UNITED WAY OF SKAGIT COUNTY
Programs
Program 1 [2021]
EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING-IN 2018, ONLY 33% OF SKAGIT CHILDREN WERE COMPLETELY READY FOR KINDERGARTEN. THIS MEANS TWO-THIRDS ARE ALREADY BEHIND AT AGE 5. WE CAN DO BETTER THAN THIS! 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 AN ONLINE EARLY LEARNING CALENDARS FOR FAMILIES WITH PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN. 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 THERE ARE MORE TO COME! DUE TO COVID WE WERE NOT ABLE TO HOLD BOTH OF OUR FAMILY PALOOZA EVENTS. SO, WE GOT INVENTIVE AND IMPLEMENTED AN ONLINE FAMILY PALOOZA MAP FOR AN INTERACTIVE RESOURCE WHERE FAMILIES WILL L FIND EVERYTHING THEY NEED FOR A GROWING FAMILY. IT IS A ONE-STOP SHOP FOR THE BEST SERVICES AND RESOURCES IN SKAGIT COUNTY FOR EXPECTING PARENTS AND FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN. UNITED WAY DEVELOPS CROSS-SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS TO DELIVER RESULTS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION. WE PARTNER WITH SCHOOLS, LIBRARIES, NONPROFITS, CITY AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL NONPROFITS. 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, TRAINED PROFESSIONALS VISITED OVER 1000 LOW-INCOME FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AGES BIRTH TO EIGHTEEN TO PROVIDE THEM WITH REFERRALS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES, INFORMATION, AND SUPPORT IN PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIPS, FAMILY MANAGEMENT AND EARLY LEARNING PRACTICES, 279 PARENTS AND 78 CHILDREN PARTICIPATED IN EVIDENCE-BASED PARENTING EDUCATION, LEARNED ABOUT DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE ACTIVITIES, DISCOVERED READING, AND WERE LINKED WITH PRESCHOOL OR HEAD START SERVICES. OVER 100 LOW-INCOME FAMILIES OF COLOR WERE ASSISTED IN CONNECTIONS TO EMPLOYMENT, CHILDCARE ASSISTANCE, HEAD START, MEDICAL/DENTAL CARE, HOUSING, FOOD STAMPS, WIC, AND OTHER NEEDED PROGRAMS. A FIVE-WEEK PRE-SCHOOL PROGRAM WAS HELD FOR 31 CHILDREN AGES 3-5 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. A 16-WEEK KALEIDOSCOPE PLAY & LEARN PROGRAM WAS IMPLEMENTED IN CONCRETE WHERE CAREGIVERS PARTICIPATED IN FUN LEARNING ACTIVITIES WHICH SPANNED SOCIAL AND COGNITIVE DOMAINS WITH THEIR CHILDREN. 484 ADULTS AND 428 CHILDREN EXPERIENCING THE TRAUMA OF ABUSE WERE PROVIDED INTERVENTION THROUGH PROVIDING DIRECT ADVOCACY FOR CHILDREN AND ADULT VICTIMS, PROVIDING PARENTING SUPPORT AND EDUCATION TO STABILIZE FAMILIES AND ENCOURAGE HEALING, AND THROUGH PREVENTION EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY PREVENTION GROUPS TO PREVENT FUTURE VIOLENCE AND ENCOURAGE HEALTHIER FAMILY ENVIRONMENTS. 14 FAMILIES WHO DO NOT QUALIFY FOR WA STATE SUBSIDIES AND THOSE FAMILIES WHO HAVE BEEN FORCED TO MOVE TO PRIVATE PAY BECAUSE THE STATE CO-PAY IS BEYOND THE FAMILIES' CAPACITY ARE PROJECTED TO BE PROVIDED AN EARLY LEARNING PROGRAM SCHOLARSHIP. 143 PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN AGED 3-5 WITH DISABILITIES AND/OR UNIQUE NEEDS WERE PROVIDED EDUCATIONAL & THERAPEUTIC SERVICES AND EACH CHILD HAS AN INDIVIDUAL EDUCATION PLAN THAT ADDRESSES THE DEVELOPMENTAL AREA(S) IN WHICH THEY HAVE SIGNIFICANT DELAY. OVER 44 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.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJul 1, 2020 – Jun 30, 2021Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$307.7KProgram 2 [2021]
