WithinReach

🍽️ 48 Easy Back-to-School Dinners 🍽️

Ready to get back into the routine? Whether you're heading back to the classroom or just need to streamline your evenings, we’ve got you covered with 48 easy dinners! These 30-minute weeknight meals are perfect for busy families and will make dinner time a breeze. 😋👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

https://www.howsweeteats.com/2021/08/easy-back-to-school-dinners/

Want to find out more about Basic Food? Call our Help Me Grow Washington Hotline at 1-800-322-2588 and talk to a specialist! We're here to answer questions about your eligibility and help you learn more about Basic Food/SNAP benefits.

For many parents, school readiness means teaching our kids to write their own name, sing the ABC’s and learn how to count. But recent surveys show that teachers are prioritizing social emotional learning above academics when determining how ready children are for school. And it’s not just teachers. These skills will continue to be assessed when our kids go off to find jobs. Many hiring managers list skills like the ability to work in a team and communicate with colleagues and clients as top things they look for when finding a good fit for a job. All of these skills fall under social emotional learning.

Learn more about social emotional development and kindergarten readiness on our blog: https://withinreachwa.org/social-emotional-developments-vital-role-in-kindergarten-readiness

Vaccines during pregnancy don’t just keep you safe- they also give your baby early protection! By getting recommended vaccines during pregnancy like flu, Tdap, RSV, and COVID-19, you help pass on important protection to your baby for their first few months when they are most vulnerable against vaccine-preventable diseases.

Check out the FAQs on RSV, COVID-19, and Tdap by One Vax, Two Lives at https://www.onevaxtwolives.com/ to learn more about vaccines during pregnancy, and chat with your provider to ensure both you and your baby are well-protected.

Mornings with kids can be a whirlwind of chaos—finding matching socks, juggling breakfast, and dealing with the inevitable “I don’t want to go!” moments. Between the snack requests, last-minute potty trips, and the seemingly endless “I can’t find my [favorite toy/blanket/etc.]” searches, it’s a wonder we manage to leave at all! 🤦‍♀️

To all the parents out there navigating the morning madness, you’re doing an amazing job! Remember, it’s okay if things don’t always go perfectly. Sometimes, just making it out the door with a smile (or at least a sigh of relief) is a victory in itself. 💪✨

📚✨ Happy Read a Book Day! ✨📚

Today is the perfect day to snuggle up with your little ones and dive into the magical world of books! 📖❤️ Reading to your kids not only sparks their imagination but also helps with their language development and strengthens your bond.

Choose a favorite story, or explore a new one together. Make it a special moment they’ll cherish! Share your favorite children’s books or a reading pic in the comments. Let’s celebrate the joy of reading with our kids! 🌟

🎉 What a Fantastic Event! 🎉

We were thrilled to attend the kickoff celebration hosted by our partner and Community Hub leader, HealthierHere. The Hub matches individuals and families in King County with community health workers who help them find resources, navigate systems, and champion their needs. The event marked the successful completion of our Community Hub orientation training and celebrated the essential role of our 17 Hub Case Management Partners in advancing health equity. 🌟

We deeply appreciate HealthierHere for bringing us together and recognizing the vital contributions of our frontline staff and community-based workers. 🙌 For more information on HealthierHere and its initiatives, visit their website: https://www.healthierhere.org/

Thank you to everyone who made this event memorable and impactful. Here’s to continuing our journey together with renewed energy and commitment!

Learn more about the event on our website: https://withinreachwa.org/news/healthierhere-hosts-kickoff-celebration-for-hub-case-management-partners

Our immune systems work better after flu vaccination. Just like getting a software update, when we prepare our kids’ immune systems to detect and resist a virus, it protects them and the entire network of people around them. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all children aged 6 months and older get their flu vaccine.

Talk to your healthcare provider or a local pharmacy about scheduling a flu-vaccine appointment for you and your loved ones.

How's the transition back to school going?

Sesame Street wants to help bridge the gap between home and school so your child feels safe and secure in the classroom, and you feel calm and comfortable throughout the school year.

Check out their article "Parenting Tips for a successful Back-to-School Season" for resources and videos to support you and your little ones:

Parenting Tips for a Successful Back-to-School Season: Learning Routines and Educational Activities for Kids - Sesame Workshop Gathering new school supplies is one part of back-to-school season, but preparing your family’s heart and mind for the first day of school may not be as

👶💼 It’s Workplace Lactation Week! 💼👶

This week, let’s recognize and support the importance of providing breastfeeding-friendly environments at work. Every parent deserves a supportive workplace where they can balance their career and breastfeeding journey. 🍼✨

September 1st to September 7th is Workplace Lactation week. This year’s theme is “Policy to Practice: Making Lactation Support a Reality.”
This theme highlights the incredible progress made in recent years to protect and support lactating parents in the workplace and at school.
Join us in celebrating Workplace Lactation Week by sharing your stories, resources, and ideas using and

This is the last week of National Immunization Awareness Month!

Answer 10 quick questions and learn which vaccines your child may need: https://www2a.cdc.gov/vaccines/childquiz/

🌟 Overdose Awareness Week: Together, We Can Make a Difference 🌟

This week, we're joining SAMHSA and communities across the nation in recognizing Overdose Awareness Week. 💜 This is a crucial time to raise awareness about the impact of overdose, honor those we've lost, and support those currently struggling with substance use disorders.

