The federal government is currently in a shutdown. At this time, there are no immediate impacts to federally funded child and family programs operated by the Colorado Department of Early Childhood. Families should continue to access care and services as usual. We are monitoring the situation closely with federal partners and will share updates as soon as more information becomes available.

El gobierno federal se encuentra actualmente en un cierre. Por el momento, no hay impactos inmediatos en los programas financiados con fondos federales que opera el Departamento de Primera Infancia de Colorado. Las familias deben continuar accediendo a los servicios de cuidado infantil y del CDEC con normalidad. Estamos monitoreando de cerca la situación con nuestros socios federales y compartiremos información actualizada en cuanto tengamos más información.

1

Find Child Care

Find Child Care

CDEC supports the workforce in providing families with equitable access to high-quality, safe, affordable child care.

Colorado Shines is a quality rating and improvement system for Colorado's licensed early care and learning programs. Colorado Shines rates early learning programs and connects families with quality child care and preschool programs. It measures quality based on how a program supports its children, families and professionals. 

This free search tool allows families to search for early childhood programs utilizing information such as location, hours, licensing, and the Colorado Shines quality rating. 

Search for quality child care and find tips on how to select care.

Look for the Colorado Shines logo to identify licensed and quality early care and learning programs.

The Colorado Shines logo. A silhouette of a child with arms raised, standing atop a mountain, is set against a gradient orange and yellow sun. To the right, the text reads "COLORADO SHINES" and the tagline "START EARLY START STRONG QUALITY EARLY LEARNING."

Child Care Resource and Referral agencies work to connect you with quality early learning programs, like child care and preschool, valuable local resources, and tips for choosing a child care facility.

For assistance in finding quality child care, call the Colorado Shines Child Care Referral Line at Mile High United Way at 877-338-2273 (CARE). A trained referral specialist will help you locate programs specific to your needs. Or fill out the Colorado Shines Child Care Referral at Mile High United Way form.

Colorado Shines allows you to look up child care facilities throughout Colorado. You can search for child care facilities by address, zip code, city, or provider name. 

You can also find detailed reports of each child care provider and request an email or in-person file review for up to five providers by calling 303-866-6029 or emailing cdec_pbfr@state.co.us.

You can also view recently closed child care facilities.

Colorado Universal Preschool

All children in Colorado can register for up to 15 hours of free, high-quality preschool in their year before kindergarten through Colorado’s Universal Pre-K (UPK) Program. Beyond these 15 hours, financial assistance is available to families who may not be able to afford quality child care or preschool. The resources on this page will help you learn more about the programs and help you to see if you qualify for aid.

Some families may qualify for additional hours, either through the Universal Preschool Program, the programs listed below, or other local programs, while other families may coordinate with their preschool provider to pay out-of-pocket for additional hours.

Family enrollment for the next 2026-27 Colorado Universal Preschool school year opens on December 9th, 2025, view the full timeline!

Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP)
The Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP) helps families that are homeless, working, searching for work or in school find low-income child care assistance. Families that are enrolled in the Colorado Works Program can also use CCCAP services. Learn more about the program and how to apply for assistance.

Denver Preschool Program (DPP)
The Denver Preschool Program helps eligible Denver families pay for high-quality preschool. To qualify, families must reside in the City and County of Denver and have a four-year old child enrolled at a participating program and in their last year of preschool before kindergarten.

Head Start/Early Head Start Program
Head Start promotes school readiness for children from low-income families. From birth to age five, Head Start provides children a learning environment that enhances their cognitive, social and emotional development.

The Division of Early Care and Learning is committed to the health and safety of children in licensed early care and learning settings. Learn more about health and safety requirements.

Social, Emotional and Behavioral Policies for Licensed Child Care Facilities

Licensed Child Care Centers must have policies in place regarding guidance, positive instruction, supporting positive child behavior, and discipline and consequences. These policies must identify how the Child Care Center will:

  • Access an early childhood mental health consultant or other specialist, as needed.
  • Create and maintain a socially and emotionally respectful early learning and care environment.
  • Cultivate positive child, staff and family relationships.
  • Implement teaching strategies supporting positive behavior, pro-social peer interaction, and overall social and emotional competence in young children.
  • Provide individualized social and emotional intervention supports for children who need them, including methods for understanding child behavior and developing, adopting, and implementing a team-based positive behavior support plan with the intent to reduce challenging behavior and prevent suspensions and expulsions.

