Over the years, SPARC has expanded and adapted to better meet the needs of families with young children who have special needs, ensuring children receive the appropriate services. In the early stages, SPARC was fortunate to receive support from various community partners, including the local Kiwanis and Rotary clubs, as well as the Mount Vernon School District, which assisted in providing housing for many of its programs. Initially, SPARC served children from all school districts within Skagit and Island counties; however, it eventually supported Island County in developing its own dedicated program.

In response to the evolving needs of the community, SPARC maintains active involvement in community-oriented initiatives. We are proud members of the Children’s Council of Skagit County, which comprises approximately forty agencies and family representatives working collaboratively to support families with young children. Through this network, we have gained access to a variety of community resources and programs designed to assist families.

These programs and resources include, but are not limited to, Best Self, Bright Beginnings, Connection Conference, Cuddle Bright, Family Palooza, Vroom, WA Stem, Welcome Baby, and the Skagit County Autism Partnership. Additionally, SPARC operates Skagit Parent to Parent, which offers families valuable educational and emotional support by connecting them with other parents and caregivers who have similar experiences in raising a child with special needs.

Moreover, SPARC is a member of the School Medical Autism Review Team (SMART) through the University of Washington. This partnership allows us to actively engage in initiatives that prepare and support our professional community in effectively serving families seeking autism evaluations for their children. Our goal extends beyond individualized support; we aim to foster a community that is knowledgeable, compassionate, and equipped to meet the needs of all children and families.

Supporting children with unique developmental needs and their families is central to a healthy, thriving community—and it is also the core mission of SPARC. Our staff is dedicated to the children and families we serve, with a sincere commitment to supporting children in reaching developmental milestones and achieving success.

Throughout our history, SPARC has the capacity to provide a flexible and responsive program that adapts to emerging needs. For example, when there was a need to support children with hearing impairments, SPARC proactively addressed this until local schools were able to integrate such services through collaborative efforts. Additionally, when demand arose for childcare services for older children with disabilities, SPARC initially provided this support and then facilitated the growth of this service among other providers by offering coaching and guidance, enabling them to develop similar programs.

Today, SPARC continues to meet the needs of our community through a variety of programs and services. Please refer to each program tab for more information about our current offerings.

At SPARC, we emphasize the well-being of all children and families by fostering a supportive environment that recognizes and values everyone’s unique strengths and needs. We believe every child represents our future and we are committed to laying a strong foundation for lifelong success. The early support services we provide are among the best available and have a meaningful impact on the lives of those we serve.