Welcome!

Welcome to the Early Childhood Colorado Information Clearinghouse (ECCIC)- your gateway to information and resources about all matters related to the healthy and thriving development of children, birth to age 8.

This website:

  • Allows you to find local Colorado agencies providing services for young children.
  • Allows you to search for information, links to quality websites, videos, and research reports.
  • Supports the ability of professionals to upload information that will be useful to others using our member sign-up and upload features.

The Early Childhood Colorado Framework represents Colorado's vision for a system of partners and efforts that will lead to all Colorado children being valued, healthy, and thriving. We hope that the ECCIC helps you play a role in achieving that vision.

How do I find out about...

  • Getting financial assistance to help me pay for child care for my child?
    • The Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP) helps low-income parents who are working or in school/training to pay for child care.

    In addition, the Colorado Preschool Program (CPP) exists as a special support to families with certain risk factors such as poverty, homelessness, teen parents, or English language learners. Most school districts offer CPP. If you qualify, the program will pay a portion of the cost, and also provides a high level of quality assurance for participating facilities. You will need to call someone at the contact numbers here to help you determine whether your child may be eligible.

    For families in the city and county of Denver who have children who will be entering their last year prior to kindergarten , the Denver Preschool Program may be available to you as an additional financial support.

  • How do I find out more about the Early Childhood and Youth Development Governance proposal?

    • The Early Childhood and Youth Development Governance Proposal will be presented in the 2012 legislative session. The governance proposal outlines the consolidation of several programs into a new Office of Early Childhood and Youth Development in the Colorado Department of Human Services and promotes stronger inter-agency coordination of programs and funding streams. For frequently asked questions related to the proposal please see the Early Childhood and Youth Development FAQ. To submit feedback, please see the Governance Stakeholder Feedback Form.

  • Becoming a member of this website?
    • Just click on the member sign up/login link . If you fill in your information, you can upload your resources to the site and receive important e-mail updates (we don’t give your e-mail address to anyone else).
  • How to contact the Early Childhood Council in my area?
    • There are three ways to find the Early Childhood Council in your area. 1) Click here and either scroll down or type the county name in the Search box. 2) View or download the 2010-2011 Early Childhood Councils Directory. 3) Go to the Colorado Department of Education's Early Childhood Councils website for up-to-date contact information for statewide council coordinators.
  • Finding Child Care
    • Colorado Child Care Facility Search is hosted by the Colorado Department of Human Services, Division of Child Care, which is the State’s lead agency in planning and implementing public child care policy.

    The Division of Child Care is responsible for the licensing and monitoring of child care facilities; managing the child care assistance program (CCCAP) for eligible families; administering child care grants and quality initiatives, and serving as the lead in implementing federal child care programs. The overall goal of the Division of Child Care is to promote quality, accessible and affordable child care services for Colorado families.

    Qualistar is the state network office for Child Care Resource and Referral. Qualistar Colorado manages a system of 17 local agencies throughout Colorado that supports parents, child care providers and local communities.

    Your local Qualistar Partner can walk you through the complexities of the child care system, providing you with the tools you need to make an informed child care decision. They can provide you with free referrals to child care programs matching your needs and preferences. They can give you information about location, quality, hours of operation, child care philosophies, licensing requirements and financial assistance.

    Visit our Child Care / Preschool page