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AN ORDINANCE adopting the Best Start for Kids implementation plan required by Ordinance 19267, Section 7, to govern the expenditure of Best Start for Kids levy proceeds from 2022 through 2027, to promote improved health and well-being outcomes of children and youth, as well as the families and communities in which they live.

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

1.  In 2015, Ordinance 18088 placed a six-year Best Starts for Kids levy on the general election ballot.  King County residents voted and approved the Best Starts for Kids Levy to fund prevention and early intervention strategies to improve the health and well-being of children, youth, families and communities.

2.  In 2021, Ordinance 19267 placed a six-year renewal of the Best Starts for Kids levy on the ballot.  King County voters approved Proposition No. 1 on August 3, 2021, authorizing the renewal of the Best Starts for Kids levy, continuing for 2022 through 2027 to fund services for King County residents in need.  The levy's proceeds will be used to plan, provide, administer and evaluate promotion, prevention and early interventions and capital investments for King County children, youth, families and communities.

3.a.  Ordinance 19267, Section 7, requires the executive to develop and transmit for council review and adoption by ordinance an implementation plan for the Best Starts for Kids levy.  The implementation plan, once effective, will govern the expenditure of the levy's proceeds until the levy expires in 2027.  The required implementation plan is Attachment A to this ordinance.

  b.  The implementation plan identifies the strategies to be funded and outcomes to be achieved with the use of the levy proceeds.  The Best Starts for Kids implementation plan also includes a framework to measure the performance of the levy strategies in achieving their outcomes, including annual reporting on levy expenditures, services and outcomes.

  c.  For the purposes of this subsection 3., "outcomes" include, but are not limited to:

    (1)  capital investments for buildings and facilities, including, but not limited to, housing, that serve children and youth, ensuring adequate services and supports for pregnant persons and newborns;

    (2)  access to safe and healthy food;

    (3)  developmental screening for children and youth;

    (4)  programs that care for children and youth when they are not at home including child care and out-of-school-time programs;

    (5)  programs and services that promote social and emotional well-being, mental health and a sense of belonging, connection and positive identity in children and youth; and

    (6)  programs and services that provide academic support and promote academic achievement.

4.  The executive developed the Best Starts for Kids implementation plan in consultation with the King County children and youth advisory board and the communities of opportunity-best starts for kids levy advisory board. In developing the Best Starts for Kids implementation plan, the executive considered and promoted harmony with the previous Best Starts for Kids Implementation Plan approved by Ordinance 18373.

5.  The previous Best Starts for Kids Implementation Plan described which strategies from the previous Best Starts for Kids Implementation Plan shall continue in the proposed Best Starts for Kids implementation plan.  The implementation plan describes newly enhanced categories of funding added to the levy, including a King County child care subsidy program, a child care workforce demonstration project, the expansion of out-of-school-time programs for school-aged children, up to four new school-based health centers and the expansion of transitions-to-adulthood programs for youth and young adults.

6.  The Best Starts for Kids implementation plan reflects the King County Youth Action Plan, adopted by Motion 14378.  The Youth Action Plan establishes a policy framework for the Best Starts for Kids levy by centering focus on equity and including diverse youth voices throughout the implementation plan creation process.

7.  Motion 15888, adopted on June 1, 2021, requests that the executive, in developing the Best Starts for Kids implementation plan, identify strategies relating to prevention, outreach, and early intervention to address mental health and substance use impacts in children and youth five through twenty-four years old, that have been exacerbated due to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic; and consider programs and services that provide, expand or provide and expand access to substance use disorder supports for children and youth, including but not limited to, awareness campaigns on substance use.

8.a.  Ordinance 19267, Section 7, requires the Best Starts for Kids implementation plan to also include a framework to measure the performance of levy strategies in achieving their outcomes and requires an annual report on levy expenditures, services and outcomes, including:

    (1)  total expenditures of levy proceeds by program area by ZIP Code in King County; and

    (2)  the number of individuals receiving levy-funded services by program area by ZIP Code in King County of where the individuals reside at the time of service.

  b.  An annual report, informed by the data collected using the framework, and other data collection, can show how needs are being met throughout the county and who is being served with program services, while creating an opportunity for the county to better serve those whose needs are not being met.  Data collection from King County and service providers can provide for accountability for the expenditure of levy proceeds and meeting program goals and outcomes.

                     BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:

                     SECTION 1.  The Best Starts for Kids Implementation Plan, dated October 13, 2021, Attachment A to this ordinance, is hereby adopted to govern the expenditure of best starts for kids levy proceeds as authorized under Ordinance 19267."

SECTION 2.  A.  No later than July 15 of each year of the Best Starts for Kids levy, as authorized under Ordinance 19267, beginning with the first report to be filed by July 15, 2023, the executive shall electronically file the Best Starts for Kids annual report on levy expenditures, services and outcomes with the clerk of the council, who shall provide an electronic copy to all councilmembers and all members and alternate members of the regional policy committee, or its successor.  Each annual report shall be accompanied by a proposed motion that shall acknowledge receipt of the report.

                     B.  The annual report on levy expenditures, services and outcomes shall include total expenditures of levy proceeds by program area by ZIP Code in King County and the number of individuals receiving levy-funded services by program area by ZIP Code in King County of where the individuals reside at the time of service.  King County shall require collection of this ZIP Code information from all service contractors who receive moneys from the best starts for kids levy for contracts executed after December 31, 2021.  King County shall work with contractors providing services to individuals and families to develop the capacity to collect and report the information to the county.  The annual report shall include this ZIP Code information in addition to any other ways the report may visually provide the information.

                     C.  This section shall prevail in the event of a conflict between the language in this section and language contained in Attachment A to this ordinance.