About Us
Empowering communities to take charge of their own health outcomes
Backed by Seattle Children’s Research Institute and University of Washington (UW) Medicine, Healthy Lives Institute (HLI) is focused on improving health outcomes for parents, children, and people who are pregnant in the Puget Sound region through advancing research and fostering advocacy led by local community-based organizations.
— Stephanie Tschida, HYCAN“I find that it’s super valuable to have people that are well-versed in the arena of the work that we want to do. They get it…they understand and support it.”
Why This Work Matters
Real Change Starts on the Ground
Our community members identify their needs, and then we connect them to the doctors, researchers, and experts who will work alongside them to find solutions.
Institutions are Historically Inaccessible for Underserved Communities
For many in our community, systemic barriers have limited access to the resources available at institutions like Seattle Children’s and UW Medicine. HLI acts as a convener to break down these barriers and give communities the opportunity to benefit from the knowledge at these institutions.
An Upstream Approach Has Greater Impact
We work on preventing health issues before they start. By focusing our work on pregnant people and children, we prioritize laying the building blocks for a healthy life from the very beginning.
Our Mission
The Healthy Lives Institute is focused on improving health outcomes for parents, children, and people who are pregnant through advancing research and fostering advocacy led by local community-based organizations.
Our Vision
We envision a future where parents, children, and pregnant people—regardless of their race, ethnicity, or economic status—can flourish and have a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible.
A Collaboration Between Seattle Children’s Research Institute and University of Washington Medicine
HLI is proud to be the joint effort of Seattle Children’s and UW Medicine. Supported by these institutes’ expertise in maternal and pediatric health, HLI has unique access to the knowledge and resources needed to make real change for our communities.
What This Means for Our Community
Greater Capacity For Those Doing The Work
Making change in the community takes a lot of effort. HLI provides time, money, and other resources for community leaders to focus on their missions.
A Seat At The Table
HLI brings in community members to directly inform research being done at major institutions.
Opportunities To Learn From Each Other
As a convener, HLI brings people together to learn from one another and work in service of their common goals.