In 1988, we asked ourselves one simple question: How can we make sure every mom and baby get the best start possible? We knew that finding the right help was hard for families. Throughout our journey, we have continued to ask the critical questions necessary to help address the root causes of poor access to health. For more than 30 years of service, we have worked hard to adapt our services to center family and community needs.

Here are some highlights from our history of helping Washington families thrive.

First Decade: 1988-1998

1988: We began as Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies, starting with one hotline and serving new mothers in Washington. From our early beginnings to today, we have been committed to doing work that directly addresses community need.

1994: We convened the Immunization Action Coalition of Washington, which focuses on minimizing the incidence of vaccine preventable diseases through the use of immunizations.

1995: We began housing the Breastfeeding Coalition of Washington, which championed equitable access to supports and worked to promote a supportive environment for breastfeeding.

Second Decade: 1998-2008

2006: We developed our groundbreaking website, www.ParentHelp123.org, to create a place online where parents could easily find the resources and information they needed for their families.

2006: We rebranded from Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies to WithinReach, a name that reflected our commitment to bringing essential health and nutrition resources within reach for all families and residents of Washington.

2008: Our team started doing in-person outreach, called Bridge to Basics. We used mobile technology so that families at food banks, libraries and community centers could find the resources, when, how and where they needed them.

Third Decade: 2008-2018

2010: WithinReach launched Help Me Grow in Washington, with a focus on getting parents and caregivers the resources they need to give their kids a great start in life and ensure they are developing on track.

2013: Through the new Affordable Care Act, we helped thousands of Washington families navigate and enroll in affordable health coverage, many for the first time.

2017: We implemented social needs screening for all clients. By understanding the daily challenges each family faces, our work and the systems we help create are more equitable and holistic for all families.

Today

WithinReach helps more than 278,000 families a year gain access to essential health and nutrition resources. We work with partners and policymakers to improve community health and social service systems for all Washington families.

WithinReach has been an important part of the public health response to the COVID-19 crisis, and we are taking action with our community and partners to support people who have been affected by the pandemic. From helping families access food, to leading the way to create a statewide, coordinated system of resources for families, to making sure COVID-19 vaccines are distributed equitably, our innovation and impact continue to grow.