UNITED WAY HAS BROUGHT THE WELCOME BABY (WB) PROGRAM TO SKAGIT VALLEY HOSPITAL. OUR WELCOME BABY COORDINATORS, (ONE OF WHOM IS BILINGUAL TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY), TYPICALLY MEET WITH NEWBORNS AND THEIR PARENTS WITH A RESOURCE BAG, LINKS TO A MYRIAD OF RESOURCES AND THE KNOWLEDGE THAT OTHERS ARE HERE TO SUPPORT THEM. THE RESOURCE BAGS INCLUDE EVERYTHING A NEW FAMILY NEEDS FOR A GREAT START: A CHILDREN'S BOOK, DIAPERS, WIPES, WASHCLOTHS, SWADDLING BLANKET, AND INFORMATION ON LITERACY, SAFE SLEEP, ATTACHMENT, AND LOCAL RESOURCES. MID-JUNE 2021 OUR WELCOME BABY PROGRAM RESUMED IN-PERSON SERVICES AT SKAGIT VALLEY HOSPITAL'S FAMILY BIRTH CENTER AFTER A 15-MONTH PAUSE DUE TO COVID. FOR THOSE 15-MONTHS, HOSPITAL STAFF CONTINUED TO SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT WELCOME BABY AND GATHER CONTACT INFORMATION. WELCOME BABY COORDINATORS FOLLOW UP WITH THOSE FAMILIES AND REGISTER THEM FOR THE NEWSLETTER AND PROVIDE SUPPORT. THEY INTRODUCE FAMILIES TO PARENTING AND EARLY LEARNING RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY DESIGNED TO PROMOTE LITERACY AND KINDERGARTEN READINESS. THE COORDINATORS ALSO PROVIDE 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 357 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 709 FAMILIES RECEIVING THE WELCOME BABY NEWSLETTER WITH 372 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. A PART OF WB IS PARENT CAF. PARENT CAF IS A PARENTING GROUP THAT PROVIDES SOCIAL CONNECTION, RESOURCE INFORMATION, AND SUPPORT. WE ALSO HAVE A SPANISH SPEAKING PARENT GROUP, MAMS EN CUARENTENA!.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJul 1, 2020 – Jun 30, 2021Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$102.9KProgram 3 [2021]
BEGINNING AT BIRTH, WHAT YOU DO EVERY DAY PREPARES YOUR CHILD TO BE A SUCCESSFUL READER IN SCHOOL. WHEN YOU PROVIDE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE READING, WRITING, TALKING, SINGING AND PLAYING IS ENCOURAGED, WONDERFUL THINGS HAPPEN. THESE EARLY LITERACY ACTIVITIES PROMOTE LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT, BUILD MOTIVATION, CURIOSITY, AND MEMORY, HELP CHILDREN COPE DURING TIMES OF STRESS OR ANXIETY, BUILD SOCIAL EMOTIONAL SKILLS, AND LEARN HOW TO EXPRESS THEIR FEELINGS, READING ALOUD TAKES CHILDREN TO PLACES AND TIMES THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN - ENLARGING AND ENHANCING THEIR WORLD, CREATES A POSITIVE ASSOCIATION WITH BOOKS, READING, AND WRITING, PARTICIPATING IN THESE ACTIVITIES WITH YOUR CHILD STRENGTHENS THE BOND BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR CHILD. UNITED WAY OF SKAGIT COUNTY ALSO PARTNERS WITH UNITED GENERAL DISTRICT 304 WIC PROGRAM ARE PARTNERING TOGETHER TO SHARE INFORMATION WITH PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY LITERACY PAIRED WITH EASY AT HOME ACTIVITIES. AT KEY APPOINTMENTS, WIC EDUCATORS, SHARE THE EARLY LITERACY CURRICULUM AND GIVE THE CHILD A BOOK TO TAKE WITH THEM AND ADD TO THEIR HOME LIBRARY. PARENTS/CAREGIVERS ARE ALSO PROVIDED WITH THE "WE'RE READING RACONTEUR", A NEWSLETTER PACKED WITH FUN LITERACY ACTIVITIES TO DO AT HOME, TIPS FOR READING THE BOOK THEY WERE GIVEN, DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES RELATED TO LITERACY, LANGUAGE AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL SKILLS, AND INFORMATION ON LOCAL LIBRARY STORY TIME. UW HAS 4 TAKE AND GIVE BOOK BOXES AROUND THE COMMUNITY. THESE ATTRACTIVE BOOK BOXES ARE STOCKED FULL OF FUN READING MATERIAL FOR CHILDREN OF ALL AGES. KIDS CAN TAKE A BOOK AND IT IS THEIRS TO KEEP, OR THEY CAN GIVE A BOOK THAT THEY ARE NO LONGER USING.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJul 1, 2020 – Jun 30, 2021Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$10.7K
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