When it comes to raising a large family, resourcefulness is key! It's all about finding ways to make things work. Just ask mom of six, Ophelia*. Ophelia’s one of those moms you hear about who has an endless supply of love. With kids ages one to 18, she has been remarkably resilient through life’s ups and downs. Being a single, working mom of six means money can get tight, but Ophelia never lets it stop her. While she’s proud of her resourcefulness, she also isn’t shy about asking for help when needed. During an appointment with the local Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) food program, she aske ..read more

As she stepped into the therapist’s office, 4-year-old Ruth* nervously glanced around the room, fluctuating between curiosity and fear. She and her parents had arrived at one of Children’s Home Society of Washington’s (CHSW) Family Resource Centers (FRC) to get Ruth support with her recent bouts of inexplicable anxiety, particularly around taking baths. While their initial counseling session was promising, at subsequent appointments, Ruth’s anxiety flared, eventually limiting her to virtual appointments only. Soon, she began experiencing panic attacks in public, and eventually, her distress be ..read more

An FRC, or Family Resource Center, is a one-stop shop that provides comprehensive services and support to families and individuals in need. At Children's Home Society of Washington (CHSW), we are proud to operate eight FRCs across the state, each offering a safe and welcoming environment where families can access a wide range of resources and services. Our FRCs are designed to empower communities through the Family Pathways Framework, which focuses on three key areas: General Services, Center Services, and Family Development. General Services include walk-in information and referrals to other ..read more

Briana H. is a Washington state native who grew up in a small town in central Washington. After high school she continued her education at college in North Idaho, focusing her studies on childhood development which was a passion area for Briana she planned to pursue as a career path.  Briana’s pursuit of her professional dreams came to a halt in 2019. Pregnant and dealing with substance use issues, Briana’s daughter was placed on a hospital hold immediately after her birth on July 10. Following five days in the NICU, she was released to the care of her paternal grandparents, a traumatizin ..read more

Even with abundant love for their daughter and the best intentions, Annie* and Tom still needed help navigating co-parenting after their divorce. “When our marriage ended, Tom and I sat down and promised to do our best to put Megan first,” said Annie. “We knew we needed to make a conscious effort to co-parent for her sake.” Through joint custody, Megan spent alternating weeks between her parents’ homes. With this arrangement, Annie and Tom did their best to provide their daughter with the support and boundaries kids need, albeit with a few crucial differences in their parenting styles. Ultimat ..read more

Twins: they’re two peas in a pod. They’re twice as nice and make a dynamic duo and no one knows that better than Rosalia*, mom to Natalia and Federico. Like all loving parents, she wants what’s best for her children. However, Rosalia recognized the need for extra help to prepare the twins for school. A few years ago, when Rosalia’s eldest son started kindergarten, she watched helplessly as he struggled to adapt. Having never attended preschool or an early learning program, a school evaluation uncovered a speech delay that required therapy. Determined to give her children a head start, Rosalia ..read more

Family Resource Centers (FRCs): what are they, and why are they vital to the well-being of our communities? At Children's Home Society of Washington (CHSW), we like to think of an FRC as a one-stop shop where families and individuals can get all the help they need at a centralized location. FRCs offer a variety of services that are designed to empower our communities through the Family Pathways Framework. This involves three key areas: ·        General services, like walk-in information or referrals to another organization ·       ..read more

21-year Children’s Home Society of Washington (CHSW) veteran team member Kristin (Kris) Collier has been named the new North Central regional director. She most recently served as a program manager for the WISe program (Wraparound with Intensive Services) which provides comprehensive, specialized services for children with behavioral health needs and their families.   Kris learned of CHSW long before she came to work for the organization when she and her husband Brian were foster parents for 25 years, utilizing CHSW’s services in 1995 to provide support for one of her foster children ..read more

Rimi Afroze, an altruistic social services leader in Western Washington state has joined Children’s Home Society of Washington as the Northwest regional director. This newly created position within the family services organization will lead day-to-day activity and growth at three Family Resource Center locations in the Puget Sound area.   “We are thrilled to have Rimi join our leadership team in this newly developed capacity for the organization,” said Rick Purcell, chief family support & well-being officer. “We are confident her expertise, compassion and experience will allow fo ..read more

  A long journey has brought me to the Wenatchee Valley in central Washington state. I am thrilled to purse the next leg of my career in a newly created role as Washington Family Support Network Director in support of family well-being and development across the entire state of Washington for Children’s Home Society of Washington. I grew up in a small town in Wisconsin, the third child of two teachers. Growing up my mother partnered with a local hospital to develop a therapy program for women and children, and my father received his master’s degree in education, serving as president of hi ..read more