House
1314 S. “L” Street, Tacoma
🩷 Mammography Van: 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM
📞 𝐓𝐨 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦: 𝟐𝟎𝟔-𝟔𝟎𝟔-𝟕𝟖𝟎𝟎
Bring your family and get ready for the new school year while connecting with valuable health and community resources. We hope to see you there! 🎒✨
"

🎒💙 Back to School Community Health Fair!

Join us for a fun and family-friendly event with free school supplies for the first 200 families, health screenings, food, raffles, health information, face painting, and more! 📚✏️

🗓️ Friday, August 28, 2026
⏰ 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 Tacoma Community House
1314 S. “L” Street, Tacoma

🩷 Mammography Van: 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM
📞 𝐓𝐨 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦: 𝟐𝟎𝟔-𝟔𝟎𝟔-𝟕𝟖𝟎𝟎

Bring your family and get ready for the new school year while connecting with valuable health and community resources. We hope to see you there! 🎒✨