WA 2025: A Year in Community

As we look back on the past year at Start Early Washington, I am filled with gratitude and pride for our partners, the communities we serve, and the collective work that continues to strengthen early learning and family support systems across our state.

This year reaffirmed a fundamental belief that guides everything we do: children thrive when families are supported, and systems are strongest when they are shaped by the voices of the communities they serve.

Aligning Systems by Centering Community Voices

Over the past year, Start Early Washington deepened our presence in communities statewide, strengthening our role as a trusted partner and advocate for high-quality early learning. We launched a new Community Advisory Committee, bringing together early learning professionals to provide strategic guidance on our policy and programmatic work. At the same time, we engaged in Tribal Early Learning Community Conversations, creating space for intimate, trust-centered dialogue with Tribal partners and home visiting professionals working deep in some of Washington’s most diverse communities.

These conversations informed our 2024–25 Tribal Early Learning Report, the first in a new series that shares what we are learning directly from the field. The report is not only designed to highlight the challenges and barriers, which is typical practice, but to also highlight the strengths and success of Tribal and Indigenous communities. It elevates the integration of culture into services for families and the effort on the part of programs to provide this. In addition, the report outlines culturally specific priorities, challenges, and strengths identified through conversations with Tribal partners and home visiting professionals—and offers co-developed recommendations to shape advocacy and program design.

Strengthening the Workforce That Walks Alongside Families

A strong early learning system depends on a supported and skilled workforce. This year, we expanded professional learning and collaboration opportunities across Washington’s home visiting field, hosting statewide Professional Development Days, a Home Visiting Coordinators Retreat, and participated in national conferences.

Through nearly 1,033 training and technical assistance events in FY2025, we reached 451 professionals across 76 programs statewide, helping ensure that effective, evidence-informed practices are accessible and sustainable in communities across Washington.

We also advanced our commitment to culturally responsive practice by translating the Washington State Home Visiting Core Competencies into five languages, supporting a diverse workforce that reflects the families it serves. Our redesigned NEAR training further shifted our approach toward trauma-informed, culturally grounded care—honoring family histories, lived experiences, and resilience.

Learning from Providers Across Washington

Listening to providers is essential to strengthening the systems that support families. This year, insights from our annual Training and Technical Assistance Survey offered valuable perspectives from home visiting and early learning professionals across the state. The findings—shared in our 2025 Training and Technical Assistance Report—highlight what is working well, where additional support is needed, and how training and technical assistance can continue to evolve to meet the realities of providers’ work. Providers emphasized the importance of relationship-based approaches, culturally relevant content, and flexible learning opportunities.

Looking Ahead with Resolve

As we look ahead, we do so with both resolve and realism. We are in an extraordinarily challenging time in our country, one in which we are having to contend with difficult federal policy and funding decisions that will directly affect the health, stability, and well-being of families.

In moments like these, our shared commitment matters more than ever. Start Early Washington will continue to stand alongside families, providers, and communities—advocating for policies and investments that recognize early learning and family support as essential.

This reflects what is possible when communities lead, partnerships are strong, and our work remains grounded in trust, collaboration, and shared purpose. Thank you for being part of this journey to continue building brighter futures for Washington’s children and families.