In Snohomish County, you can find a family of three that goes on bike rides, celebrates with movie nights, adventures in the forest, and has lots of laughs. This family unit was formed about two years ago when Jaxon — who was 16 months old at the time — moved to Washington to live with his grandparents Shaun and Brenda.
As of July 2025, nearly 59% of the children and youth in foster care in Washington state are being cared for by a relative or family friend. This type of foster care is called kinship care and helps children stay connected to their community and culture. For 3-year-old Jaxon, being cared for by his grandparents means plenty of quality time with his large extended family.
“Jaxon is able to spend time with great grandparents, aunts, and uncles,” said Brenda. “They all share stories, memories, and family history with Jaxon which I think is very important and is one of the major benefits of being cared for by kin.”
According to research, when a child is unable to remain in the care of their parents, kinship care is the next best option, leading to better mental health and behavioral outcomes, better performance in school, and more placement stability than traditional forms of out-of-home care.
When they couldn’t find books that spoke about kinship care, the couple decided to write one. “Jaxon and the Magic of the Forest” was inspired by the beauty of nature and the strength of kinship and foster families.
Today, the couple are now Jaxon’s full-time caregivers and are proud of their “energetic, smart, and empathetic” preschooler.
“When you take on raising a child it’s all encompassing, your whole life revolves around them,” said Shaun. “I knew that my grandson was not going to get a decent shot at a childhood if he stayed where he was. Becoming his caregiver was a big change, but a positive one.”
September is Kinship Care Month, a time to celebrate and appreciate caregivers who are providing stability and love to relatives and close family friends who are unable to live with their parents. Learn more about kinship care.
