Children and Youth Advisory Board will function as the oversight and advisory body for the majority of Best Starts for Kids-funded programming and the King County Youth Action Plan, which establishes policy priorities for young people in King County.
Board members are known leaders, new leaders and content experts, and reflect a diversity of stakeholders including community leaders, youth, researchers, medical and behavioral health professionals, nonprofits, schools, and local government officials.
The duties and composition of the Board are informed by the BSK levy ordinance and Youth Action Plan recommendations. BSK-specific responsibilities include:
- Advising on the development of indicators and strategies.
- Ensuring the work of King County’s Juvenile Justice and Equity Steering Committee is considered.
- Providing recommendations for the distribution of levy proceeds and monitoring progress.
- Making recommendations through an annual reporting process to council and community.
The Board will consist of up to 40 members. The majority of membership seats do not represent a specific sector nor a legislatively prescribed role. Instead, members bring their professional, community and personal experiences to the table in an effort to align BSK with the rich and varied communities that make up our County.
Three slots, still to be named, will be represented by youth under the age of 24. Two slots represent Sound Cities Association, one for the City of Seattle, and one for the City of Bellevue. Several members previously served on the Youth Action Plan Task Force and on the Best Starts for Kids Advisory Group.
The majority of the members have been confirmed. The Board will begin convening mid-February with its initial task of providing guidance on strategy development.