Amara

Amara has a bold vision to change the world when it comes to how we support and care for children, adults, and families experiencing foster care and adoption, in our communities. We believe all people, regardless of circumstance, deserve the opportunity to thrive. As a nonprofit 501(c)3, we partner with people and communities most impacted by our child welfare system, to address trauma, build connections, and ultimately ensure all children, adults and families feel safe and supported, with a commitment to equity every step of the way.

Our Mission: Amara is committed to positive long-term outcomes for children and families. We drive systemic change, promote healing, and advance racial equity by offering programs and services to families engaged with foster care and to adoptees and families, post-adoption. 

Our Vision: Amara envisions a just and equitable world where all children, youth, adults and communities can grow and thrive.

Since 1921, Amara has been devoted to meeting the needs of children and families in the Puget Sound region. Amara began as the Medina Baby Home — an orphanage — and over the decades has evolved as an innovative organization that seeks to fill the gaps in child welfare by taking risks and breaking down systemic barriers to provide respectful, affirming care and support to all children in foster care, adoptees, and families. 

Since 1921, Amara has been dedicated to meeting the needs of children and families in our community who have been impacted by foster care or adoption with a focus on those who are most impacted including Black and Indigenous children and families, low-income and LGBTQ+ communities.

Amara's Foster Care Services program offers training, services, and ongoing support every step of the way through the foster care journey. We work with individuals and couples inclusive of marital status, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and race, who are open to accepting the unknowns of foster care, supportive of reunification and able to provide a safe and affirming home for children in their care.

Amara recognizes adoption as a lifelong experience, Amara’s Post-Adoption program is dedicated to supporting adoptees, birth families and adoptive families in order to promote stability and fulfilling family relationships.

Through a series of initiatives, including our 29 acre property in Pierce County, Amara works with our community to transform our child welfare system into one that prioritizes family wellbeing. We continue to center innovative practices that influence and shape the field through informed practice and policy influence to ensure that all children, adults and families have what they need to grow and thrive.