VISION: By 2020, the people of King County will experience significant gains in health and well-being because our community worked collectively to make the shift from a costly, crisis-oriented response to health and social problems, to one that focuses on prevention, embraces recovery, and eliminates disparities.

How are health and human services changing?

Building equity in our community:

• Removing barriers, such as access to affordable, healthy foods, that limit the ability of some communities and residents to fulfill their full potential.
• Implementing King County's equity and social justice agenda so a person's race or neighborhood does not determine how healthy they are or how long they live. 

Working in new ways:

• Moving our services from silos that are difficult for people to navigate to a coordinated approach that is more efficient for us and more convenient for residents. 
• Providing only the services that people need, and only when they need them.

Investing in what works:

• Prevention is the most effective, least expensive way to avoid costly negative outcomes such as chronic disease, domestic violence, mental illness, and homelessness.
• Embracing innovative strategies and partnerships like The Seattle Foundation grants that allow communities to take a leadership role and address the specific needs of neighborhoods. 
• Using data-informed approaches to ensure we are using the best evidence to get the outcomes we want. 

Transformation video

Transformation in action

King County's Familiar Faces Initiative

• For individuals who are high utilizers of the jail or who have a mental health or substance abuse condition.

• Improved access to person-centered, integrated, culturally competent services when, where, and how people need them.

• Key outcomes include improved health status, housing stability, and reduced criminal justice involvement.

Communities of Opportunity

• $1.5 million in investments over the next three years to confront inequities in South King County.

• Bring private and public grants to underinvested communities, with a shared agenda for breaking down siloed efforts.

• Increase civic engagement and community and youth leadership.

Best Starts for Kids Initiative

• Invests in prevention and early intervention to help ensure every child in King County reaches his or her full potential.

• Focuses on the early years and key developmental stages. Best Starts for Kids is informed by King County's Youth Action Plan.

• The proposed ordinance draws upon the latest science and expertise from a wide range of community partners. It was approved by Council and will go to voters for consideration on the November 2015 ballot.

HealthierHere

• Designed to accelerate better health and well-being by bringing partners together around shared goals they can't achieve on their own.

• Currently under design in King County and other regions across the state.

• Part of Washington state's "Healthier Washington" roadmap.

• Comprehensive approach to integrate mental health and substance abuse disorder services into one managed care treatment system.

• More flexibility in how we provide services, especially those with substance abuse disorders.

• Improved health and social outcomes through improved coordination of care.

Office of Equity and Social Justice

• We recognize that our economy and quality of life depends on the ability of everyone to contribute.

• King County is removing barriers that limit the ability of some to fulfill their potential by embedding equity in the budget process and becoming a more diverse employer.

• Read the 2014 Equity and Social Justice Report.