Updated 4/18/16. Note* The South Seattle Community Conversation at New Holly Community Center previously scheduled for Thursday, April 21 will now take place on Wednesday, May 4, 2016.
Community input continues to be at the heart of planning for the Best Starts for Kids initiative. So, did we hear you right?
As the plan begins to take shape, join us for one of several community conversations to hear more about the emerging framework and share your perspectives.
Details: For all gatherings, onsite registration begins at 6:00 pm with conversations from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm.
Here’s what we will be discussing during the conversations:
- Are we on the right track based on what is important to you?
- Are there any critical gaps that have been overlooked?
We want to share with you the emerging framework for the types of programs and services under strategies aimed at pregnancy, early childhood, school-aged youth and young adults to age 24 and their families. Input will be incorporated into Executive Constantine’s draft plan that will be transmitted to County Council on June 1, 2016.
Background on the community conversations:
This fall, we facilitated five large community conversations in five different geographic areas throughout our County. Community members shared their hopes for the levy funding and where they see the greatest opportunities to increase positive outcomes for our children, youth and families.Our team has also been listening to experts from many sectors that have deep knowledge of communities in our County. Through focus groups and individual meetings we’ve connected with over 1,000 people—from experts in early childhood development to community-based service providers to young people.
We’ve been working to access other community information that can inform our plan. We’ve reviewed findings from the King County Youth Action Plan and in particular, insight from the 2014 youth survey that drew more than 1,000 responses from young people across King County, many of them youth of color.
We are also building on community input from King County’s first Equity & Social Justice Strategic Plan. King County government has been engaging with partners from community, business, labor, philanthropic and public sectors to co-create the plan.
We will post additional dates for community conversations on this blog and at the Best Starts for Kids website.