Our Commitment to Equity and Anti-Racism

Learn how equity and anti-racism is embedded in the work we do in partnership with King County communities.

Best Starts for Kids holds equity central to our work and we aspire to root out deeply entrenched systems of racism. We partner with communities and invest in community expertise to support where need is greatest. In 2015, the Best Starts framework was built on community input from more than 2,000 community members, including 1,000 young people. Community voice continues to inform the intentional work we do in partnership with communities so that all babies, children, and young people grow up happy, healthy, safe, and thriving.

Equity in Action

Distribution of Investments

In centering racial equity and justice, Best Starts’ distribution of investments focuses on areas where need is greatest. We partner with King County communities to serve areas with more young people, lower opportunity, or both.

Equitable Contracting

We partner with small, community-based organizations who may not have as much experience in contracting with government agencies. We reduce barriers by offering Technical Assistance to any organization that seeks help when applying for Best Starts funding. We also offer Capacity Building to our partners to help build organizational capacity and infrastructure.

Policy and Systems Change

We build community power to change systems and policies so that all communities in our region can thrive regardless of race or place. By investing in community-led solutions, organizational infrastructure, and leadership capacity, communities most affected by inequities can drive and inform sustainable and multigenerational impacts. 

Children and Youth Advisory Board

The Children and Youth Advisory Board (CYAB) is an oversight and advisory board for Best Starts for Kids. We are guided by the CYAB’s Statement on Equity:

  • Equity is an ardent journey toward well-being as defined by the affected
  • Equity demands sacrifice and redistribution of power and resources in order to break systems of oppression, heal continuing wounds, and realize justice
  • To achieve equity and social justice, we must first root out deeply entrenched systems of racism
  • Equity proactively builds strong foundations of agency, is vigilant for unintended consequences, and boldly aspires to be restorative
  • Equity is disruptive and uncomfortable and not voluntary
  • Equity is fundamental to the community we want to build