She's traveled to Olympia to testify in front of Washington state legislative committees twice, and in September she traveled to Washington, D.C. where she met with legislative staff and toured our nation's capital.
Not bad for someone who, when she started, knew virtually nothing about government.
When Sultan resident Julianna Johnson was presented with the opportunity to apply for the Washington State Association of Head Start & ECEAP's Parent Ambassador Program, she jumped at the chance to get involved. Over the past year, the 29-year-old mother of four has learned the basic ins-and-outs of the legislative process. In addition to receiving instruction on how to provide effective testimony, she has learned how to have an impact on specific pieces of legislation, how to engage others in the process, how to contact local lawmakers and much more.
Johnson was selected out of a broader pool of applicants from all over the state of Washington to be one of 20 parent ambassadors. The year-long program has included a diverse range of training, including financial literacy and racial equity.
"It's not just learning about the legislature,GÇ¥ Johnson said. "There are added components which have been amazingly helpful.GÇ¥
To Johnson, becoming a parent ambassador was a great way to get involved in the community and take an active role in her child's educational experience. When she moved to Sultan with her husband, Justin, in 2013, they didn't really know anybody.
"It's been amazing,GÇ¥ Johnson said of moving to Sultan. "The best decision we've ever made.GÇ¥
She explained that part of that was because of Sultan's Early Childhood Education & Assistance Program. Right away, the couple enrolled their two sons in the Sultan School District, and their daughter Sabella, who is now five, was enrolled at Sky Valley ECEAP.
ECEAP is a state-funded preschool program for low-income families. The free program provides a comprehensive early learning environment for kids, along with extensive family support services. Families can receive help and guidance regarding their child's medical and dental care. ECEAP will also facilitate access to other resources as needed.
"If you have any kind of an issue, ECEAP will help you,GÇ¥ Johnson said. "If you need help with clothing, if you need help with food, ECEAP will help you.GÇ¥
Currently, the Sky Valley ECEAP program operates out of the Volunteers of America facility in Sultan, where kids attend ECEAP either in the morning or in the afternoon. The new ECEAP site, which will open on Nov. 3 at Gold Bar Elementary School, will offer full-day ECEAP for up to 20 kids. Sultan's current capacity is 30 kids GÇô 15 in the morning and 15 in the afternoon. Meals and snacks are provided and activities are organized. Kids emerge from ECEAP kindergarten-ready.
"Getting into ECEAP doesn't just help the kids, it helps the entire family,GÇ¥ Johnson said. "It's amazing.GÇ¥
Her youngest daughter, 4-year-old Dakota, is currently enrolled in ECEAP.
Though her year as the WSA ECEAP Parent Ambassador is coming to an end, Johnson plans to continue her advocacy work. Not only has she earned a 2-year position on the WSA Board of Directors, she also earned a WSA scholarship that will contribute to her goal of obtaining a degree in political science.
Her new board position will help her continue the advocacy work she became involved in while serving as parent ambassador. In January of this year, during her first organized WSA event in Federal Way, she learned that law-makers were in the process of crafting a piece of early childhood educational legislation that included a segment about Working Connections Childcare. WCCC is a program through which low-income families can receive state-subsidized childcare.
Working Connections was something that Johnson could relate to; she had been enrolled in the program.
"As it stands right now there's so many issues,GÇ¥ she said, "because if you lose your job you lose your daycare that day. How are you supposed to find a job if you don't have daycare?GÇ¥
Working Connections' rigid criteria stipulates that daycare is only covered while you're at work, Johnson explained. If you're sick, you lose your daycare for the day. If you lose your job, you immediately lose your daycare.
Johnson was faced with the deficiencies of the policy when she was diagnosed with a pregnancy-induced heart condition. At seven months pregnant with her fourth child, she had suffered through two bouts of pre-term labor at which point her physician ordered her on strict bed-rest. When she contacted Working Connections to let them know her circumstances had changed, they informed her that she could no longer access her supplementary daycare assistance.
