Colorado has many collaborative and interagency initiatives underway to build a comprehensive and sustainable early childhood system in our state. Guided by the Early Childhood Colorado Framework the common goal of these systems-building initiatives is to ensure that all of Colorado's young children are valued, healthy, and thriving.

At any given time, Colorado has a variety of special task forces and committees that are working to address specific issues related to the development of a comprehensive system of early childhood services. In addition, local foundations have provided support for a host of innovative initiatives to improve the early childhood system in Colorado.

How do I find out about...

+ 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.

+ What state and federal funding sources support early childhood services and infrastructure in Colorado?
Early childhood services are funded by a variety of funding streams from different federal and state agencies. Deciphering how particular programs are funded can be complex. In 2007, Colorado developed an interactive Early Childhood Cost Model Technical Manual, that is designed to inform discussions and decisions around the development of comprehensive early childhood supports, services, and infrastructure. This tool started with a financial scan of all federal and state public dollars directed to support a comprehensive early childhood system.

+ How is Colorado building and supporting partnerships?
Formal and informal organizational structures and agreements are necessary to ensure a comprehensive early childhood system. A couple of examples include:

• The creation of the Early Childhood Leadership Commission: The purpose of the Commission is to ensure and advance a comprehensive early childhood system for children from birth to age eight and their families.

• An early childhood state partnership: This is comprised of state-level partners who see themselves contributing towards the vision within the Early Childhood Colorado Framework. We will meet quarterly in 2010 to share progress on the state plan and strengthen existing partnerships while building new ones. For more information, contact Jodi.Hardin@state.co.us.

• Colorado’s state-wide system of local Early Childhood Councils : These councils provide the local infrastructure for convening cross-sector community partners to identify, plan, and address systems change needed to improve outcomes for young children and families within local communities.

• The Early Childhood Councils Advisory Team (ECCAT) : This team was established through legislation, provides a formal collaborative structure to support the advancement of a sustainable, high-quality statewide system of local councils.

• The Early Childhood Councils Leadership Alliance (ECCLA): This alliance is a learning organization comprised of local council coordinators, provides a mechanism for cross-fertilization of local community systems-building successes as well as the identification of statewide barriers to comprehensive early childhood systems building.

+ 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.

+ How do I stay informed about early childhood efforts in Colorado?
Subscribe to the quarterly Early Childhood E-newsletter or the regular early childhood stakeholder Progress & Possibilities e-blasts by emailing early.childhoodteam@capitol.state.co.us.

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