Early childhood systems help communities embrace the “whole child”; increase collaboration among early childhood stakeholders; and build upon complementary and existing efforts.  Systems bridge together health; social, emotional and mental health; early care and education/child care; and parenting information and support.

Kids Matter Framework

Kids Matter is a collaborative and comprehensive strategic framework for building the early childhood system in Washington State in order to improve outcomes for children.

Kids Matter offers a framework that supports the efforts of local and state stakeholders to coordinate,
collaborate and integrate efforts that will lead to children being healthy and ready for school.

Kids Matter identifies specific achievable outcomes within four goal areas

• access to health insurance and medical homes;
• mental health and social-emotional development;
• early care and education/child care;
• and parenting information and support.

Cutting across and integrated within each of these is a family support approach to achieving outcomes within the four goal areas.

Get Involved

Stay connected to Docs For Tots Washington State: through regular resource updates, news, and special announcements, we will keep you informed about our child advocacy efforts.  Visit www.DocsForTots.org/DFTWA.asp.  Join us in this important work!