At the time, her children were one, three and almost five. Being on bed-rest, without access to the childcare that the kids were accustomed to, was problematic to say the least. Justin, her fianc+¬ at the time, worked full-time, which left her without any help during the day.
"It was awful,GÇ¥ she said. "It was a nightmare.GÇ¥
While the couple had planned the pregnancy and wanted another child, they were not prepared for the loss of income or her ability to perform any physical activity. To Johnson, the state didn't seem to have a viable solution. Either her boyfriend could quit his job to care for the kids, leaving them without any income at all, or they could apply for TANF benefits and hope that it would be enough to pay for childcare.
They ended up receiving TANF, which was enough to keep one of their sons enrolled in his Montessori program. For the balance of the assistance they needed, they relied on her husband's mother.
"She literally put her entire life on hold,GÇ¥ Johnson said. "She lived in Olympia. She stayed for a full two months while I was on bed-rest. I couldn't drive, I couldn't take a shower, so she did everything.GÇ¥
As a result of her experiences, Johnson began advocating strongly for a 12-month time stipulation on the Working Connections program, which could cover families for set period without the risk of lost benefits the instant they become ill or lost their job.
"I had switched jobs in May and I went on bed-rest in July,GÇ¥ she said. "According to the bill that we're trying to pass now, my children would have been covered.GÇ¥
Once Johnson shared her WCCC story with WSA and the other parent ambassadors, she was invited to testify before state legislators in Olympia. She testified first before the House Early Learning and Human Services Committee on Jan. 23, and then on Feb. 25 she testified in front of the Senate Ways and Means Committee.
To Johnson, the bill will provide much-needed stability for financially struggling families and their kids.
"It adds continuity of care,GÇ¥ she said. "When you have little ones and you're low-income, you need that.GÇ¥
The bill, HB 2377, stalled out in the Senate after successfully passing through the House during the 2014 session. This means that it will have to start the process all over again after the new session begins in 2015. Rather than just focusing on WCCC, the multi-faceted piece of legislation includes an additional component which seemed, to Johnson, to hinder its progress.
She is hopeful that it will pass in 2015.
"I'm more concerned about Working Connections Childcare,GÇ¥ she said. "That's my niche. I want to push that issue and so that's why I spoke to the house committee and the budget committee.GÇ¥
In October Johnson was given the opportunity to broaden her scope and share her story in Washington, D.C. where she spent a week touring the capital. Along with her WSA comrades, Johnson met with the legislative staff of U.S. Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene, and others.
"It was just a neat experience to be there,GÇ¥ she said. "It was amazing!GÇ¥
During her time in Sultan thus far, Johnson has made a positive and significant impact on the community. In addition to single-handedly revamping Sultan's Cub Scout troop and managing her role as the ECEAP Parent Ambassador, she has hosted numerous ECEAP parent meetings in her home and helped to organize other ECEAP events. She serves on the Snohomish County ECEAP Policy and Advisory Council as well as other committees at the county level.
She regularly attends Coffee with the Mayor meetings and has been involved in the Sultan Community Task Force.
Her work supporting families in the Sky Valley has not gone unnoticed.
Gold Bar resident Maureen Cook wrote a letter to support Johnson's hope of serving on the WSA Board of Directors. "Julianna Johnson is a hard-working and devoted mother who not only advocates for her own children, but is brave enough to stand up and be a voice for others too,GÇ¥ Cook wrote. "She is friendly, kind, and genuine. Julianna is active in her children's schools and extracurricular activities. She always finds time to go above and beyond to serve others.GÇ¥
ECEAP Program Manager Stephanie Shuey stated that Johnson has been a tireless advocate for the Sky Valley ECEAP, working ardently to support parents and families in the community.
"Julianna shows a refreshing passion for advocacy in early childhood education,GÇ¥ Shuey wrote in a letter recommending Johnson for WSA's board position. "She's very positive and has been willing and excited about diving into any challenge, experience, or opportunity that has come her way these past couple years with us.GÇ¥
For more information about the Sky Valley ECEAP, please call 425-212-2941 or email sshuey@voaww.org.
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