Author: Adam Hyla E. Holdorf

Bolster investments in children and families to protect Washington’s future While the youngest Washingtonians have so far been largely spared from some of the worst health impacts of the COVID-19 crisis, the toll of the pandemic on the well-being of children and their families should not be underestimated. Prolonged school and child care closures, lost jobs and incomes, and the

August 2020 Healthy development for young kids creates a better future for all. Today’s children are the voters, parents, nurses, educators, volunteers, and business owners of tomorrow. Within just a few short years, they will take their places in civic society. Washington’s collective well-being—the health of public structures, the vibrancy of communities, the vitality of the economy—is enhanced by everyone

State of Washington’s Kids 2020 Oral health is vital to overall health. From a child’s first years, routine and preventive dental treatment is a necessary means to maintain a healthy mouth, teeth, and gums. Every parent wants their children to grow up free of the pain, distraction, and expense of untreated dental decay. Yet too many Washington children are adversely

State of Washington’s Kids 2020 Children can thrive when their communities are strong. Just as the well-being of children is tightly linked with the well-being of their parents and families, the health of children’s broader racial, ethnic, cultural, and geographic communities also profoundly shapes their development.1 When communities are equipped with strong foundations (like quality affordable housing, good schools, and