Advocacy

We advocate for long-lasting health solutions so that all children, families and communities may flourish.

We Believe, So We Act

We believe all families deserve to be healthy. WithinReach leads a collaborative effort with key partners, providers and policymakers to connect community health and social service systems together so that we can serve families better. By identifying the barriers and inefficiencies in these systems, we are able to build policies that improve the whole system.

Legislative Priorities

At WithinReach, we believe that healthy, resourced families make strong communities. Driven to break down barriers that prevent families from living healthy lives, WithinReach advocates for public policy and budget matters that directly advance our mission and vision. This commitment drives our legislative priorities this year, which include:

Protect Health, Human Services, and Other Basic Needs

Washington families rely on the health, human services, and other basic needs programs provided by the state. Such services are especially important in moments of crisis and instability. Washington State is facing a significant budget shortfall, which puts state-funded programs and services at risk.

We ask the legislature to prioritize the basic needs of individuals and families by protecting funding for health and human service programs including those that support health care, behavioral health, food security, child development, early learning, public health, and economic security.

Dismantling Systemic Racism and Advancing Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

We believe that all families deserve to be healthy. We acknowledge that race is the leading predictor of health disparities in our community, and that structural racism intentionally limits opportunities for people of color and significantly harms individual, family and community health and well-being.

We ask the legislature to support policy and budget solutions that identify and dismantle racist structures and reduce the social injustice and health disparities experienced by Black, Indigenous and People of Color in Washington State.

Protect and Support a Help Me Grow System in Washington

Many kids face barriers that hinder their health, development, and learning opportunities. We lead on efforts to both build statewide capacity for Help Me Grow and also for building specialized pathways such as expansion of the Plan of Safe Care. Help Me Grow is a community-driven, resource and referral linkage system that connects young children and their families to appropriate services and community supports. We also look to support the services and resources that Help Me Grow families depend on.

We ask the legislature to protect existing funding for Help Me Grow, continue one-time funding that was provided in the 2023 session, and fund community pathways that connect targeted communities with Help Me Grow.

Additional WithinReach Priorities

Ensure Access to Physical & Behavioral Health Care

We support efforts to increase access to both physical and behavioral health care services.

Improving Access to Healthy Foods

We support efforts to increase access to healthy foods for people who struggle to afford nutritious foods, including expanding access to school meals and food assistance programs.

Ensure Access to Immunizations

We support efforts to increase access to immunizations.

How We Help

Learn more about how we serve families, strengthen communities and advocate for change.

See Our Programs