Colorado's early childhood community is committed to providing support for ALL professionals who touch the lives of young children. As reflected in the domains of the Early Childhood Colorado Framework, it is critical that providers in the areas of physical health, mental health, early learning, and parent support/education have avenues for strengthening their own skills in serving young children, and getting involved in their communities. Check our Professional Development/Training page, or contact your local early childhood council to find out about professional opportunities in your domain.

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.

+ Learn more about the many career opportunities in the field of early childhood at this time?
The Colorado Office of Professional Development has a Career Paths page with a full listing of professions arranged alphabetically

+ Getting my child care home or center licensed?
The Child Care Division at the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) is responsible for licensing child care homes and centers in Colorado. This page on the CDHS website gives a list of frequently asked questions about getting a child care license, and provides the links for ordering the necessary forms.

In addition, there are many training opportunities available that can help you prepare to meet the requirements of licensing.

+ What I can do to improve the quality of my licensed home or center?
This list is a good place to start for information about the features of child care settings that are linked to quality. Although it is written for parents, it is informative for providers because these are the research-based indicators that are looked for by any quality-rating system. Or, you may be ready to apply for a Qualistar rating or accreditation .

+ Improving teaching and learning in my classroom?
Reading Rockets is a wonderful resource that we reference throughout this website. This page has specific tips and additional resources compiled for the child care or preschool professional. Zero-to-three has literacy tips specific to infants and toddlers.

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