We support the people and organizations who empower youth through expanded learning.
School’s Out Washington is working to ensure equitable access to high-quality, youth development programs across Washington state—especially for low-income youth and youth of color. Through advocacy, professional learning, and grants we have created a foundation of support and expertise that enables and enriches the critical work of youth-serving organizations.
Trainings & Workshops
May 13 — May 27
May 13 — May 27
May 29
(9:30 am — 3:45 pm)
May 29
(10:00 am — 12:30 pm)
May 30
(10:00 am — 11:00 am)
Empathy Matters (Supervisors)
May 13, 2025 — May 27, 2025
Format: SOWA Online Learning Library
Topic: Through interactive courses and practical activities, you’ll gain tools to integrate empathy into your work, model it effectively, and develop strategies for embedding empathy-building practices into youth programs.
STARS Credits: 2
Empathy Matters (Staff)
May 13, 2025 — May 27, 2025
Format: SOWA Online Learning Library
Topic: Through interactive courses and practical activities, you’ll gain tools to integrate empathy into your work, model it effectively, and develop strategies for embedding empathy-building practices into youth programs.
STARS Credits: 2
Youth Mental Health First Aid
May 29, 2025 (9:30 am — 3:45 pm)
Format: Virtual
Topic: Youth Mental Health First Aid trains adults to support teens (ages 12–18) facing mental health or substance use challenges or crises.
STARS Credits: 7.5
Building Community (IN PERSON)
May 29, 2025 (10:00 am — 12:30 pm)
Format: Rainier Scholars – Tacoma, 1614 S Mildred St suite c
Topic: This interactive workshop will introduce participants to a variety of activities designed to support the community building process.
STARS Credits: 2
Facilitator Community Of Practice
May 30, 2025 (10:00 am — 11:00 am)
Format: Virtual
Topic: Facilitators will share knowledge and mentor peers to enhance skills, alignment, and professional growth in youth development.
STARS Credits: 1
Stories
VIEW ALLQuality Spotlight: Living Well Kent
For youth program coordinators Yusuf Ali-Halane and Ankita Gupta, engaging with quality improvement has been a journey of both individual growth and collective transformation for the youth and families they serve at Living Well Kent. As a Black, Indigenous, and...
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News & Updates
VIEW ALLSeptember 26
Private: Hiring Announcement: Policy and Advocacy DirectorOverview:For over 30 years, SOWA has been supporting an equitable ecosystem of expanded learning programs for Washington’s youth by helping after-school, summer, and child care programs beco...
September 16
Meet 2024 Bridge Conference closing plenary speaker: Luis OrtegaLuis Ortega Luis (he/they) is a multidisciplinary storyteller, educator, facilitator, narrative strategist, and the founder and director at Storytellers for Change. Over the last 16 years, L...
September 13
2023: A Year of Strategic Mobilization and Advocacy for Youth DevelopmentAs an intermediary in Washington, mobilizing, convening, and advocating to fund the youth development field were fundamental objectives in 2023. Upon hiring our strategy and partnerships dir...
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Join the Youth Development Strategy Table
learn moreThe Youth Development Strategy Table is a coalition of public and nonprofit stakeholders working to establish a focused state-level youth development effort to sustain early learning gains, improve academic and social-emotional outcomes, and prevent deep end system involvement.
learn moreList your program and get on the map!
Check out Elevate Washington
Elevate Washington is a member-based youth program data system and public directory. It includes nonprofits, businesses, and agencies that offer afterschool enrichment, childcare, youth services, and a range of other opportunities and support for children and young people (ages 5 to 24).
SOWA created the Elevate Washington so that we have the tools and information needed to see where youth programs are operating in our state and better understand who’s being served. With this critical data, we’re able to advocate for resources and also provide families with an easy way to find programs in their area.
Learn more!