IMPROVING EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES Education is foundational to all our efforts. In 2018, we expanded our early learning “Baby Academy” in the Highline School District to schools in Bellevue and Kent. This program ensures that children in the families we house are provided the support needed to promote cognitive development in the critical birth to three age range, positioning them for success in Kindergarten. This upstream approach complements KCHA’s commitment to provide access to both quality childcare and early learning programs, as well as our parent engagement and student attendance initiatives, and the after-school learning and recreation programs we support at 15 properties. ADDRESSING HEALTH DISPARITIES Good health is critical to housing stability, quality of life, positive educational outcomes, and economic independence. The households we assist, to a greater degree than the region’s population at large, struggle with a wide array of health challenges. Research has increasingly shown that non-medical interventions – social determinants of health – are important factors in improving health outcomes. In 2018, KCHA began developing a comprehensive strategy for addressing health disparities and supporting health and wellness among the clients we serve. In partnership with Public Health-Seattle & King County and UnitedHealthcare, we are establishing a baseline understanding of resident health service utilization. This data will be critical in informing the design and evaluation of emerging interventions intended to improve our residents’ health outcomes. 16 2018 ANNUAL REPORT