Snohomish County Children’s Commission urges more funding for maternal behavioral health, early learning and youth supports

The Snohomish County Children’s Commission presented its 2024 annual report April 28 to the county Health & Community Services Committee, urging county, state and federal action to expand prenatal and maternal behavioral‑health services, shore up the early‑childhood workforce and increase supports for youth at risk of not completing high school.

Monica Wilson, chair of the commission, said data from the Washington State Maternal Mortality Review Panel showed about 80% of deaths reviewed were preventable and that behavioral‑health conditions were cited as the leading cause of pregnancy‑related deaths. "We learned that 80 percent of deaths reported in the Washington State Maternal Mortality Review Panel were preventable, but behavioral health conditions were cited as the leading cause of these pregnancy related deaths," Wilson said. The commission recommended replicating and expanding local programs that address behavioral health, basic needs and parenting education through direct county…