Child Care centers must also have policies in place defining how decisions are made and what steps are taken prior to the suspension, expulsion or request to parents or guardians to withdraw a child from care due to concerns about the child's behavioral issues. 

Procedures must be consistent with the center's policy on guidance, positive instruction, discipline and consequences, and include documentation of the steps taken to understand and respond to challenging behavior. 

Early Childhood Mental Health Consultants can be part of the team that works together with programs to improve social and emotional environments and relationships, and support children who are exhibiting challenging behavior.

Prevention of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and Safe Sleep Practice Requirements 

Licensed child care facilities that care for children ages 0 to 2 years old must follow all safe sleep requirements at all times. Talk with your child care provider regarding the importance of maintaining safe sleep practices for your child. Child Care provider safe sleep requirements include:

  • Infant must be placed in an approved crib, on his or her back to sleep.
  • Infants must be supervised and physically checked frequently while sleeping.
  • Infants must be placed to sleep in an approved crib (centers and family child care homes) or pack and play (family child care homes only) with a clean, firm, snug-fitting mattress which is manufactured for the specific equipment being used. The equipment must be safe, sturdy and free from hazards. Drop side cribs are prohibited.
  • The sleep equipment must have fitted sheet. The sheet must not be so tight that the corners of the mattress pull up or so loose that the sheet gathers or bunches.
  • Soft bedding that could pose a suffocation hazard is not allowed in the sleep environment including, but not limited to: bumper pads, pillow, blanket, quilt, sleep positioning device; flat sheet, bib, plush toys and stuffed animals.
  • Infants who fall asleep in/on equipment not approved for sleep must be moved to an approved sleep environment immediately.
  • Swaddling is allowed only with a health care plan completed and signed by the child’s physician. Use of sleep sacks which double as swaddling devices are not allowed.
  • There should be no blanket or other material which covers or drapes over the sleeping equipment. Mobiles or other types of play equipment that attach to any part of the sleep equipment are not allowed.
  • There should be nothing that covers the infant’s head and face.
  • The room temperature must be comfortable so the infant does not overheat.

The Division of Early Care and Learning will now notify parents of safe sleep violations observed during annual inspections of their child care facility. If you see any violations of safe sleep requirements in your child's facility, call the Office of Early Childhood at 303-866-5958 to file a complaint.
 
The American Academy of Pediatrics offers recommendations for sleep safety at home. More information on safe sleep can be found on Illuminate Colorado and Children’s Hospital Colorado websites.

Colorado's Child Care Licensing Act allows certain child care facilities to be exempt from licensing requirements. Learn more about legal exemptions.

To make a complaint, call the Division of Early Learning Licensing and Administration (DELLA) at 303-866-5958 Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. 

If calling outside of business hours, you may leave a message.

Provide your name, telephone number, and mailing address. This information is required for the following reasons:

  • To call you back if the investigator needs more specific information about the complaint,
  • To call you back if the investigator received contradictory or unclear information during the investigation, and
  • To call you back and let you know the results of the investigation.

A witness or someone with first-hand knowledge of the concerns must make the complaint. An anonymous complaint can be made only if it concerns an unlicensed child care provider.

*All information about parents and children in care is kept confidential. DELLA does not provide this information to the facility.

  • Call 911 immediately if you witness a child in a life-threatening situation.

  • Report Child Abuse or Neglect - 24/7 Hotline: Call 1-844-CO-4-KIDS (844-264-5437)

  • Report Suspected Unlicensed Child Care: Call 303-866-5958

Report Alcohol or Drug Abuse

If the provider is currently under the influence of alcohol or drugs and the provider's ability to care for children is impaired, please follow these steps:

  • Call the police. Write down the name of the person you speak with.
  • Call the Division of Early Learning Licensing and Administration at 303-866-5958.
  • Be prepared to give the following information:
    • Your name, phone number, and mailing address
    • The Licensee's name, phone number and address
    • Where the incident occurred
    • Brief description of the incident/circumstances

 

 

View recent closures of child care facilities

Find a New Child Care Facility

The Department of Early Childhood promotes and encourages child care in licensed facilities that contribute to the safety, health, protection and well-being of children.

Search Online or Call a Referral Agency

Review the Licensing History of Child Care Facilities

Find a New Provider Accepting Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP)

File a Complaint and Report Violations

  • Call 911 immediately if you witness a child in a life-threatening situation.
  • Call 1-844-CO-4-Kids or 1-844-264-5437 to report all concerns of child abuse and neglect.
  • Call 303-866-5958 to file a complaint with the Division of Early Care and Learning.