Joan B. Poliak Seattle Field Office

The Seattle Field Office team establishes enduring connections for youth and young adults while working alongside King County to achieve safe, legal permanency and optimal well-being for all youth we serve. We recruit, train and support resource families to care for older youth (ages 11 to 18), with an emphasis on their role as partners in the effort to achieve legal and relational permanency. We engage extended family to support the youth and families who are involved with the foster care system. We honor the unique culture of each youth and family, including racial and ethnic identity, sexual orientation and gender identity, and religious and spiritual beliefs. We also partner with the Washington Department of Social and Health Services’ Children’s Administration, Region 4, to provide permanency-focused co-case management, enriching our work through the mutual learning that takes place.

Education is a priority in our work. We provide educational advocacy to ensure youth receive the support they need to achieve their potential and to graduate from high school. We stay involved with many of our youth beyond age 18, supporting them to go on to college and connecting them with scholarships and other community resources to support their success.

We also collaborate with King County Superior Court, Child Welfare League of America and other local stakeholders to help strengthen our communities so all children and families can thrive.