Kinship Navigator Honored at Governor's Mansion

Mary Pleger, Catholic Charities Kinship Navigator, was honored at a July 24 reception hosted by Trudi Inslee at the governor’s mansion in Olympia. The 13th Annual Voices of Children Contest Award Ceremony recognizes kinship children who have an opportunity to draw or write what it means to live with their caregivers. Each year they dedicate the published book to someone who has impacted kinship work in Washington State. Mary was the recipient this year, cited as a “key partner in launching supportive services for grandparents and relatives raising children and their families.”

Mary has served as one of the state’s first Kinship Navigators. Working for Catholic Charities for 25 years, Mary has partnered with Casey Family Programs, and the Southeast Washington Aging & Long Term Care organization to develop, sustain, and grow this service for Kinship Care families.

In the dedication to Mary, they wrote: “She is a woman of action whose professionalism, dedication, and critical thinking ability has left a trail others could easily follow. Mary understands the deep impact of poverty and thoughtfully coordinates services to ensure respectful, timely and meaningful resources are available to those in need.”

Kinship Navigator Honored at Governor's Mansion

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