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Early Learning

Supporting Parents So Kids Start School on a Path to Success.

Many children will enter kindergarten this year fully prepared for classroom learning, thanks to their participation in ParentChild+. For over 16 years, United Way of King County has supported early learning through ParentChild+, a program grounded in decades of research on the importance of verbal interaction between parents and children.

The results are clear. ParentChild+ participants are and have:

10 months

ahead of their peers entering kindergarten

2x

higher social-emotional skills scores

30%

more likely to graduate from high school

$1M

increase in lifetime earnings potential

Through ParentChild+, low-income, immigrant, and refugee families of color with children ages 2-3 are paired with a home visitor who speaks their language and understands their culture. Home visitors bring books and educational toys, model play, and engage in conversation that builds early literacy and a love of learning. They also connect families to critical resources and help build community—supporting parents and caregivers as they strengthen the skills and confidence to support their child’s development.   

At a Glance

14,000 children and their families have been served since the program started 

In 2025,

830+ families served

35,000+ home visit

Over 30% of PC+ staff are former program participants 

13 partner providers

85% cultural & linguistic match between caregivers and Home Visitors

How It Works

When parents become their children’s first and best teachers, kids start school on a path to success. Here’s how ParentChild+ works:

Two adults wear traditional Muslim head coverings sit next to each other. They both have a young child sitting in their laps. One child is also wearing a head covering and smiles while she reaches out to touch the graduation cap worn by the other child.

Families with 2- and 3-year olds are matched with trained coaches, known as home visitors, of the same language and cultural background.

Home visitors meet with families twice a week.

Home visitors bring a book or toy each week, model positive interaction, and teach parents how to work with and advocate for their children.

Two young children wear green graduation gowns and smile at the camera.

Children leave the ParentChild+ program more prepared for kindergarten.

ParentChild+ Partners

No one does this work alone. Together, we’re ensuring kids have the foundation they need to thrive. 

Advocacy in Action

United Way of King County advocated for over seven years for the inclusion of PC+ in Seattle’s Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise (FEPP) Levy. In November 2025, the levy passed with 79% of the vote, moving PC+ from the City’s biennial General Fund to a stable, six-year funding source.  

PC+ was the only program written into the Best Starts for Kids (BSK) 2.0 Implementation Plan. After a long history of partnership on PC+, BSK continues to strongly support the investment, given the impact of children and families, with added support for workforce development.   

In Their Words

“Folks sometimes refer to organizations like United Way as intermediaries, and that is not the way I would characterize it. I would say you all are brokers of excellence. You take the research and pair that with the investment, and then find the folks who are best equipped to implement on the ground. Without organizations like yours serving as quarterbacks for this work, it would not happen with the excellence, efficiency, or impact that children and families need.”

–Stephen Cockrell, CEO, ParentChild+ National

“I love the home visits, we get really good quality books and toys every week and the home visitor is great. She always answers my questions and helps me with other things like bringing diapers and wipes, extra books and toys. I have seen many wonderful things with my child, he is listening more and able to sit for longer to read books with me, and even knows his ABC, numbers, shapes, and colors.”

—Story from Horn of Africa Services

“We’ve learned a lot of ways and skills to help our child with the efforts of the entire family. The whole family is more confident to support the child and feel connected to enjoy togetherness. We feel so great to see his significant progress and are proud of him.”

—PC+ parent, Chinese Information and Service Center  

“The first day she walked in and put her backpack into the little cubby without being told. She understood what Circle Time was because we had a version of that as part of ParentChild+, where we would sit on the floor and talk together. She was like, ‘Where are my friends?”

—PC+ parent

Need Help?

Every child deserves an equal start. Looking to enroll your family in this program? Contact one of our partner organizations near you by clicking on the button below. 

Student Resources

Real People. Real Stories.

Support Our Work

Education can open doors, but only if we remove the barriers. Your investment prepares children for a lifetime of learning.

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PC+ at United Way of King County is generously sustained by a dedicated community of supporters: a long-term public-private partnership with King County Best Starts for Kids and the City of Seattle, multi-year investments from the Stolte Family Foundation and the Norcliffe Foundation, and the generosity of individual donors.