Young people thrive when they have safe, supportive environments that provide a sense of belonging and purpose. Best Starts for Kids partners with schools and community-based organizations to invest in programs that support mentoring, leadership, positive identity development, and opportunities to learn how to develop healthy and safe relationships (including domestic violence prevention and peer to peer support).
Our community partners offer a broad range of programs and activities, from the arts to physical activity and community organizing, delivered in community locations where young people are. The supported programs focus on engaging historically and presently marginalized children and young people in elementary school, middle school, high school, and/or ages 18 to 24, including youth navigating the child welfare system and LGBTQIA+ and unsheltered youth.
This strategy invests in:
Sustaining the Gain (ages 5-24)
so that young people have equitable opportunities to be safe, healthy, and thriving.
Estimated annual reach:
5,000 youth per year
Funding Estimate (2022-2027):
$28,212,000
