Tag: Best Starts for Kids

How literacy is changing lives and building community in Kent

By School's Out Washington

Coalition for Refugees from Burma (CRB), based in Kent, knows that literacy is a vehicle that changes lives. Their programs provide support for immigrant and refugee communities across the age spectrum, always with an eye trained towards self-advocacy. Executive Director, Mona Han wants to work herself out of a job—a philosophy that influences all aspects of the organization. While some social service organizations utilize a case management strategy and aim to be a one-stop-shop to access a wide range of supports from rental assistance to counseling sessions to bus passes, CRB has stayed focused on their specialty: literacy as a … [ ]

King County Best Starts for Kids quality out-of-school time initiative extended for fourth year

By School's Out Washington

The Out-of-School Time Initiative, a part of King County Best Starts for Kids, began in 2018 and was slated to provide youth program providers with funding and quality improvement support through 2020. The initiative is designed to increase access to high quality and culturally relevant summer and afterschool programming for elementary and middle school youth. In total, $8.3 million was distributed to 12 People-of-Color-Led organizations and 7 Place-Based Partnerships (representing 26 organizations). The cohort represents dynamic, engaging youth development work and has fostered a richer landscape of services across King County In January of last year, the SOWA Best Starts team was gearing up to enter the final assessment season, collecting data on programs’ gains, and planning to close out the inaugural cycle with a bang. When COVID hit, communities across the county (and the world) scrambled to support each … [ ]

It takes a village—community, family, and furry friends promote reading in Auburn

Trying new things can be nerve-wracking, so calm and non-judgmental support makes all the difference. For kids working on their reading skills in the Firwood Circle housing community in Auburn, the best support comes from dogs. Every week, through the Reading with Rover (RWR) program, they are able to have time in a zoom meeting where they read to a trained therapy dog. “It’s really comforting to the kids, and creates a safe space. Their anxiety doesn’t get in the way when they’re reading,” says Andy Pham, Youth Engagement Coordinator with Neighborhood House (NH) at Firwood Circle. “And the dogs are good listeners and … [ ]

Persistence and growth-mindset—how staff and youth alike at Filipino Community of Seattle are adapting to a new normal

What does it mean to fail? What needs to be renegotiated in how we talk about success and challenge? If youth workers strive to foster growth mindset in the young people they work with, what does it mean to extend that kind of grace to ourselves, to remain tenacious as adults? The coronavirus pandemic has provided seemingly endless creative opportunities to do things differently. Filipino Community of Seattle (FCS) demonstrates remarkable agility and unwavering commitment to their mission, even when things don’t go according to plan. Given that their youth programming is anchored in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics), it makes sense that … [ ]

Magic mamas—how parent partnership is expanding learning in Northgate

Out-of-School Time program staff are partnering with parents in new ways during this pandemic. With in-person programming mostly closed down, kids are connecting with youth programs virtually from their living rooms and kitchens. And staff are getting creative.   For Rebecca Brito, Recreation Leader at Northgate Elementary with Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR)—a Best Starts for Kids Collaborative with STEMPaths Innovation Network (SPIN)—this parent partnership has been the secret sauce for supporting her students. By tapping into the existing leadership of two mothers in the community, Feben Ghirmatzion and Blanca Melgarejo, nearly 40 kids have stayed engaged in programming despite not being able to attend in person.  “I’ve tried to hire them so many times!” she says, laughing.   The current program design happened organically, building on strong relationships. … [ ]

Cascade Middle School students become wellness ambassadors

Students and teachers were settling into their seats in the gym of Cascade Middle School in Auburn, where the statement, “Today is going to be awesome,” shone bright on the projector screen. It was a bold claim, considering it was nine in the morning on a chilly Saturday in February. The principal of Cascade, Megan McGroarty, welcomed the student leaders and teachers from her school, as well as school staff from across the district and youth development staff from Neighborhood House. They had all gathered to learn from Generation Wellness, an organization dedicated to fostering thriving schools by focusing on well-being. This … [ ]