“THE FIRST 5 YEARS HAVE SO MUCH TO DO WITH HOW THE

NEXT 80 TURN OUT.”

- BILL GATES SR.

To cLOSE THE COUNTRY’S ACHIEVEMENT GAP, WE MUST FIRST CLOSE THE OPPORTUNITY GAP THAT CAN BE SEEN IN CHILDREN BEFORE THEIR FIRST BIRTHDAY.

There are about 2,000 days from

when a child is born to when she

starts kindergarten

– every moment counts!

“WE ALL HAVE A JOYFUL OBLIGATION TO GIVE EVERY CHILD THE BEST START IN LIFE POSSIBLE.”Jackie BezosCo-ChairThrive by Five WashingtonBoard of Directors

WE’RE NOT INVESTING WISELY

About 90 percent of public expenditures on children occur AFTER age 5

www.thrivebyfivewa.org

There is an economic return between $4 and $17 for every dollar invested in high-quality early learning programs.

EARLY LEARNING IS IMPORTANT

During the first few years of life, the brain grows faster than at any other time in life.

The parent-child bond and early experiences have an impact on all future development.

www.thrivebyfivewa.org

WHERE YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Support parents as their child’s most important teacher

Emphasize children and families farthest from opportunity

Support high-quality early learning programs, including those that serve infants and toddlers

Support efforts to build a strong bridge between early learning and K-12

Support systems-building efforts

“We all have a joyful obligation to give every child the best start in life possible.”

Jackie BezosCo-Chair, Thrive by Five

WashingtonBoard of Directors

OUR SITUATION FRAMES OUR CHOICES The Very Early Years Are

Important Gains in Early Years Must be

Sustained Demographics Influence

Opportunity The Opportunity Gap in

Washington is Getting Larger

“THE FIRST FIVE YEARS HAVE SO

MUCH TO DO WITH HOW THE NEXT 80 TURN

OUT.”Bill Gates Sr.

Past Co-ChairThrive by Five Washington

Board of Directors

A SNAPSHOT OF WASHINGTON’S YOUNGEST

LEARNERS The state’s Medicaid program pays for

about half of the 90,000 babies born each year.

One third of children under the age of 3 live in or near poverty – more than any other age group.

Three quarters of entering kindergartners have expected physical skills, but only half have the math skills they need

www.thrivebyfivewa.org

HOME VISITING

Every year, thousands of Washington state’s youngest children suffer from abuse and neglect, and 60 percent of infants and toddlers have at least one risk factor known to increase their chance of poor school, health and developmental outcomes.

Home visiting is a proven strategy to ensure that our state’s youngest children are safer, healthier and better prepared to learn — and families are better equipped to give their children a great start in life.

www.thrivebyfivewa.org

HOME VISITING SERVICES ACCOUNT

Created in the 2010 legislative session, it matches and leverages public and private funds to help more families get the early support they need.

The Washington State Department of Early Learning (DEL) contracts with Thrive by Five Washington , a nongovernmental private-public partnership to administer programs funded through the Home Visiting Services Account.

www.thrivebyfivewa.org

HOME VISITING SERVICES ACCOUNT

www.thrivebyfivewa.org

Department of Early Learning

Home Visiting Services Account oversight and MIECHV state lead

Thrive by Five Washington

Home Visiting Services Account administration

Evaluation PartnersDepartment of Health, WSU

To achieve the desired outcomes for families and children, home visitation programs must be implemented fully and effectively with fidelity and at a scale that will affect community level outcomes.

There is an increased emphasis given to the challenging process of moving science to practice and the often complicated process of implementing best practice models in real-world settings.

(Brekke et al.,2009; Chorpita & Regan, 2009; Fixsen et al., 2009: Stelk & Slaton, 2010)