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Centering Joy—How Best Starts ensures King County youth are happy, healthy, safe and thriving

Jun 30, 2021

By School's Out Washington

The Best Starts for Kids initiative is designed to ensure that all young people in King County are happy, healthy, safe and thriving. In the Out-of-School Time initiative, SOWA partners with organizations providing afterschool and summer programming to elementary and middle school age youth. Our cohort of providers prioritize the well-being of their participants and their community. There is no shortage of happiness within their work! Below are two organizations who made it their mission to spread joy during difficult times. Empowering Youth and Families Outreach (EYFO) developed creative ways to connect, despite isolation within the pandemic. The organization held … [ ]

5 things you can do today to support LGBTQ youth

Jun 17, 2021

By Tran Tonnu and Janell Jordan

For LGBTQ folks, June is an important month of celebration and awareness. While commemorating the 1969 Stonewall Riots in New York, Pride also serves as a reminder of the fearless existence of LGBTQ people. Though often a joyful occasion, the everyday lived reality of many LGBTQ people—especially those with multiple intersecting marginalized identities—cannot be overlooked. This year alone more than 250 anti-LGBTQ bills have been introduced in states across the country, many of which directly affect young people. In 2020 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released the national Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance report showing that LGBTQ students … [ ]

Creating a new ecosystem of support for children and families

May 25, 2021

Launch “leads the charge to brilliant outcomes for the children of our community by ensuring equitable access to the highest quality learning and care. Their twelve locations have deep, committed relationships with school districts, including Seattle Public Schools.” Their collaboration with the school district allows staff to communicate and partner with teachers, “ensuring what children learn in our before and after-school programs complement and support what they’re learning in the classroom, readying them for kindergarten.” Launch remained open throughout the COVID-19 pandemic with only a short closure of two weeks in March 2020. Since then they have shifted their work … [ ]

Beyond Babysitting — Why child care providers matter in communities

May 22, 2021

By Adriana Zazula

Since 1987, TenderCare Children’s Center has been a place of discovery and family for infants to 12 year-olds in Clarkston, Washington, in the SE corner of the state. Their programs allow for youth to explore and be part of the world around them, from trips to the aquatic center to craft time in senior living facilities. TenderCare supports its youth with a holistic and heartfelt approach. They make educational and enriching programs a priority. Recently, they’ve grown their literacy programs in engaging ways that include book contests and games. “We want to give kids all kinds of experiences. We always … [ ]

Learning outside the box of an indoor classroom

May 21, 2021

By Adriana Zazula

Tucked in the heart of the Methow Valley is a 1.5-acre classroom. For over 17 years, Classroom in Bloom has taught youth to grow healthy and fresh food, get outdoors and be mindful of the world around them. As a SOWA Feed Your Brain grantee, Classroom in Bloom is one of several projects that run summer learning programs in rural areas of Washington state. “Everything is interconnected—math, science, nutrition, and even art—when you’re outdoors.” —Executive Director Kim Romain-Bondi Classroom in Bloom’s community garden in the Methow Valley and smaller gardens throughout Okanogan County inspire youth to connect to the land … [ ]

Best Starts for Kids  renewal  headed to the August 2021  ballot in King County! 

May 12, 2021

By School's Out Washington

Holistic community support for youth and families. This is the overarching purpose of King County’s Best Starts for Kids Initiative. As we’ve seen with the inaugural Best Starts Out-of-School Time grant—led by School’s Out Washington—increasing the availability of high-quality, culturally relevant youth programs means that our region’s kids grow academically, socially, and emotionally. And this August, voters will have the opportunity to ensure that life-changing youth programs stay strong. With the support of King County voters, we’ve provided funding, coaching, program quality support, and capacity building for more than three years to 35 organizations and partnerships. SOWA focused on two important models for this … [ ]

Author: School's Out Washington