This data biography includes information about who created this data, and how, where, when, and why it was collected. We (the Assessment, Policy Development, and Evaluation Unit at Public Health – Seattle & King County) created it to help you understand where the data we analyze and share comes from and its strengths and limitations. If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at data.request@kingcounty.gov.  

Who collects the data?  

Public Health-Seattle & King County funded the University of Washington Social Development Research Group to collect the data. The survey questions and methods were designed by Public Health – Seattle & King County, and the Social Development Research Group administered the survey. 

Who owns the data?  

Public Health – Seattle & King County owns the data.  

How is the data collected?   

A random sample of King County households are invited to participate in a survey through mailed postcards and phone calls if they have infants, toddlers, preschoolers, or children in 5th grade (approximately ages 10-11) or younger. Eligible households are identified through data from birth certificates and public school district enrollment directories. 

There are two versions of the survey: one for households with a selected 0–5-year-old child, one for households with a selected kindergarten to 5th grade child. A specific child within each household is randomly preselected. Participating households are asked to have one adult from the household (usually the parent or guardian) answer questions about this child, even if they have other children. 

The survey is population-representative, meaning that participants are randomly selected in sub-groups to ensure that all racial and ethnic groups, as well as all geographic regions of King County, are represented in the survey results. 

The survey is available in multiple languages: English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Russian, and Somali (with some variation from year to year). These languages were chosen because they are the most frequently spoken languages in King County schools.  

Who is included and excluded from the data?   

There are some groups of King County children who are not represented in this survey, including:  

1) children who have moved to King County after birth and before they entered elementary school,  

2) children who attend private school, a tribal school, or are homeschooled, 

3) children whose households have opted them out of sharing their data in public school directory requests, and  

4) children whose households do not speak any of the languages in which the survey is offered. 

Where is the data collected?  

Households who agree to participate can complete the survey online or be interviewed over the phone. In 2017 and 2019, a paper version was also available. The survey takes 10-30 minutes to complete.  

Why is the data collected?  

The Best Starts for Kids Health Survey fills a gap in population-level data on the health and wellbeing of King County toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary-aged children.  

Before this survey, no representative data were available on children between six months of age and 5th grade. The survey provides data about the health and wellbeing of children in this age range and their families, which is used to understand needs and strengths, plan programs, and assess changes related to Best Starts for Kids levy investments.  

How often is this data collected?  

The data are collected every two to three years.  

What else is important to know about this data?   

To ensure that the data we share better represent King County children, we use weighting when analyzing these data. Weighting is a statistical process used to adjust any demographic (e.g. race/ethnicity, age, or gender) imbalances between survey respondents and the broader population that they represent (for example, children in King County). This way, results will be generalizable to all King County children, not just those whose caregivers participate in the Best Starts for Kids Health Survey. This is a common approach used by nearly all large-scale population-based surveys. You can learn more about weighting here.  

Where can I learn more about this data?   

• Find data from the survey and background information including survey questions, data briefs, and more: https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/dchs/human-social-services/community-funded-initiatives/best-starts-for-kids/dashboard-data-reports/survey-data  

• Learn more about the survey if you were asked to participate: https://kingcounty.gov/depts/community-human-services/initiatives/best-starts-for-kids/survey.aspx 

About data privacy and security  

Public Health – Seattle & King County takes data security and the privacy of all individuals represented in our data very seriously. Identifiable data are stored securely, and only authorized staff can access the data, and only for approved uses. To prevent individuals from being identified in the results of data analyses, information is not shared when the number of people who are in a category is very small.