The Y believes that strong communities can only be achieved when we invest in our youth, health and neighborhoods and that all children deserve the opportunity to achieve their fullest potential, regardless of income, race, or background.

This election, voters have an important opportunity to ensure every child in King County gets the best start in life. Best Starts for Kids, Proposition 1, will deliver real, measurable benefits for children across the county.

Best Starts invests in proven prevention methods and early intervention that provide children with the support they need for lifelong success. Groundbreaking research conducted at the University of Washington shows that the most critical stages of a child’s brain development takes place from birth to 3 years old.

Best Starts funds will strengthen a child’s early development, invest at key developmental milestones, and create healthy communities that reinforce their progress.

Early intervention to protect our families’ futures can reduce the need for costly late-stage interventions for chronic disease, domestic violence, mental illness, and homelessness. And it saves money and resources by preventing bad situations, instead of merely responding to them.

The smartest and most responsible investment we can make is in the future of our kids and that is why the YMCA is strongly supporting Best Starts for Kids.

Dave Walker, Northshore YMCA