Investing in a Stronger Early Childhood Ecosystem
CDEC developed these strategies to meet families, service providers and early childhood professionals where they are during one of the most challenging periods in recent history. Recognizing the unique opportunity that stimulus funding offered the early childhood sector, evaluation was included for each initiative to provide critical learnings and promote long-term growth upon these successes.
Strategy Spotlight
Colorado's Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP)
Six stimulus-funded activities to improve equitable access, quality, teacher compensation and provider support
Child Care Licensing Incentives
Providing one-time incentives to providers who become licensed or Qualified Exempt
Family Child Care Home and Availability of Care Navigators
Helping families find real-time child care options in their community
Workforce Recruitment and Retention
Expanding incentives for early childhood professionals to join and advance in the field
Child Care Provider Business Training
Improving child care growth and sustainability through better business practices
Child Care Stabilization Grants
Providing operational funds to promote sustainability of child care and reduce costs to families
All Activities
An alphabetized list of strategic investments in Colorado's early childhood ecosystem through pandemic-related stimulus funds.
Access to Inclusive Care
Supporting a mixed-delivery system that meets the unique needs of all families
Apprenticeship Program
Creating alternate pathways for aspiring early childhood professionals
Bilingual Licensing Specialists
Increasing availability of linguistically responsive child care in Spanish-speaking communities
CCCAP: Alternate Methodology Rate Setting
Aligning CCCAP provider reimbursement rates with the true cost of care
CCCAP: Enrollment-Based Payments
Giving CCCAP infant and toddler care providers financial stability
CCCAP: Expand Income Eligibility
Making CCCAP available to more low-income families
CCCAP: Rate and Paid Absences Increase
Ensuring CCCAP provider success with increased reimbursement rates and paid absences covered
CCCAP: Reduced Copays
Reducing the cost of care for families participating in CCCAP
CCCAP: Teacher Salary Increase
Better demonstrating the value of qualified educators with improved compensation
Child Care Indoor Air Quality Improvement
Making early learning environments healthier
Child Care Licensing Incentive
Providing one-time incentives to providers who become licensed or Qualified Exempt
Child Care Provider Business Training
Improving child care growth and sustainability through better business practices
Child Care Stabilization Grants
Providing operational funds to promote sustainability of child care and reduce costs to families
Child Development Associate Support Specialists
Building a more diverse and culturally responsive workforce
CIRCLE Grants
Promoting innovative strategies that make early care and learning more affordable and inclusive
Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention
Co-creating strategies to prevent child maltreatment directly with the community
Course Creation: Director Training
Offering free training courses for child care center directors through PDIS
Early Childhood Professional Credential (ECPC)
Creating clearer professional development pathways and tracking for early childhood educators
Early Childhood Mental Health Consultants
Increasing the number of consultants to support child care providers and families
Early Head Start
Making infant and toddler care more available to Colorado families
Early Literacy and Family Engagement
Providing more accessible resources for families to support children's development
Emerging and Expanding Grants
Increasing the availability of affordable care, especially in child care deserts
Employer-Based Child Care
Incentivizing employers to build accessible child care centers
Equity Course Creation and Translations
Offering free online equity courses through PDIS and translating existing courses and resources
Facility Needs Assessment
Identifying the challenges facing child care providers and creating a roadmap to solutions
Family Child Care Home and Availability of Care Navigators
Helping families find real-time child care options in their community
Family, Friend and Neighbor (FFN) Advisory Council and Training Programs
Establishing an advisory council for non-licensed child care providers
Family Voice Council
Elevating parent and caregiver participation in early childhood program design
Free Early Childhood Education 1011 and 1031 Courses
Reducing the cost of tuition for those wishing to enter the early childhood education field
Health and Mental Health Grants
Helping providers create environments that support children's healthy development
Health and Mental Health Programs
Funding evidence-based programs for providers, including Incredible Years, Pyramid and Conscious Discipline
Implement a Substitute Fund Pilot
Reducing the cost of substitute educators for child care providers
Increase School Readiness Through Home Visiting (HIPPY)
Bringing support for children's success directly into the home setting
Maternal Infant Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV)
Providing in-home support to MIECHV recipients in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency
New Provider Success Grants
Offering operating funds to license-exempt providers so that savings can be passed to families
PDIS Dashboard Modernization
Improving the quality and presentation of workforce data from the PDIS
PDIS Help Desk Operations
Improving support services for early childhood educators using the PDIS
Promoting Safe and Stable Families
Funding support groups, adoption services, crisis intervention and other programs that strengthen families
Quality Improvement Incentive
Incentivizing child care providers to enhance their Colorado Shines quality rating
Staffed Family Child Care Network Pilots
Providing in-depth technical assistance, licensing kits and business support to in-home providers
Support Children's Mental Health (Child First)
Enhancing the mental health and development of caregivers and young children
T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Colorado Scholarships
Supporting access to higher education pathways for early childhood professionals
Teacher Peer Mentorship Pilot
Encouraging child care providers to develop leaders from within
Workforce Recruitment and Retention
Expanding incentives for early childhood professionals to join and advance in the field