The intersection between child welfare and child well-being was brought into sharp focus at the Regional Forum on Child Welfare Transformation: Supporting Families During Pregnancy and Early Childhood we attended in Tacoma, WA in early September 2024.

With the new school year here, families across Washington are busy preparing their children for a successful academic journey. Amid these preparations, ensuring that children are up to date on their vaccinations is especially important.

Recent surveys show that teachers are prioritizing social emotional learning above academics when determining how ready children are for school. And it’s not just teachers. These skills will continue to be assessed when our kids go off to find jobs.

On July 30, the White House hosted a convening on Child Welfare Transformation. The Biden administration invited a broad coalition of key stakeholders and policymakers, including Lark Kesterke, WithinReach employee and Director of the Help Me Grow Washington Network, to discuss and offer wisdom at the event.