United Way Of Skagit County

BUILDING A POSITIVE AND SUSTAINABLE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL.

EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING - ONLY 41% OF SKAGIT CHILDREN WERE COMPLETELY READY FOR KINDERGARTEN IN 2021 (WAKIDS KINDERGARTEN READINESS ASSESSMENT). THIS MEANS MORE THAN HALF ARE ALREADY BEHIND AT AGE 5. WE CAN DO BETTER THAN THIS! WAKIDS, THE WASHINGTON KINDERGARTEN INVENTORY OF DEVELOPING SKILLS, INCLUDES AN ASSESSMENT THAT IS ADMINISTERED DURING THE FIRST TWO MONTHS OF KINDERGARTEN. TEACHERS OBSERVE STUDENTS ACROSS SIX AREAS OF DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING: SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL, PHYSICAL, LANGUAGE, COGNITIVE, LITERACY AND MATH. EVIDENCE TELLS US THAT A PERSON'S LIFE SUCCESSES, HEALTH AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING HAVE THEIR ROOTS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD. UNITED WAY OF SKAGIT COUNTY HAS ONLINE EARLY LEARNING CALENDARS FOR FAMILIES WITH PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH. OUR FUNDING FOR THE EARLY LEARNING COORDINATOR (ELC) BRINGS A COMMON STANDARD OF EARLY LEARNING TO SCHOOLS. THE ELC DOES CAPACITY BUILDING TO CREATE A COMPREHENSIVE, COORDINATED SYSTEM OF EARLY LEARNING SUPPORTS AND RESOURCES THAT INCREASE FAMILY ENGAGEMENT AND ESTABLISH SKAGIT COUNTY AS A LEADER WITHIN WA STATE'S EARLY LEARNING EFFORTS. THE ELC HELPS THE COLLABORATIVE BRIGHT BEGINNINGS AWARENESS CAMPAIGN, OF WHICH UNITED WAY IS A PARTNER, IN A COMMUNITY WIDE EFFORT TO FOCUS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THE EARLY YEARS OF DEVELOPMENT AND THE CRITICAL ROLE OF THE CAREGIVER. THE ELC IS ALSO WORKS ON THE HELP ME GROW EARLY LEARNING FRAMEWORK THAT HAS BEEN ADOPTED BY THE STATE. BORN LEARNING TRAILS ARE INSTALLED IN MOUNT VERNON AND ANACORTES. AND ANOTHER IS SOON TO BE INSTALLED IN THE SWINOMISH TRIBAL COMMUNITY! UNITED WAY TARGETS GRANT FUNDING TO PROGRAMS THAT SERVE CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND PROVIDERS THAT EXPERIENCE ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING CHALLENGES: LOW INCOME; RACE/ETHNICITY OTHER THAN WHITE; PHYSICAL OR COGNITIVE DISABILITIES; AND/OR TRAUMA IN THE HOME OR ENVIRONMENT. FURTHER, BECAUSE COLLABORATION IS CRUCIAL TO REACHING OUR GOAL, CONSIDERATION IS ALSO GIVEN TO AGENCIES WHO PARTICIPATE IN LOCAL COALITIONS SUPPORTING THE CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES/CAREGIVERS. THROUGH SUPPORT FUNDING TO OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, 237 HOMELESS ADULTS RECEIVED RESUME WRITING LESSONS, JOB COACHING, LEGAL AND HOUSING ASSISTANCE; 425 ADULTS AND CHILDREN RECEIVED COUNSELING IN FAMILY TRAUMA; 1083 LOW-INCOME CHILDREN BIRTH TO EIGHTEEN AND THEIR CAREGIVERS RECEIVED HOME VISITATION CASE MANAGEMENT WITH REFERRALS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND SUPPORT IN PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIPS. PEDIATRIC MEDICAL PROVIDERS GAVE 5,528 CHILDREN A NEW DEVELOPMENTALLY AND CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE BOOK TO TAKE HOME DURING WELL-CHILD CHECKUPS. PROVIDERS USED THE BOOK AS A DIAGNOSTIC TOOL TO ASSESS A CHILD'S DEVELOPMENT AND AS A VEHICLE TO MODEL READ-ALOUD TECHNIQUES FOR PARENTS AND GAVE THEIR PARENTS INDIVIDUALIZED, AGE-APPROPRIATE LITERACY AND LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT GUIDANCE, AS WELL AS TIPS TO MAKE READING PART OF THEIR CHILD'S DAILY ROUTINE. A FIVE-WEEK PRE-SCHOOL PROGRAM WAS HELD FOR 48 CHILDREN TO GAIN PROFICIENCY IN ACADEMIC, SOCIAL, AND EMOTIONAL SKILLS. EARLY CHILDHOOD CLASSROOMS WERE TAUGHT