We are all better off when each member of our community has opportunities to connect with their neighbors, contribute, and get the resources they need.
That’s why King County Department of Community & Humans Services’ Developmental Disabilities and Early Childhood Supports Division (DDECSD) partners with community-based organizations that connect people to community, support employment, and provide developmental screening and support for families, babies, children, young people, and adults who have developmental delays or disabilities.
Recently, the division hosted “Data Walks” at the King County DDECSD Resource Fair to share stories about the division’s work.
What did we learn?
Our evaluation team presented data pulled from four of our programs that reach people with developmental disabilities and delays at different life stages:
- Universal Developmental Screening and Promotion: Makes sure children and their families have access to culturally appropriate developmental screening and support through early childhood.
- School-to-Work: Helps high school students transition into employment after graduation.
- Community Inclusion and Individual Employment: Community Inclusion connects adults to community, so they can build social connections and relationships, and Individual Employment supports adults with employment opportunities.
“My experience with School to Work was great. I think the program was really helpful with getting ready for my first job. I had good communication with my job coach. I would tell anyone who is thinking about doing School to Work that at first it’s a little scary but after the first two weeks you will love it,” said a 2024 School-to-Work student
The data showed that providers:
- Served almost 5,000 people through direct services and reached 1,450 people through workshops and community gatherings.
- Reached all corners of King County but focused on underserved areas. Universal Developmental Screening and Promotion programs reached a high proportion of participants in South and rural East King County. Across Adult Services programs, participants were reached primarily in Seattle.
- Reached linguistically diverse communities. More than half of Universal Developmental Screening and Promotion participants spoke a language other than English. Participants served through Community Inclusion and Individual Employment programs spoke about 40 different languages.
- Helped participants achieve key outcomes, including employment. Almost all Universal Developmental Screening and Promotion participants increased or maintained protective factors that help promote children’s and families’ well-being, health and resilience. Over 1,600 people participating in the Individual Employment program achieved employment. Participants who took part in the School-to-Work and Individual Employment programs secured jobs across almost 20 different industries, including food services and manufacturing.
“One participant shared how the mentorship provided by the parent champion …helped her better understand her child’s developmental needs and navigate support systems with confidence. Through this guidance, the parent secured developmental screenings and accessed services tailored to her child’s needs… As a result, she gained the confidence to advocate for her child in educational and healthcare settings,” said a Universal Developmental Screening and Promotion provider
Dive into the data yourself: