Our Approach
Focusing on prevention over treatment
The Healthy Lives Institute (HLI) takes an upstream approach to our work, preventing health issues before they start.
We’re driven by the needs of community organizations who have been doing on-the-ground work, and support them by building their capacity. Through the institutional legacy and resources of Seattle Children’s and UW Medicine, we can support our community, by doing work with them, not for them.
Our Focus Areas
Adolescent Mental Health
Providing children and adolescents with safe spaces to address mental health struggles and getting them connected to mental health providers
Maternal Mental Health
Equipping mothers with the tools they need for a healthy, happy, and supported pregnancy and postpartum so they can show up for themselves and their children
Culturally Competent Care for Moms
Realizing motherhood is not a one-size-fits-all experience, providing care that respects and complements a mother’s unique individual and cultural identities
Child Wellbeing
Focusing on the physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing of a child and supporting an environment that allows them to thrive
Family Planning
Providing safe sex education and contraceptive access, ensuring kids are wanted and going into a family that can support them
Why We Work This Way
By successfully implementing upstream approaches in our focus areas, we can achieve two key outcomes to improving health outcomes.
- We can prevent health issues before they start.
- We can demonstrate the impact and value of these interventions to lawmakers and other stakeholders, which ultimately can result in policy changes that can benefit everyone.
We know children who grow up in healthy homes with parents who can adequately support them–emotionally and financially–are more likely to turn into healthy adults. Our work aims to increase the number of children with this kind of childhood, and we know this will benefit our community as a whole.
Our Partners
The Healthy Lives Institute Works alongside some of the most impactful community organizations in our region. Current partners include:
Healthy Youth Central Area Network (HYCAN)(opens in new tab)
A network of organizations in Central Seattle, HYCAN strives to increase community strengths through prevention and intervention strategies that support you in making healthy life choices.
Neighborhood House(opens in new tab)
One of the oldest human services agencies in Seattle, Neighborhood House creates opportunities for people who face cultural, language and system barriers to access housing, health, education, and economic opportunity.
Sound Behavioral Health(opens in new tab)
Sound improves lives by providing equitable, recovery focused behavioral health care for all in our community, especially those experiencing addiction, debilitating mental health issues, or homelessness.
Good Black Birth Initiative (GBBI)(opens in new tab)
Led by South Seattle organization Byrd Barr Place, GBBI is Washington’s largest coordinated effort to understand the root causes of Black maternal health disparities from the perspective of Black birthing people themselves.
Join us in our work
Our communities have the best outcomes when we work together. Join us to create healthier lives for children and families across our neighborhoods.
Become A Community Partner
