Parenting can come with its challenges. Rewarding and joyful, but also difficult at times. Sometimes families encounter challenges that are especially trying for both the parent and the child.
In an effort to acknowledge the powerful work parents do every day, Governor Jay Inslee proclaimed February as Parent Recognition Month and we are celebrating extraordinary caregivers in our state with our Unsung Heroes Campaign.
Since 2011, we have honored 224 individuals in Washington for the roles they have taken with their families, schools and communities. They are recognized because they show strength, courage and empathy in their communities. We focus on honoring individuals who have used one or more of the protective factors to make a difference in their community, a child or children’s lives:
- Parental Resilience – overcoming hard times and bouncing back
- Concrete Supports in Times of Need – knowing where to turn to for help
- Social and Emotional Competence of Children – knowing how to help children talk about feelings
- Social Connections – reaching out and knowing who can support you
- Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development – knowing where to go for information on parenting skills and children’s developmental growth
This month, we are recognizing 29 individuals who were nominated for the Unsung Heroes award. We’re partnering with Seattle’s Child to feature one honoree each day on their website. Be sure to check out DCYF’s Facebook and Twitter feeds each day to see who the Unsung Hero is.
We hope you will find their stories as inspiring and uplifting as we did! And to all our honorees, congratulations!