To our community,
We are proud to share that this week, King County Elections certified the results of the August Primary Election, officially renewing the Best Starts for Kids levy. With over 62% approval, King County voters overwhelmingly chose to renew Best Starts and continue building toward our shared vision for our children, youth, and families. In voting to renew and expand this levy, we have once again shown the depth of our community’s commitment to King County’s kids.
Over the past five years, Best Starts for Kids partners have provided critical support to over half a million babies, children, young people, and families in King County. Together, we’ve laid a strong foundation to support a generation of happy, healthy, safe and thriving babies, children, and young people. Our work together showed us what’s possible when government and community partner in new ways and put equity at the heart of everything that we do.
Thanks to this foundation, we’re ready to hit the ground running and continue the momentum we’ve built together. On July 28, Executive Constantine transmitted the Best Starts for Kids Implementation Plan to the King County Council. This plan outlines proposed investments for the next Best Starts for Kids levy. If adopted by the King County Council, the plan will maintain current investments across our main Best Starts for Kids strategies, and deepen our investments to meet critical needs in our community.
The plan for Best Starts “2.0” will make child care more accessible for low-income children and their families, increase out-of-school time programming for school-age kids, fund up to four new school-based health centers, and expand education and career supports for youth and young adults as they transition to adulthood. Over the coming weeks and months, we’ll continue to share updates on the Implementation Plan, future funding opportunities, and ways to get involved. We encourage everyone to subscribe to this blog and our newsletter (scroll to the bottom to subscribe,) and follow @BestStartsKC on Facebook and Twitter to get the latest information on our progress.
We are so proud to live in a community that invests in the positive things we want to see for our kids. On behalf of King County, we want to share our deep gratitude to everyone who has been part of this extraordinary initiative. Your time, expertise, and commitment make Best Starts for Kids what it is.
Thank you for all that you do,
Sheila Ater Capestany
It is great to have such hardworking people like you in the BSK program. Let’s keep going forward until we all approve the smooth family connections and stabilize life situation of our kids and law-income families in King county. Thank you so much
Girmai