Apple Health for Kids provides comprehensive and affordable health coverage for children in our state. The Senate’s budget proposal completely eliminates funding for outreach activities. The ability to leverage future federal performance bonuses, in the millions, relies on our ability to identify and enroll eligible children through successful outreach strategies.

Read about our state's highly effective Apple Health for Kids outreach efforts.

Read about the Early Learning Action Alliance Coalition's Positions on the 2009-2011 Supplemental Budget

Parents count on Working Connections Child Care (WCCC) to help them cover the high cost of child care so they can go to work or job training.  If projected cuts to WCCC were put in place, in addition to harming stability and continuity of care for children, it would not result in cost savings. An estimated 25% of WCCC families (325 families) who lose their child care subsidy would be unable to work and would be forced turn to the support of TANF.

Read more about how Working Connections Child Care saves Washington Money

Lawmakers are debating ways to adopt a balanced budget by March 11th—they can either cut services, raise revenue, or do a combination of both. We support a balanced approach that includes significant new revenues. Delaying action is not an option. Read more about why kids need revenue now.

Washington State U.S. Representative Rick Larsen, from the 2nd Congressional District, has co-sponsored legislative to expand access to afterschool meals and snacks for low-income children and reduce paperwork for providers.

Here's a quick fact sheet for the “Ensuring All Students Year-round (EASY) Access to Meals and Snacks Act of 2009,” (H.R. 4274).

Background on the federal performance bonus awarded to Washington State for progress on enrolling children in Apple Health for Kids.

Read about the performance bonus award.

In June 2009 Governor Chris Gregoire directed her key education staff to develop a proposal for the 2010 legislative session to ensure that all Washington children and their families have the benefit of early childhood eduction. The drafting team is convened by the Director of the Department of Early Learning, Bette Hyde and the Superintendent of Public Instruction, Randy Dorn. The Early Learning Action Alliance submitted an initial, detailed letter to the drafting Team.

The Annie E Casey Foundation has created a Race Matters Toolkit. The toolkit is designed to help decision-makers, advocates, and elected officials get better results in their work by providing equitable opportunities for all. Below are direct links to a few key tools.

Race Matters Toolkit User's Guide
A review of the toolkit and how to use it.

The Annie E Casey Foundation has created a Race Matters Toolkit. The toolkit is designed to help decision-makers, advocates, and elected officials get better results in their work by providing equitable opportunities for all.