United Way of King County invests more than $4 million per year in programs that support young children to ensure school readiness. We are also a partner in SOAR, a community collaborative focused on the success of children and youth, and Born Learning, a public awareness campaign to highlight the importance of nurturance on brain development.
Brain research shows that children's brains are significantly developed by age 3. We believe that focusing resources and investments on ensuring quality learning environments for very young children is therefore a critical piece of funding education and will make an exponential difference in ensuring school success.
We support children wherever they are—with parents, friends, relatives and other informal caregivers, as well as in formal child care and preschool systems. We especially recognize that supporting parents is critical, as parents are their children's first teachers. United Way of King County staffed the work of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Parent Support for the Early Learning Council in the summer and fall of 2007, leading to strong proposals by that Council for investments and programs related to supporting parents of very young children.
Push for early learning continues in 2008
United Way of King County worked with key partners to raise awareness about the need for a stronger set of investments and policies around early learning. We achieved small-scale victories this year which build on gains made during last year's session.
The Department of Early Learning received $250,000 to conduct a study on the creation of Washington State Head Start. This action fell far short of the request to align the state’s current Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program with the state Head Start program. Aligning the programs would increase federal reimbursement to child care providers and increase programming standards and intensity for children. Moving forward we will continue to push the legislature to integrate the programs.
The legislature has asked counties to plan for and set aside money for early intervention services for children ages birth to three with developmental delays. We’re going to monitor how this request plays out and we will continue to pressure the legislature to require and fund these important services.
Early learning opportunities enhanced in 2007
Through our work staffing the Parent Support Ad Hoc Advisory Group of the advisory Early Learning Council before the legislative session, we were able to report unprecedented investments in young children that should have an impact on their ability to be successful in school and in life. As part of this advisory group we were able to weigh in on key bills and budget items adding a critical private sector voice to the process.
Exceptional leadership from Governor Gregoire, Representatives Ruth Kagi and Larry Haler, Senators Rosemary McAuliffe and Claudia Kauffman must be recognized, along with House and Senate leadership overall, and many minority party supporters. The legislature increased early learning opportunities for kids; supported parents; and helped make sure that kids are healthy enough to learn - all critical to our long-term success.
Strengthening Quality Child Care;
The legislature invested $5 million to roll out a 'Quality Rating Improvement System' for child care facilities in 4 pilot sites, including a demonstration project in White Center in King County, and increased the level of the scholarships for low-income kids in child care (formally called child care subsidies) by 7-10% to better reflect the cost of child care in King County and around the state.
Strengthening and Expanding State-Funded Preschools;
The legislature expanded state-subsidized preschool for low-income children by adding 2250 slots statewide. There are 922 funded ECEAP preschool slots currently in King County; only about 1/4 of eligible kids are in subsidized preschool (either ECEAP or Head Start). While it is unclear how many new slots will be added in King County, we can assume that there will be new opportunities for children to learn.
Supporting Parents as their Children's First Teachers;
The Legislature also invested in several areas to support parents, consistent with our work with the Early Learning Council last summer, including $3.5 million in home visitation programs for at-risk parents across the state, and $2 million for a parent support hotline, classes and materials to benefit parents and other caregivers, and a survey and public education campaign around parenting. SB 5830 passed both houses nearly unanimously to create the home visitation program. Specific home visitation programs have been proven to enhance parenting skills and the outcomes for children. Many studies have shown that the single most important factor in a child's readiness to learn is their parents.
Keeping Kids Health Enough To Learn;
The increasing cost of healthcare has prevented many families from insuring their young children and from getting the health care that they need. But, children with chronic or acute illnesses that are untreated have a more difficult time learning. The Governor signed SB 5093 to enroll an additional 19,000 kids in Medicaid. $34 million was appropriated to implement the bill which creates an entitlement for children in families up to 250% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) to be on the Medicaid program and makes all children eligible up to 300% of the FPL (a family of 3 with an income of $60,000 per year).
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