BY MASTER TEACHERS OF COLOR WORKING TOGETHER WITH COLLEGE STUDENTS OF COLOR WHO ARE STUDYING TO BECOME TEACHERS. THESE FUTURE TEACHERS WILL CLOSE THE TEACHER DIVERSITY GAP. EDUCATIONAL & THERAPEUTIC SERVICES WAS PROVIDED FOR 201 CHILDREN BIRTH TO AGE THREE WITH DISABILITIES AND UNIQUE NEEDS INCLUDING PHYSICAL, OCCUPATIONAL AND SPEECH THERAPY PROVIDED IN THE FAMILY'S HOME OR OTHER NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. SERVICES CONSISTED OF ACTIVITIES RICH IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNICATION, FINE/GROSS MOTOR, SOCIAL & ADAPTIVE SKILLS. 735 CHILDREN AND 662 ADULTS EXPERIENCING THE TRAUMAS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT AND HOMELESSNESS WERE PROVIDED CONFIDENTIAL SHELTER AND A SAFE HEALING ENVIRONMENT; GROUP ACTIVITIES AND INDIVIDUAL ADVOCACY TO SUPPORT HEALING AND COPING SKILLS FOR THE CHILDREN OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS WAS ALSO PROVIDED AS WELL AS EDUCATION FOR PARENTS ABOUT TRAUMA, CHILD DEVELOPMENT, PARENTING SKILLS AND METHODS TO ENHANCE COPING AND HEALING IN CHILDREN. EIGHT FAMILIES OF COLOR WHO DO NOT QUALIFY FOR WA STATE SUBSIDIES BUT STILL HAVE A NEED RECEIVED AN EARLY LEARNING PROGRAM SCHOLARSHIP. OVER 70 SPANISH SPEAKING, LATINX FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN PARTICIPATED IN GROUP CLASSES TO LEARN HOW TO BUILD HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, DEVELOP PEER SUPPORT, PRACTICE PARENTING AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS, AND GAIN ACCESS INFORMATION THAT CAN ASSIST THEM WITH THE BARRIERS THEY FACE THAT ARE CHALLENGES TO THE WELL-BEING OF THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR CHILDREN'S SUCCESS. 47 CAREGIVERS AND 64 BIRTH TO EIGHT YEARS OLD CHILDREN PARTICIPATED IN EVIDENCE-BASED PARENTING EDUCATION, LEARNED ABOUT DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE ACTIVITIES, DISCOVERED READING, AND WERE LINKED WITH PRESCHOOL OR HEAD START SERVICES. ASSISTANCE WAS GIVEN TO 198 LOW-INCOME FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AGE PRENATAL TO 6 YEARS IN CONNECTIONS TO EMPLOYMENT, CHILDCARE ASSISTANCE, HEAD START, MEDICAL/DENTAL CARE, HOUSING, FOOD STAMPS, WIC AND OTHER NEEDED PROGRAMS. IN ADDITION TO STABILIZATION, FAMILIES WERE SCREENED FOR OTHER RISK FACTORS FACING YOUNG CHILDREN AND WILL BE PROVIDED WITH KINDERGARTEN READINESS MATERIALS AND SUGGESTIONS.

UNITED WAY TOOK ON THE DIAPER BANK PROGRAM ON JULY 1ST OF 2021 BECAUSE JUST AS FOOD BANKS ARE A DEPENDABLE SOURCE OF FOOD, DIAPER BANKS SUPPLY A BASIC NEED FOR FAMILIES IN CRISIS. DIAPER BANKS COLLECT, STORE AND DONATE DIAPERS TO A NETWORK OF PARTNER AGENCIES WHO DISTRIBUTE FREE DIAPERS TO FAMILIES FACING FINANCIAL HARDSHIP. THE MISSION OF THE DIAPER BANK IS TO ENSURE THAT FAMILIES LIVING IN POVERTY HAVE AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF DIAPERS FOR THEIR INFANTS AND TODDLERS AND TO RAISE COMMUNITY AWARENESS THAT "BASIC HUMAN NEEDS" INCLUDES DIAPERS. THE VISION OF THE DIAPER BANK IS A TWO-GENERATION APPROACH THAT FOCUSES ON CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEETING THE NEEDS OF VULNERABLE CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS. TWO-GENERATION APPROACHES DRAW FROM FINDINGS THAT THE WELL-BEING OF PARENTS IS CRUCIAL TO THEIR CHILDREN'S SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL, PHYSICAL, AND ECONOMIC WELL-BEING. AT THE SAME TIME, A PARENT'S ABILITY TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOL AND THE WORKPLACE IS SUBSTANTIALLY AFFECTED BY HOW WELL THEIR CHILDREN ARE DOING. LAST YEAR WE DISTRIBUTED 2,703 WIPES AND 233,648 DIAPERS!

