Program Mission
The mission of the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe Kinship Care Program is to recognize our responsibility to provide a safe and nurturing environment for our children while providing necessary services to our kinship families.
Program Description
PGST established its Kinship Care Program, commonly known as a Kinship Navigator Program, in 2016 to serve kin caregivers caring for PGST children in Kitsap County, Washington. A tribal member who is also an elder and a kin caregiver in the community provided instrumental leadership in the early development of the program and the implementation of feedback from grandfamilies and kinship families from the community. The Kinship Care Program was informed by a tribal needs assessment, and the program is currently working with an evaluator to ensure that the program is aligned with identified community needs. The assessment was made possible through the relationships that the tribal elder established with the community. Community members trusted her and invited her into their homes to talk about their experiences and needs. This approach to hiring trusted community members to serve PGST children, their families, and kin caregivers continues today. As a result, the program was built from and continues to amplify the voices, ideas, and needs of the PGST community for the PGST community.
Contact Us
Office Phone: (360) 297-9669
Cell Phone: (360) 536-8471
Email: starla@pgst.nsn.us
Address: 31912 Little Boston Rd NE
Kingston, WA 98346
Documents and Forms
Overview of Kinship Parenting Program