The awardee is a Tribal member of Gwichyaa Zhee Gwich’in Tribal Government. She is currently a foster parent licensed by the State and she has held a Tribal license in the past. She has held either a Tribal or State Foster Care license for over 20 years.
The awardee has four adult daughters and she is raising three foster children as a single parent while working full-time. She comes from a large family in the interior. Her grandmother, the late Hannah Solomon, is someone who always had her door open and she took care of countless children.
Ourawardee was raised to live by the traditional value of loving our children and she has worked inseveral capacities to make sure all children feel loved and supported.
This awardee received several nominations. One nomination stated, “She comes from a long line of love. Women who have opened their hearts and their homes to the children that needed it. She has continued the tradition of creating a safe, loving and supportive home to children in need.”
Our awardee has worked hard to ensure both her biological, foster, and adopted children are given the same opportunities. Sometimes that’s waking up at 5:30 am to bring her girls to basketball practice, driving 6 hours after working for five days straight to bring them to a camp in Anchorage orvusing her own money and time to take them on vacations they otherwise would not have experienced. She wants all the children in her life to feel loved and safe.
Michelle’s foster children call her grandma. One of the girls wrote, “My grandma Michelle is the most warming grandma you’ll ever meet. I’m so thankful to have her in my life and for taking care of me and my sister. Even though she’s a single grandmother she’s been working super hard to raise us and help us when it’s needed. I love my grandma.”
As we continue to struggle in having and retaining licensed foster homes both state and tribal, we want to make sure we take time recognize and commend resource families. So with that said, let’s congratulations our 2023 State Foster Parent of the Year, Michelle Peter.