Why LaunchNW?

by Amy Knapton Vega, Executive Director Vanessa Behan

In a recent conversation with Shelly O’Quinn, she asked why I, and more broadly, Vanessa Behan was engaged in the work of LaunchNW. I am certain I answered quickly with something about the big picture of our community and the needs of children from cradle to career. However, as I reflected on the conversation, there is such deeper meaning and impact to my brief answer.

Having worked in the child abuse prevention field almost my entire career, I am convinced that we have the answers for significantly reducing the mental health, homelessness, Domestic Violence, and substance misuse issues we see dominating our headlines. That answer is deep and wide and starts by investing in protecting the well-being of our parents and children. However, it cannot stop there. We need the entire community responding to support the delicate brain development that starts prenatally.

As I watched LaunchNW take shape, it seemed promising as an approach that would catch children and their parents along one of the most likely pathways all children will enter – school. Even with the end goal of post high school programs and career attainment, the conversations were about more than graduation and college. Looking around the rooms (or at times, the screen), every sector of our community seemed to be represented. Then the leadership team rolled out and you could see a deep connection to getting it right for our children. This includes acknowledging we cannot use our typical approach of a 3-year investment. To get it right, we must be committed indefinitely.

The one area I felt I could support and add to this vision was to kept top of mind that 90% of who a child is going to be – is formed by the time they are 5-years-old. The overwhelming amount of brain development that creates a child’s roadmap for their future is set before they even enter our educational system. To me, that means we must reach parents in those critical years to provide support to ensure our children show up with the best possible path for success already in place. If we can get it right in the first 5 years, we can capitalize on helping each child reach their full potential through diverse programs, relationships and opportunities.

All of this is why I think LaunchNW is currently our best path to getting it right for our children. It is an effort that is inclusive of a variety of communities: business, education, faith, social services, race, and gender. It stretches across the life of a child and acknowledges that parents must be a big part of the formula for success. The commitment of members to get this right and wrestle with the multi-faceted approach is impressive.

Therefore, it was an easy sell to the board members at Vanessa Behan that this is an excellent use of my time. As an organization that is committed to the end of child abuse and neglect, we acknowledge this vision is much bigger than we are. It must extend into the community, other organizations, and businesses and beyond. If we want our children to grow up, stay in Spokane, and ensure our community thrives, than we must invest early and broadly.

It is an honor to be included in this work. The potential is endless, and the path is in sight.