The Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) has awarded $1.49 million in community grants to five local organizations through the 2024 Prenatal-to-Three (PN3) Community Grant program. Each organization will receive $298,000 over two years to support programs to improve perinatal health outcomes across the city. According to DEEL, the funded projects particularly focus on reducing socioeconomic and race-based disparities in infant and maternal health.
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell highlighted the city's commitment to tackling these disparities, stating, "We seek to cultivate a more resilient One Seattle by investing in programs that support the members of our community most impacted by disparities in maternal and infant health.” Harrell emphasized that by supporting the youngest and their families, the city is building towards a healthier and more equitable future, as reported by the Seattle Government publication.
The PN3 Community Grant program, backed by revenues from the Sweetened Beverage Tax (SBT), is now in its sixth consecutive year and continues to prioritize pregnant individuals, parents, caregivers, and children from birth to three years old. Informed by community input, the grants aim to reduce the barriers families face to achieve healthier birth outcomes. This initiative is particularly directed towards organizations run by Black, Indigenous, and Latina women, who often operate programs and services tailored to communities of color.
Highlighting the impact of DEEL's grants, Faisa Farole, founder and executive director of Global Perinatal Services (GPS), stated, "We are very proud of the In-House Counseling services we are able to offer our staff and clients alike," stressing the importance of normalizing mental health services alongside physical health services, especially within communities that may not regularly seek them out.
Therapy Fund Foundation, another 2024 PN3 grantee, emphasizes mental health for People of Color. Ashley McGirt-Adair, Founder and CEO of the foundation expressed, “The early years of a child’s life are critically formative, setting the foundation for their long-term health, development, and well-being,” pressing the importance of the grant in bolstering the potential of Black families and contributing towards the dismantling of historical barriers that have marginalized the community.
DEEL's PN3 Community Grant endeavors to solve the long-standing issue of race-based disparities in perinatal health. According to statistics, Black, Native American, and Alaska Native women and birthing people face significantly higher risks of adverse birth outcomes when compared to their white counterparts. The grants awarded by DEEL aim to directly address these disparities by supporting culturally responsive care and community-powered solutions.