This week is —a time to remember, acknowledge and bring awareness to lives lost to overdose. We have more possibilities than ever before to prevent, treat, and promote recovery from opioid use disorder

💜 Together we can and save lives

Our partners at Perinatal Support Washington offers an array of supports for parents. Their toll-free telephone support line provides peer support to parents in need. They also offer mental health therapy, free and low-cost new parent support groups.

Find out more: https://perinatalsupport.org/about-us/

SNAP enrolled families are eligible for Head Start and Early Head Start - NO-COST Preschool Programs for age 0-5!

Want to find out more? Call our Help Me Grow Washington Hotline at 1-800-322-2588 and talk to a specialist! We're here to answer questions about your eligibility and help you learn more about Basic Food/SNAP benefits.

In recognition of National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM), we would like to highlight our free, self-paced courses available on the ImmunityCommunitywa.org. Certain courses offer continuing education credits, and all provide valuable insights into immunization practices.

Visit ImmunityCommunitywa.org to explore the courses and take advantage of these resources.

Call our Help Me Grow Washington Hotline at 1-800-322-2588 to see if you qualify for discounts on public transportation.

Our staff can assist you with enrollment over the phone and mail you a registered ORCA LIFT card to get you where you need to go!

WithinReach is proud to partner with many wonderful organizations who support parents.

If you or someone you know could use support with any aspect of pregnancy or parenting, we can help. Get connected to resources in your community by calling our Help Me Grow Hotline at 1-800-322-2588.

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On July 30, the White House Domestic Policy Council hosted a convening on Child Welfare Transformation. Policymakers, funders, and key stakeholders, including Lark Kesterke, Director of the Help Me Grow Washington Network at WithinReach, shared ideas for additional policy opportunities and accomplishments to support families and their children.

Learn more: https://withinreachwa.org/news/withinreach-staffer-invited-to-white-house-for-child-welfare-convening

Congratulations to this year's IACW Advocate Awardee, Tara Cullinan! Affectionately known as “The Evil Shot Lady,” Tara excels at building trust and communicating with vaccine-hesitant families, ensuring children from birth to 18 receive recommended vaccines. Her efforts have consistently earned her practice Immunize Washington Seals and significantly improved community immunization rates 🌟

The Immunization Action Coalition of Washington (IACW) celebrates your impact and hard work in keeping our communities protected and healthy in Washington - thank you for all you do 🎉💖

Learn more about this year's amazing awardees: https://immunitycommunitywa.org/congratulations-to-our-2024-iacw-immunization-champions/

Congratulations to this year's IACW Collaborator Awardee, Elizabeth Bowman-Clark! Her innovative leadership and collaboration led to over 8,000 childhood vaccines administered in 2023, doubling the clinic’s previous year’s figures. 🌟

The Immunization Action Coalition of Washington (IACW) celebrates your impact and hard work in keeping our communities protected and healthy in Washington - thank you for all you do! 🎉💖

Learn more about all of our amazing awardees: https://immunitycommunitywa.org/congratulations-to-our-2024-iacw-immunization-champions/

Congratulations to this year's IACW Respiratory Season Champion Awardee, Dr. Maria Huang! Dr. Huang's advocacy contributed to the passage of Washington Senate Bill 5982 and companion HB 2157, which updated the definition of “vaccine” to include all FDA-approved immunizations recommended by the CDC, making Nirsevimab (RSV immunization) available to all WA kids 🌟

The Immunization Action Coalition of Washington (IACW) celebrates your impact and hard work in keeping our communities protected and healthy in Washington - thank you for all you do 🎉💖

Learn more about this year's amazing awardees: https://immunitycommunitywa.org/congratulations-to-our-2024-iacw-immunization-champions/

Need to talk with someone about parenting? Check out the supports Parent Trust for Washington Children families and get the support you need: https://www.parenttrust.org/

Feeling anxious about getting food on the table for you and your little one? You're not alone.

According to RAPID Survey Project: "Families with young children are experiencing hunger and facing limited options of where to get food. Lower-income families and families living in rural areas are most likely to experience hunger and food hardship and have limited access to grocery sources."

Find out more at: https://rapidsurveyproject.com/our-research/parent-of-young-children-are-concerned-about-access-to-food

You may qualify for food assistance through Basic Food. Call the Help Me Grow hotline 1-800-322-2588 and talk to a specialist.

Did you know that Apple Health (Medicaid) covers over-the-counter birth control without a prescription at your pharmacy? Learn more and get a list of which products are covered at https://loom.ly/CLNVeAw

Vaccines are essential for keeping your family healthy and protected from infectious diseases. Talk to your healthcare provider to ensure everyone is up to date on their routine vaccinations and safeguard your loved ones and community from vaccine preventable diseases.

It's beet season in Washington! Beets are packed with essential vitamins and minerals. Learn three easy ways to cook them - and their greens!: https://www.spendwithpennies.com/how-to-cook-beets/ (Spoiler alert: there's a microwave option!)

You can find beets and lots of other delicious fruits 🍎 and vegetables 🌽 at your local farmers market! is a statewide program that provides incentives for SNAP/EBT customers to use on fresh fruits and vegetables at more than 100 farmers markets!

You may qualify for food assistance through Basic Food. Call the Help Me Grow hotline 1-800-322-2588 and talk to a specialist!