Ever find yourself facing a struggle at home or in your daily life and not know who to turn to?
Shorewood’s Family Advocate, Morgan Huber, might be the person to help. “If there’s anything in [a student’s] life that is inhibiting them from showing up as their best self here at Shorewood, it’s my job to help them take care of that,” they said.
As a Family Advocate, their position includes a broad range of roles. “I spend a lot of my time helping students and families find access to food, housing, financial resources, health insurance, seeing a doctor, getting a therapist, working on LGBTQIA+ resources, POC resources, helping students get IDs, legal support… there’s tons and tons of stuff that I do, but those are just some of the most common things,” they said.
Huber has been volunteering and working with kids since they were 19. Before becoming a family advocate at Shorewood, Huber worked as an advocate at Cocoon House, a homeless youth organization in Snohomish County.
Now, they have an office in room 1207 E, one door down from the attendance window and the nurse’s office.
“I am just part-time, so I’m here 20 hours a week. Typically, I’m here Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, from 8 a.m. to 2 or 3 p.m… people can pop into my office if they have questions, they can call me, they can email me,” Huber said.
So, why should students contact them? Huber says they can help with nearly any situation, including if you’re feeling worried about someone else in your life.
“They can come to me if they’re worried about a friend, if they’re worried about themselves, if there is a concern about their basic needs or their safety, if their friends are not safe, or if their friend’s in a tricky situation,” they said.
The most frequent need that Huber helps out with is housing–whether it’s through housing applications, finding low-income housing, emergency youth shelters, or other situations. However, they also guide students through other complex processes, like navigating health insurance, access to therapy, and their legal rights as youth.
One resource Huber encouraged students to check out is their ‘Help Yourself Shelf.’ Located in the 1207 hallway, outside of Huber’s office, the ‘Help Yourself Shelf’ provides free necessities to any student who needs them.
The shelf provides items like food, soaps, toothbrushes, socks, beanies, and more, at no cost.
“It’s pretty normal, pretty common for kids to just walk into my hallway and grab those things if they want it. I’d not be stressed about coming in and asking or grabbing something off the shelf and going on your merry way,” Huber said.
Their office is always welcoming. “Even if a student thinks, ‘maybe Morgan can’t help with that.’ It’s my job to know who can help with that. So, really, students can come to me anytime with anything, and if I can’t help them, I’ll figure out who the right person is to reach out for help,” Huber said.
You can find Huber’s office in room 1207 E–stop by during school on Tuesdays, Thursdays, or Fridays, or email them at: [email protected]
