SOAR Programs
Action Teams: Our nine Action Teams work in one of our two priority areas: Early Childhood and School Readiness or School-Age Children and Youth, with each group focused on a specific goal of the SOAR Action Agenda. Action Teams work to transform goals into tactics, strategy and actions, ranging from simply raising public awareness, to implementing community-based projects, to impacting policy changes at the city, county and state level. Action team members represent organizations serving children and youth, businesses, grant makers, schools, governments and faith-based groups in Seattle and King County, plus parents and community leaders.
King County Youth Development Network: A resource sharing website for youth development staff. This program supports more than 1,500 youth development workers in Seattle and King County by sharing resources, collaborating, and connecting individuals and organizations, both online and in-person.
Putting the Pieces Together Conference: Our annual conference attracts more than 400 early childhood and youth development providers. This year's conference will engage dialogue about using collaborative, innovative, and engaging approaches to create a stronger network of supports for children and youth in Seattle and King County, from birth through young adulthood. Workshops will discuss practical tools and tips on strengthening our work through Social-Emotional Learning, Engagement, and Social Justice.
Recent Successes and Current Challenges
One recent success is the King County Youth Development Network (KCYDN,
www.kcyouthdevelopment.net), an online resource for professional development, skill building and resource exchange for more than 1,500 youth development workers in Seattle and King County. Piloted in 2009, the website boasts 800 members, and reaches 8,000 unique users annually.
KCYDN strives to ensure that all young people have access to high quality programs by building a supportive, cohesive, and cooperative youth development community in King County. The KCYDN website works in concert with in-person professional development and networking opportunities for youth workers, including monthly forums, workshops, planning meetings and specialized trainings. The website publicizes in-person events and provides an online space for youth development workers to network, learn from each other, collaborate, and share resources and best practices through an online discussion forum.
Since launching in June 2009, the website has seen 21,000 visits from 10,500 unique visitors. In the past 12 months the website has been viewed by 7,712 unduplicated visitors.
KCYDN is a SOAR Action Team and a collaboration supported by American Red Cross, City of Redmond, Metrocenter YMCA, Notre Dame AmeriCorps Seattle, School's Out Washington, Seattle Parks & Recreation, SOAR, Solid Ground, WorkSource, Youth Suicide Prevention Program, and many more child & youth organizations in King County.