Hummingbird Indigenous Family Services (HIFS) is a Seattle-based 501(c)(3) organization with the mission of ‘Healthy Indigenous babies born into healthy Indigenous families, supported by healthy Indigenous communities. Hummingbird was founded in 2021 and is the first and only Indigenous agency in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties to exclusively serve Indigenous families during the critical prenatal period through age 3 .
Hummingbird Indigenous Family Services believes that every parent is the perfect parent for their baby and that healthy mothers and babies are the foundation of a healthy community. We believe the best thing for Native children is to love and care for those who gave birth to them. They serve pregnant and parenting people that identify as Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander.
HIFS has supported hundreds of families, whom they refer to as Relatives (clients). Their direct service programs include their Indigenous BirthKeepers Program, The Nest, Storytelling Program and Pilimakua Family Connections. All of which are voluntary and free-of-cost.
Indigenous BirthKeepers is a culturally responsive, full spectrum, Indigenous doula program services to pregnant people throughout the perinatal period. This includes support for pre-conception, pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and pregnancy loss or release (abortion).
The Nest is the first guaranteed income pilot to exclusively serve Indigenous mamas in the United States! 150 families will receive $1250, no-strings-attached monthly payments to Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander pregnant people until their child’s third birthday.
Pilimakua Family Connections provides Indigenous-centered services to support the physical, social-emotional, cognitive, and cultural health of children and the whole family. Home visiting, parent groups, community connection events and emotional peer support are all offered. We also have Community and Cultural Engagement (Fireweed Connections), Storytelling, and Data Sovereignty Program (in house evaluation).

Opportunities include, but are not limited to:
- Facilitating activities at community events, parents’ groups, and/or home visits
- Planning and organizing a community event, parents group, and/or home visit
- Shadowing home visits, intakes, check ins, etc.
- Resource navigation for families
- Leading independent home visits or postpartum visits with families
- Reflective practice with clients

Opportunities include, but are not limited to:
- Attend county, state, and regional policy and organizing meetings
- Develop partnerships with other organizations

Opportunities include, but are not limited to:
- Prepare literature reviews for policy action
- Assist in development of Native family lobby day
- Participate in Maternal Mortality Review Community of Practice
- Assist with data collection and be involved in ongoing research in our Data Sovereignty Program

Training and professional development opportunities.

- 15-20 years of personal or professional experience working closely with American Indian/Alaska Native, Pacific Islander and/or Native Hawaiian communities.
- Proven ability to navigate complex systems
- Work independently with regular contact/coordination with the supervisor and team
- Ability to understand and think creatively about complex problems
- Ability to work with conflicting deadlines
- Occasional lifting up to 50 pounds
- If working directly with clients, position may require driving to client homes
- Must pass a background investigation, including relevant criminal history

N/A

Please submit a resume and cover letter to chrissy@hummingbird-ifs.org and write “MSW Practicum Student Application” in the subject line.