UNITED WAY OF SKAGIT COUNTY
PO BOX 451, BURLINGTON, WA 98233 unitedwayskagit.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: UNITED WAY OF SKAGIT COUNTY'S MISSION IS TO BUILD A POSITIVE AND SUSTAINABLE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL.

BUILDING A POSITIVE AND SUSTAINABLE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL.

EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING-IN 2018, ONLY ONE-THIRD OF SKAGIT CHILDREN WERE COMPLETELY READY FOR KINDERGARTEN. THIS MEANS TWO-THIRDS ARE ALREADY BEHIND AT AGE 5. WE CAN DO BETTER THAN THIS! EVIDENCE TELLS US THAT A PERSON'S LIFE SUCCESSES, HEALTH AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING HAVE THEIR ROOTS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD. UNITED WAY OF SKAGIT COUNTY PROVIDED 4,000 EARLY LEARNING CALENDARS TO LOCAL SCHOOLS, LIBRARIES AND PRE-SCHOOLS TO BE DISTRIBUTED TO FAMILIES WITH PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN. OUR FUNDING FOR THE EARLY LEARNING COORDINATOR (ELC) BRINGS A COMMON STANDARD OF EARLY LEARNING TO SCHOOLS AND SUCCESSFUL CONNECTIONS CONFERENCE FOR EARLY LEARNING EDUCATORS EVERY YEAR. THE ELC DOES CAPACITY BUILDING TO CREATE A COMPREHENSIVE, COORDINATED SYSTEM OF EALY LEARNING SUPPORTS AND RESOURCES THAT INCREASE FAMILY ENGAGEMENT AND ESTABLISH SKAGIT COUNTY AS A LEADER WITHIN WA STATE'S EALY LEARNING EFFORTS. THE ELC HELPS THE COLLABORATIVE BRIGHT BEGINNINGS AWARENESS CAMPAIGN, OF WHICH UNITED WAY IS A PARTNER, IN A COMMUNITY WIDE EFFORT TO FOCUS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THE EARLY YEARS OF DEVELOPMENT AND THE CRITICAL ROLE OF THE CAREGIVER. BORN LEARNING TRAILS ARE INSTALLED IN MOUNT VERNON AND ANACORTES AND THERE ARE MORE TO COME! WE WORK WITH THE COUNTY TO HOLD THE FAMILY PALOOZA EVENT. IT IS A ONE-STOP SHOP FOR THE BEST SERVICES AND RESOURCES IN SKAGIT COUNTY FOR EXPECTING PARENTS AND FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN. UNITED WAY DEVELOPS CROSS-SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS TO DELIVER RESULTS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION. WE PARTNER WITH SCHOOLS, LIBRARIES, NONPROFITS, CITY AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL NONPROFITS. UNITED WAY TARGETS GRANT FUNDING TO PROGRAMS THAT SERVE CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND PROVIDERS THAT EXPERIENCE ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING CHALLENGES: LOW INCOME; RACE/ETHNICITY OTHER THAN WHITE; PHYSICAL OR COGNITIVE DISABILITIES; AND/OR TRAUMA IN THE HOME ENVIRONMENT. FURTHER, BECAUSE COLLABORATION IS CRUCIAL TO REACHING OUR GOAL, CONSIDERATION IS ALSO GIVEN TO AGENCIES WHO PARTICIPATE IN LOCAL COALITIONS SUPPORTING THE CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES/CAREGIVERS. THROUGH FUNDING TO OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, 100 PARENTS OF AT-RISK OR ABUSED CHILDREN PARTICIPATED IN EVIDENCE-BASED PARENTING EDUCATION, LEARNED ABOUT DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE ACTIVITIES, DISCOVERED READING AND WERE LINKED WITH PRESCHOOL OR HEAD START SERVICES. 190 FAMILIES, MANY OF WHOM ARE FAMILIES OF COLOR, NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING, OR FOR WHOM ENGLISH IS A SECOND LANGUAGE, WITH CHILDREN AGO PRENATAL TO 6 YEARS WERE PROVIDED CASE MANAGEMENT HOME VISITS FOR ASSISTANCE IN CONNECTIONS TO EMPLOYMENT, CHILDCARE, HEAD START, HEALTH CARE, HOUSING, FOOD STAMPS, WIC AND OTHER RESOURCE SUPPORT AND EDUCATION. 64 CHILDREN FROM LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS ATTENDED A FIVE-WEEK PRE-SCHOOL PROGRAM OF CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION WHERE THEY GAINED PROFICIENCY IN ACADEMIC, SOCIAL, AND EMOTIONAL SKILLS TAUGHT BY A MAJORITY OF MASTER TEACHERS OF COLOR. INTERVENTION WAS PROVIDED FOR 883 PARENTS/CAREGIVERS AND 685 CHILDREN, WHO WERE EXPERIENCING THE TRAUMA OF ABUSE, THROUGH DIRECT ADVOCACY FOR CHILDREN AND ADULT VICTIMS, PROVIDING PARENTING SUPPORT AND EDUCATION TO STABILIZE FAMILIES AND ENCOURAGE HEALING, AND THROUGH PREVENTION EDUCATION. 95 BIRTH TO 3 AGED CHILDREN WITH PHYSICAL OR COGNITIVE DISABILITIES WERE PROVIDED EDUCATIONAL & THERAPEUTIC SERVICES. PHYSICAL, OCCUPATIONAL AND SPEECH THERAPY WERE PROVIDED IN THE FAMILY'S HOME OR OTHER NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. 17 INDIVIDUALS, MANY OF WHOM DO NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO SEEK HIGHER EDUCATION, COMPLETED A ONE-YEAR STATE CERTIFICATE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION. 128 PARENTS/CAREGIVERS AND 60 CHILDREN, MANY OF WHOM ARE HISPANIC LOW-INCOME, WERE PROVIDED EVIDENCE-BASED PARENTING PROGRAMS WHICH HELP PARENTS LEARN HOW TO BUILD HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR CHILDREN FROM BEFORE BIRTH AND ONWARD THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES.

