How to advocate for kids during the COVID-19 crisis

With the recent spread of COVID-19 into Washington and Whatcom County, we know that each of our lives are changing rapidly.  There is no doubt that some part of your routine has been affected by social distancing or the stay at home order. Regardless of how your patterns have changed, we’d like to give you the opportunity to remember kids in our community who may be lacking safety at this time.

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Many families in our community rely on their child’s school to provide meals, adult supervision, and a safe place for kids to be during the day.  Statewide school closures mean that parents and families are making big changes to their daily routines, and are bound to experience some stress as a result.  Skookum suspects other stress factors like loss of income, lack of childcare, food and other resource insecurity may lead vulnerable children to be hurt even more.

There have always been three main ways to support the work of Skookum Kids.  Give, Volunteer and Advocate. Historically it seemed that the priority ran in that order too.  If you can’t give, volunteer, and if you can’t volunteer, then tell your friends about our work.  But now more than ever, we need advocacy at the top of the list. Our work has always been People First, Mission Second, and now we’re asking you to add advocating for children to your list.

Here are some ways you can advocate for youth in our community  at this time:

  • Educate yourself further on the current state of child welfare

    • Check out the short film “ReMoved” on YouTube or watch the movie “Short Term 12”

    • April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, check out Brigid Collins Family Support Center as a local resource

  • Follow us on Facebook and Instagram

    • We’re always sharing what’s new at Skookum Kids and around the state!

    • Bonus points if you’re following along on what’s developing with Skookum Kids Yakima or are sharing our posts for your friends to see--you never know which of your friends might be interested in joining us!

  • If you’re not local to the Bellingham area, check out fosteringfamilywa.org to see how you can get involved across the Puget Sound region

  • If you’re comfortable, pick up a bag of groceries for a neighbor in need, or simply say “Hi, how are you?” while everyone is out playing in the yard

  • Check in with your friends who are foster parents- see if they need a gallon of milk or a hot cup of coffee!

  • Check in with your friends who are educators, they are missing the kids they work with deeply (and if you’re an educator, thank you for all the work you do to support kids in your community)

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