Best Starts for Kids is committed to measuring and evaluating our efforts to produce the best results, learn and innovate based on our experiences, and ensure the most effective use of public funds. As part of this commitment, we collaborate with our partners to use the best available science and research to nurture innovation and build an evidence base that will equip us to do better over time and improve results for our communities. The Best Starts for Kids Evaluation and Performance Measurement Plan outlines our approach to answering one overarching question: “To what extent and in what ways has the Best Starts for Kids initiative improved health and well-being and advanced equity for children, youth, families and communities in King County?”
We’re thrilled to announce four evaluation awardees who will collaborate with our Data & Evaluation Team and partners as we strive to answer this question. All awarded Best Starts for Kids programs and strategies will be conducting performance measurement activities. In addition, these organizations will conduct in-depth evaluation activities for specific Best Starts for Kids strategies within the Investing Early and Sustaining the Gain areas. Check out the table below for a list of partners and the strategies they will evaluate. These strategies were selected for in-depth evaluation work based on criteria outlined in our Evaluation and Performance Measurement Plan such as potential to improve equity, interest from stakeholders and communities, or the potential to grow Best Starts for Kids’ evidence base.
| Evaluation Focus Area | Organization |
Amount (Time Period 8/1/18–12/31/19) |
| Child Care Health Consultation Service Delivery | Cardea | $400,000 |
| Community-Designed Home-Based Programs and Practices | University of Washington Northwest Center for Public Health Practice-School of Nursing | $400,000 |
| Technical Assistance: Help Me Grow, Parent/Caregiver Education and Support, Family Support and Engagement | Cardea | $120,000 |
| School Based Partnerships | Puget Sound Educational Service District | $380,000 |
| Rebuild the Village | The Athena Group | $75,000 |
Feature image credit: Copyright Alan Wat, “Puzzles”