UNITED WAY HAS BROUGHT THE WELCOME BABY (WB) PROGRAM TO SKAGIT VALLEY HOSPITAL. OUR WELCOME BABY COORDINATORS, (ONE OF WHOM IS BILINGUAL TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY), MEET WITH NEWBORNS AND THEIR PARENTS WITH A RESOURCE BAG, LINKS TO A MYRIAD OF RESOURCES AND THE KNOWLEDGE THAT OTHERS ARE HERE TO SUPPORT THEM. THE RESOURCE BAGS INCLUDE EVERYTHING A NEW FAMILY NEEDS FOR A GREAT START: A CHILDREN'S BOOK, DIAPERS, WIPES, WASHCLOTHS, SWADDLING BLANKET, AND INFORMATION ON LITERACY, SAFE SLEEP, ATTACHMENT, AND LOCAL RESOURCES. DURING THE HOSPITAL VISIT, THE WELCOME BABY COORDINATORS INTRODUCE FAMILIES TO PARENTING AND EARLY LEARNING RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY DESIGNED TO PROMOTE LITERACY AND KINDERGARTEN READINESS. THE COORDINATORS ALSO PROVIDE REFERRALS TO SERVICE PROVIDERS IN THE AREAS OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS, FAMILY SUPPORT, BASIC NEEDS, CHILDCARE, EARLY LEARNING, SPECIAL NEEDS, AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES. THEY ARE AVAILABLE BY PHONE/TEXT TO RESPOND TO QUESTIONS/CONCERNS FROM THE FAMILIES. VISITS ARE MADE TO THE FAMILIES OF ALL NEWBORN BABIES (WHEN INVITED BY THE PARENTS). THE "2018 STATE OF CHILDREN & FAMILIES REPORT" STATES THAT 60% OF BIRTHS IN SKAGIT COUNTY ARE TO MEDICAID CLIENTS. LOW-INCOME POPULATIONS ARE LESS LIKELY TO HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF OR ACCESS TO BASIC NEEDS, SUPPORTS, AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES. LOW-INCOME AND MIGRANT CHILDREN ARE LESS LIKELY TO BE PREPARED FOR KINDERGARTEN (28% AND 14% RESPECTIVELY, COMPARED TO 36% FOR ALL INCOMING KINDERGARTENERS IN SKAGIT COUNTY. STATE-REQUIRED "WAKIDS" ASSESSMENTS ARE CONDUCTED DURING THE FIRST MONTH OF KINDERGARTEN TO MEASURE READINESS IN SIX DOMAINS: SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL, PHYSICAL, LANGUAGE, COGNITIVE, LITERACY, AND MATH). STUDENTS ENTERING KINDERGARTEN WITHOUT THE LITERACY SKILLS EXPECTED OF A FIVE-YEAR-OLD ARE AT LEAST 34% LESS LIKELY TO MEET STANDARD ON THE 3RD GRADE SMARTER BALANCE ASSESSMENT. BY SUPPORTING NEW FAMILIES FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, THIS PROJECT WILL INCREASE KINDERGARTEN READINESS, SCHOOL SUCCESS, AND LONG-TERM EDUCATION AND HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR VULNERABLE SKAGIT COUNTY CHILDREN.IN THE LAST YEAR WE HAVE WELCOMED 509 BABIES TO SKAGIT COUNTY THROUGH THE WELCOME BABY PROGRAM. UNTIL THE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK IN MARCH, FAMILIES WERE VISITED BY A WELCOME BABY COORDINATOR IN THE HOSPITAL. FAMILIES ARE ASKED TO REGISTER FOR THE WELCOME BABY COMMUNITY AND TO DATE WE HAVE 494 FAMILIES RECEIVING THE WELCOME BABY NEWSLETTER. BEGINNING IN MARCH WE HAVE ADAPTED PROGRAMMING TO ADHERE TO SOCIAL DISTANCING REQUIREMENTS. HOSPITAL STAFF CONTINUES TO SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT WELCOME BABY AND GATHERS CONTACT INFORMATION. WELCOME BABY COORDINATORS FOLLOW UP WITH THOSE FAMILIES AND REGISTER THEM FOR THE NEWSLETTER AND PROVIDE SUPPORT. WE RECEIVE ADDITIONAL REFERRALS THROUGH PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS LIKE MSS, WIC, NURSE FAMILY PARTNERSHIPS, MEDICAL PROVIDERS, AND THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA. A PART OF WB IS PARENT CAF. PARENT CAF IS A PARENTING GROUP THAT PROVIDES SOCIAL CONNECTION, RESOURCE INFORMATION, AND SUPPORT. INITIALLY, THE GROUP MET AT THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM AND MOVED TO A VIRTUAL FORMAT BEGINNING IN APRIL. WE STARTED A SPANISH SPEAKING PARENT GROUP, MAMS EN CUARENTENA! IN JUNE.

