Best Starts for Kids and the United Way of King County recently announced a new partnership that will support capacity in communities and expand services to more children and families through the Parent-Child Home Program. If you are interested in learning more about Parent-Child Home Program expansion, please attend one of our upcoming information sessions.
The Parent-Child Home Program supports parents of two and three year olds through educational play that helps caregivers develop their children’s cognitive and social-emotional skills. Through modeling behaviors, culturally matched home visitors support parents in learning how to stimulate their child’s ongoing learning in their own home. The emphasis on nurturing the parent-child relationship is critical to the social emotional development of the child and provides important social support for the parent.
BSK is proud to help support and build on the vital work of United Way and their partners—Thrive Washington, City of Seattle, Department of Early Learning and community-based organizations—by providing a multi-million investment to support capacity in communities and to expand Parent-Child Home Program to more families throughout the County.
PCHP Information Sessions
United Way of King County is hosting information sessions for those interested in learning more about Parent-Child Home Expansion opportunities and want to be prepared for the RFP that will be released later in summer. The first information session recently took place in Shoreline and there are two more opportunities:
Please click HERE to register for the following sessions.
Friday, July 14, 2017 from 10:00am-11:30am
Kent Commons, Mill Creek Room
525 Fourth Ave N, Kent, WA 98032
Tuesday, July 18, 2017 from 9:00am-10:30am
2100 Building
2100 24th Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98144
Proof that It Works
BSK is excited for the opportunity to support the expansion of Parent-Child Home Program in King County because we know it works. Research shows that PCHP improves outcomes and reduces the opportunity gap in school readiness behaviors for our county’s many diverse children and families. You can learn more about the research at:
- Parent-Child Home Program Proven Outcomes
- United Way of King County Parent Child Home Program
- PCHP Long Term Benefits
- PCHP Graduates Are Better Prepared to Succeed in School
PCHP also has a track record of success—especially in reaching communities of color and refugee and immigrant communities—here in King County. The odds are often stacked against low-income children. Three out of four low-income children in Washington are behind their peers when they start kindergarten. The Parent-Child Home Program zeroes in on the preparation gap by supporting parents during the crucial early years of their child’s development.
There are currently 1160 families being served in King County through PCHP. 94% of families currently served identify as people of color and 82% are English Language Learners (ELLs). A 2015-2016 independent evaluation showed that parents improved and maintained skills and confidence as their child’s first teacher and that children improved in behaviors that lead to early literacy and school readiness.
Best Starts for Kids and United Way of King County are excited to come together to help more families thrive through emotionally supportive home visiting programs. Later this summer, UWKC will partner with Public Health – Seattle & King County to conduct an open Request for Proposals to expand services. Investments will be prioritized in alignment with community need, resource availability, and the equity and social justice values of BSK.