Providing a space for children to feel safe, seen and hopeful, especially as they adjust to changing environments, may be more important than ever.
The past two-plus years have been challenging for children and further highlights how important it is for kids to feel safe and secure. Sesame Workshop, in partnership with UnitedHealthcare and the Boys & Girls Clubs of King County, is working to address this challenge in Washington by providing a Comfy-Cozy Space for children in Seattle.
The new Comfy-Cozy Space, located at the Boys & Girls Club in the Ballard neighborhood, contains Sesame Street themed décor, furniture, activities and games, plus Sesame Workshop’s Sesame Street in Communities content.
The space includes resources for families and caregivers to foster the health and well-being of children and communities, such as storybooks that focus on resilience, building flexibility, learning how to build confidence and practicing persistence.
“We are proud to supply this Sesame Street themed space for young children in Washington to provide a space focused on fostering their health and well-being,” said Stacey Lopez, director of behavioral health at UnitedHealthcare Community & State of Washington. “Good mental health is extremely vital for child development. Children need predictable and stable social and emotional environments to develop lifelong healthy habits, and we hope the Comfy-Cozy Space can be just that.”
Children’s mental health is a national emergency, with data showing increased mental health emergency visits for children ages 5-11 years. Washington currently ranks 38th in the nation for children experiencing depression and 43rd for children experiencing anxiety, according to United Health Foundation’s recent Health of Women and Children report.
Building these spaces in prime areas where families live and play can have an impact on the overall well-being of children in these communities. UnitedHealthcare also donated Comfy-Cozy Spaces in Columbus, Atlanta, Detroit, Houston, and Washington D.C.