WE'RE READING-BEGINNING AT BIRTH, WHAT YOU DO EVERY DAY PREPARES YOUR CHILD TO BE A SUCCESSFUL READER IN SCHOOL. WHEN YOU PROVIDE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE READING, WRITING, TALKING, SINGING AND PLAYING IS ENCOURAGED, WONDERFUL THINGS HAPPEN. THESE EARLY LITERACY ACTIVITIES PROMOTE LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT, BUILD MOTIVATION, CURIOSITY, AND MEMORY, HELP CHILDREN COPE DURING TIMES OF STRESS OR ANXIETY, BUILD SOCIAL EMOTIONAL SKILLS, AND LEARN HOW TO EXPRESS THEIR FEELINGS, READING ALOUD TAKES CHILDREN TO PLACES AND TIMES THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN - ENLARGING AND ENHANCING THEIR WORLD, CREATES A POSITIVE ASSOCIATION WITH BOOKS, READING, AND WRITING, PARTICIPATING IN THESE ACTIVITIES WITH YOUR CHILD STRENGTHENS THE BOND BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR CHILD. UNITED WAY OF SKAGIT COUNTY ALSO PARTNERS WITH UNITED GENERAL DISTRICT 304 WIC PROGRAM ARE PARTNERING TOGETHER TO SHARE INFORMATION WITH PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY LITERACY PAIRED WITH EASY AT HOME ACTIVITIES. AT KEY APPOINTMENTS, WIC EDUCATORS, SHARE THE EARLY LITERACY CURRICULUM AND GIVE THE CHILD A BOOK TO TAKE WITH THEM AND ADD TO THEIR HOME LIBRARY. PARENTS/CAREGIVERS ARE ALSO PROVIDED WITH THE "WE'RE READING RACONTEUR", A NEWSLETTER PACKED WITH FUN LITERACY ACTIVITIES TO DO AT HOME, TIPS FOR READING THE BOOK THEY WERE GIVEN, DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES RELATED TO LITERACY, LANGUAGE AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL SKILLS, AND INFORMATION ON LOCAL LIBRARY STORYTIME. UW HAS 4 TAKE AND GIVE BOOK BOXES AROUND THE COMMUNITY. THESE ATTRACTIVE BOOK BOXES ARE STOCKED FULL OF FUN READING MATERIAL FOR CHILDREN OF ALL AGES. KIDS CAN TAKE A BOOK AND IT IS THEIRS TO KEEP, OR THEY CAN GIVE A BOOK THAT THEY ARE NO LONGER USING.

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Data for this page was sourced from XML published by IRS (public 990 form dataset) from: https://s3.amazonaws.com/irs-form-990/202042769349300624_public.xml