WithinReach Programs
Providing Health and Hope with One Click or One Call
Whether by phone or internet, WithinReach helps families find the most efficient path to health and food resources. Our experienced, bilingual call center staff make a quick assessment of family needs and help callers negotiate complicated program and application guidelines. ParentHelp123.org, our interactive web tool allows users to search for resources, determine their eligibility, and complete applications for multiple public benefits online.
Reaching Families Wherever They Are
Our community outreach staff provide eligibility screening, application assistance, and referrals in-person at sites throughout King and Snohomish counties. Families can receive information on Basic Food, Apple Health for Kids, Pregnancy Medical, WIC, utility assistance, and much more.
Promoting Healthy Lives For Children and Families
Our five statewide coalitions, the Immunization Action Coalition of Washington, the Hepatitis B Coalition of Washington, the Breastfeeding Coalition of Washington, the Washington Anti-Hunger & Nutrition Coalition, and the Washington Coalition on Medicaid Outreach, create change within our communities. By bringing partners together from across the state to address health priorities, our coalitions coordinate statewide efforts to promote and support, food and healthcare access, immunizations and breastfeeding for improved community health.
Recent Successes and Current Challenges
In recent years, with the downturn in the economy, the number of families in need of basic resources such as food, healthcare, and shelter has risen dramatically. As a result, families are under a great deal of stress. The combination of financial instability, dwindling public resources, and a complex system of assistance programs makes it difficult for families to learn about and access the help they need to sustain their health.
WithinReach removes barriers and makes the connections that families across the state need to be healthy. By meeting people’s basic food and health care needs, WithinReach can intervene early and often stave off a downward spiral into homelessness for thousands of families – families like Anthony’s: We met Anthony and his niece at a food bank in Snohomish County this January. Anthony is a certified contractor but hadn’t been able to find a job in his field. He had been working odd jobs for the last two years trying to make ends meet and for a while he had been able to just barely cover expenses. However, money had become especially tight as Anthony had also recently become the sole caretaker for his niece, whose parents had been killed in a car accident the year before.
Sam, one of our AmeriCorps members, quickly screened Anthony to find out if he would qualify for Basic Food (food stamps). As it turned out, he more than qualified for food assistance as well as full coverage Children’s Medicaid for his niece. Sam helped Anthony submit an application for both programs on the spot. He then helped Anthony prepare for the program’s interview process by walking him through it step by step. Now, Anthony can put food on the table and take his niece to the doctor so she gets the very best start in life. And, since he doesn’t have to worry about covering basic food and healthcare costs, he can more easily make rent, utility, and car payments.
Thousands of families, like Anthony’s, struggle to get by. That’s why we work heard every single day to make sure all families in our community have what they need to be healthy.