Best Starts for Kids levy renewal: Continuing and expanded programs to support thriving children, families and communities

King County Executive Dow Constantine has announced the plan for the six-year Best Starts for Kids (BSK) levy renewal to continue investments in the health and well-being of children, youth, families and communities in our region. The proposed ballot measure continues and expands the work of the initial BSK levy passed by King County voters in 2015, which so far has supported more than 500,000 children, youth and families through programs aimed at increasing comprehensive supports in community from pre-natal development to young adulthood. The proposed levy also continues support for Communities of Opportunity to support the work of community partners in creating safe, healthy and thriving communities for children and families.

Communities of Opportunity is proud to be a central component of this work to create thriving, health communities in partnership with communities themselves. Here’s some of what community is saying about the impact of Best Starts for Kids and Communities of Opportunity:

Best Starts for Kids and Communities of Opportunity are about supporting solutions that already work in our community and empowering leaders to maximize their impact. At the heart of these solutions are partnerships. In SeaTac and Tukwila we are focused on structurally changing the way we address food insecurity, good jobs, fair housing for all, and access to care to reverse the trend of health inequity, not only in South King County, but throughout all of King County. It is our partnership with Best Starts for Kids and Communities of Opportunity that has made this collaborative work possible.
A.J. McClure, Executive Director, Global to Local and member of the SeaTac-Tukwila Community Coalition

We serve culturally and linguistically diverse individuals with disabilities and their families who are farthest from access. The Best Starts for Kids (BSK) Levy enabled us to do so much great work: strengthen our organizational infrastructure, disrupt the school to prison pipeline, keep families in their homes, provide inclusive and culturally responsive programming, and build community leaders. Best Starts for Kids is essential to strengthening our long-term sustainability and building community power.
Ginger Kwan, Executive Director, Open Doors for Multicultural Families

Best Start for Kids knows how to partner with community-based organizations to pilot and grow programs crucial to the development of children and families in our community. For United Indians of All Tribes Foundation, this means respect, reciprocity, relationships, and responsibility. From the initial proposal process to the monthly problem-solving sessions, Best Starts for Kids leaders, administrative staffers, and data analysts all set a high bar. They engage in two-way accountability. They focus on learning communities. They listen to feedback in order to make mid-course corrections. As a result, we are able to tie our discrete developmental screening program to an entire system of supports. While we have extended our reach, thanks to BSK, and conducted more screenings, we have also had the resources to provide much-needed professional development for our own staff. That way, we stay true to our holistic, grassroots approach.
Leslie Haynes, Grants Manager, United Indians of All Tribes Foundation

And below is a just some of the community-led work that Best Starts for Kids and Communities of Opportunity has been able to support over the past several years: