Bias in the Family: Race, Ethnicity and Culture in Custody Disputes

Madeline is serving as a Volunteer Recruitment Specialist for Child Advocates out of Klickitat and Skamania County through AmeriCorps. She is a new resident of Klickitat County and is a first-time mother. Prior to her current role, she worked with vulnerable youth entering adulthood out of Vancouver, WA.

Madeline values conflict resolution within families. She especially believes in positive engagement among family members, and personal accountability in the lives of the adults that lead the way.

Julie Hodges is serving her first term  as a Washington Child Advocate Volunteer Recruitment Specialist in San Juan and Skagit counties. Julie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Early Care and Education from UW Seattle and an Associate of Arts and Sciences from Bellevue College. She also is certified to teach. Julie has worked in the childcare/early learning field for over 25 years and is passionate about working with children and their families.

She advocates and serves her community through a variety of organizations. She is passionate about her work and plans to further her education and continue to advocate for those in need.

Shateeka is currently in her first year as a WACAP AmeriCorps Volunteer Recruitment Specialist. She
is passionate about helping families in her community. As she embarks on this new journey, she is
determined to make a positive contribution to both her team and the communities of Benton and
Franklin counties.

Shateeka’s goal is to continue learning as much as possible so she can make a meaningful impact
on the community. Additionally, she aims to enhance her work experience through the experiences
available to her so she can thrive in her chosen path in Human Resources. Outside of work,
Shateeka is a mom of two boys and is also attending college to pursue her career in HR. During
Shateeka’s free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends.

Angelique Armstrong is a Volunteer Child Advocate Recruiter with over 20 years of experience in diverse customer service roles across various industries. Driven by a deep sense of fulfillment in serving others, she has built her career around providing attentive, understanding, and compassionate support to help people navigate the complex business landscape.

Throughout my career, she has worked in fields such as finance, healthcare, and face-to-face client services. During her time with a major bank, she played a critical role in retaining a valued client, earning numerous commendations for outstanding service, with client appreciation as the most rewarding recognition.

As a CASA Volunteer Recruiter, her mission is to inspire and engage our diverse community to advocate for children, working toward family reunification and better outcomes.

“Hear a voice, be a voice, help make the right choice”, this is Angelique’s new Motto!

Quimara Brown is a dedicated AmeriCorps Member of the WACAP program, where she seeks to make a meaningful difference in her community. Aspiring to become a doctor and driven by a passion for child welfare and community support, Quimara brings her commitment to helping others into her current role. Her leadership as the founder of the Student Council of Minorities in Pre-Health further reflects her commitment to inclusivity and healthcare advancement for underrepresented groups.

Trinity is serving her first year as a Child Advocate Volunteer Recruiter with WACAP’s AmeriCorps Program. She has previous experience working with foster youth and recruitment at iFoster’s AmeriCorps program. She is a recent University of Washington Tacoma graduate pursuing her MSW degree.

She has experience in the child welfare system which is why she believes in keeping families together. She also has a strong focus on ensuring children are safe, heard, and seen. Her goal is to ensure that children and families are provided with their needs and advocates that steps should remain for children to be a part of their racial community and culture.

If you want to learn more about Trinity’s experience as an AmeriCorp member or volunteer with Pierce County as a Child Advocate Volunteer you can contact her at pierce@wachildadvocates.org.

McKenzie Hartley is currently serving her second term in Grant County Washington as a
Volunteer Recruitment Specialist. McKenzie is a former Central Washington University
Graduate and a current Master’s student at Walla Walla University School of Social Work.

McKenzie’s mission is to seek qualified and motivated child advocates for children in the
Washington State Dependency System.

McKenzie looks forward to helping teens and youth in a
social services capacity after the end of her term.

Jillian serves as an AmeriCorps Volunteer Recruitment Specialist for the Whatcom County Volunteer Guardian ad Litem (VGAL) Program, where she focuses on building a community of compassionate and dedicated volunteer child advocates who represent the best interests of children in the court system. Growing up in Central Washington among apple and cherry orchards, Jillian learned early on the importance of community and the power of accessible support systems.

As a Graduate Student in Audiology, Jillian brings a strong commitment to inclusivity, communication, and accessibility to her work with the VGAL Program. Her experience as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT), supporting individuals with neurodevelopmental and behavioral challenges, has shaped her approach to recruitment. She prioritizes “meeting individuals where they are at”, with empathy and respect striving to ensure that every advocate is prepared to serve children with compassion, dignity, and integrity.

When she’s not deep in her schoolwork, Jillian loves spending time with her friends and grandparents, playing with her pets, playing video games, or getting a little too competitive over Settlers of Catan. Growing up in a small town, she’s all about close connections and loves making a comfortable, welcoming space for the people (and animals) she cares about. 

Amanda is the current Thurston County Volunteer Recruitment Specialist for the Washington Association of Child Advocate Programs, AmeriCorps Program. She is also the Volunteer Coordinator for a medical non profit as well as a Foster Parent Mentor with the Alliance CaRES Program.

Her involvement in the fostering community began when she, with her family, opened her home to children in the dependency system, as a licensed foster parent. While Amanda has since closed her home to foster care, she is dedicated to serving and supporting the fostering community any way she can. Amanda looks forward to her continued work as a Mentor and her new role as a Volunteer Recruitment Specialist.

Kierra has been a WACAP AmeriCorps Volunteer Child Advocate Recruiter for three years. She has a strong interest in helping children and families lead healthy, fulfilling lives. Now in her third term with Clallam County she has taken over full recruitment responsibilities and has coordinated and participated in all of their local events.

Kierra’s goal is to continue giving back to her community in a reliable and stable career position that helps others in need. Outside of work, Kierra enjoys spending her time listening to audiobooks with her dogs and making fresh sourdough bread for friends, family, and coworkers.

If you’re interested in learning more about Kierra’s experience as an AmeriCorps Member or want to volunteer with Clallam County, you can contact her at kierra@wachildadvocates.org. Help her help children in need by volunteering today!