SOAR's FOCUS - Early Childhood & School Readiness

SOAR challenges our community to make children and youth our highest priority.  SOAR connects, convenes and catalyzes communities in King County in order to create a welcoming, safe and empowering environment to give young people ages 0-6 the opportunity to reach their full potential.

King County Early Childhood and School Readiness Action Agenda Executive Summary Four Goals

Action Teams – Early Childhood & School Readiness

SOAR Action Teams help carry out the goals of the King County Early Childhood and School Readiness Action Agenda.  Check out what the Action Teams are doing!


Mini Grant Recipients

Click here for a list of community groups and organizations using mini-grant funds to carry out strategies of the King County Action Agenda.


Four Goals – Early Childhood & School Readiness

Goal 1.  Nurturing: Children have strong bonds and nurturing relationships with their parents/guardians and other significant adults in their lives.
Goal 2.  Prevention/Early Intervention: Children and families most in need of services to help their development get high-quality, affordable and culturally competent services early.
Goal 3.  Early Care and Education: Children and families have access to high-quality, affordable and culturally competent early care and early education.
Goal 4.  Successful Transitions: Children are prepared, from infancy, for a successful transition into school by the adults in their lives, working in concert with their communities and schools.

Cultural Relevancy

Cultural Relevancy, also known as cultural competency, is a shared value that shapes the Action Agendas and is central to all goals and strategies.  Cultural relevancy is rooted in the belief that respect, understanding, and awareness of cultures in one’s community is of paramount importance.  It seeks to expand our minds and hearts in shaping all aspects of community resources to reflect the needs, goals, values, languages beliefs, communication styles and strengths of children, youth and families.  Cultural relevancy helps ensure resources are accessible, meaningful, and tailored to meet community needs. 

SOAR values work that challenges bias, recognizing that barriers children, youth and families face are often rooted in the cycle of poverty, discrimination, bias and oppression, a well as limited cultural relevancy in the provision of services.  The shared values of cultural relevancy and challenging bias are essential in order to support the development, learning and well-being of all children.



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