UNITED WAY HAS BROUGHT THE WELCOME BABY (WB) PROGRAM TO SKAGIT VALLEY HOSPITAL. OUR BILINGUAL WELCOME BABY COORDINATOR TYPICALLY MEETS WITH NEWBORNS AND THEIR PARENTS TO PROVIDE LINKS TO A MYRIAD OF RESOURCES AND THE KNOWLEDGE THAT OTHERS ARE HERE TO SUPPORT THEM. OUR COORDINATOR FOLLOWS UP WITH THOSE FAMILIES AND REGISTERS THEM FOR THE NEWSLETTER AND TO PROVIDE SUPPORT. THEY INTRODUCE FAMILIES TO PARENTING AND EARLY LEARNING RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY DESIGNED TO PROMOTE LITERACY AND KINDERGARTEN READINESS. THE COORDINATOR ALSO PROVIDES REFERRALS TO SERVICE PROVIDERS IN THE AREAS OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS, FAMILY SUPPORT, BASIC NEEDS, CHILDCARE, EARLY LEARNING, SPECIAL NEEDS, AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES. LAST YEAR THEY MADE 503 REFERRALS TO SERVICES AND RESOURCES. THEY ARE AVAILABLE BY PHONE/TEXT TO RESPOND TO QUESTIONS/CONCERNS FROM THE FAMILIES. VISITS ARE MADE TO THE FAMILIES OF ALL NEWBORN BABIES (WHEN INVITED BY THE PARENTS). THE "2018 STATE OF CHILDREN & FAMILIES REPORT" STATES THAT 60% OF BIRTHS IN SKAGIT COUNTY ARE TO MEDICAID CLIENTS. LOW-INCOME POPULATIONS ARE LESS LIKELY TO HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF OR ACCESS TO BASIC NEEDS, SUPPORTS, AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES. LOW-INCOME AND MIGRANT CHILDREN ARE LESS LIKELY TO BE PREPARED FOR KINDERGARTEN (28% AND 14% RESPECTIVELY, COMPARED TO 36% FOR ALL INCOMING KINDERGARTENERS IN SKAGIT COUNTY. STATE-REQUIRED "WAKIDS" ASSESSMENTS ARE CONDUCTED DURING THE FIRST MONTH OF KINDERGARTEN TO MEASURE READINESS IN SIX DOMAINS: SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL, PHYSICAL, LANGUAGE, COGNITIVE, LITERACY, AND MATH). STUDENTS ENTERING KINDERGARTEN WITHOUT THE LITERACY SKILLS EXPECTED OF A FIVE-YEAR-OLD ARE AT LEAST 34% LESS LIKELY TO MEET STANDARD ON THE 3RD GRADE SMARTER BALANCE ASSESSMENT. DID YOU KNOW THAT BY AGE FIVE, 90 PERCENT OF A CHILD'S BRAIN HAS DEVELOPED? BY SUPPORTING NEW FAMILIES FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, THIS PROJECT WILL INCREASE KINDERGARTEN READINESS, SCHOOL SUCCESS, AND LONG-TERM EDUCATION AND HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR VULNERABLE SKAGIT COUNTY CHILDREN. FAMILIES ARE ASKED TO REGISTER FOR THE WELCOME BABY COMMUNITY AND TO DATE WE HAVE 1036 FAMILIES RECEIVING THE WELCOME BABY NEWSLETTER WITH 410 REGISTRATIONS RECEIVED IN THE LAST YEAR. WE RECEIVE ADDITIONAL REFERRALS THROUGH PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS LIKE MSS, WIC, NURSE FAMILY PARTNERSHIPS, MEDICAL PROVIDERS, AND THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA.