Early Childhood Councils
Early Childhood Councils work to build a quality early childhood system at the county or regional level through local collaboration. 31 Early Childhood Councils communities in 56 of Colorado's counties are charged in statute with the creation of a "seamless delivery system of early care and education services."
Purpose
The Councils are charged with the creation of a "seamless delivery system of early care and education services" that:
- Ensures collaboration among public and private stakeholders;
- Responds to the needs of working parents;
- Enhances child care quality; and,
- Consolidates funding sources to create an early childhood system.
Leadership
 Each Council is locally led by an early childhood council that develops, coordinates, and implements services for early childhood professionals, children, and families. The councils are composed of community leaders from early care and education, health, mental health, and family support. Their role is to assess community needs, base planning and activities around those, and to try out innovative approaches to building a local early childhood system.
Funding
The Councils receive federal funding from the federal Child Care Development Block Grant (a.k.a. the Child Care Development Fund), administered through a collaborative partnership between the Colorado Department of Human Services and Colorado Department of Education.
Locations
- Alliance for Kids (El Paso County)
- Arapahoe County Early Childhood Council
- Bright Futures Early Childhood Council (Delta, Montrose, Ouray and San Miguel Counties)
- Early Care & Education Council of Boulder County
- Bent, Otero and Crowley Early Childhood Council
- Broomfield County Early Childhood Council
- Chaffee County Early Childhood Council
- Denver Early Childhood Council
- Douglas County Early Childhood Council
- Early Childhood Council of Gunnison and Hinsdale Counties
- Early Childhood Councils of Kit Carson, Washington and Yuma Counties
- Early Childhood Council of La Plata County
- Early Childhood Council of Larimer County
- Early Childhood Council of Logan, Phillips and Sedgwick Counties
- Early Childhood Council of Las Animas and Huerfano Counties
- Early Childhood Council of Moffat and Rio Blanco Counties
- The Early Childhood Council of the San Luis Valley (Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Mineral, Rio Grande and Saguache Counties)
- Early Childhood Partnership of Adams County
- Early Childhood Partnership of Mesa County
- ECHO and Family Center Early Childhood Council (Fremont County)
- Elbert County Early Childhood Council
- First Impressions of Routt County
- Montelores Early Childhood Council (Montezuma and Dolores Counties)
- Morgan County Early Childhood Council
- Park and Teller Early Childhood Council
- Promises for Children (Weld County)
- Pueblo Early Childhood Council
- Roots and Wings for Children: Prowers County Early Childhood Council
- Rural Resort Region Early Childhood Council - Northeast Division (Grand and Summit Counties)
- Rural Resort Region Early Childhood Councils - Western Division (Eagle, Lake, Garfield and Pitkin Counties)
- Triad Early Childhood Council (Jefferson, Clear Creek and Gilpin Counties)
Learn More
Read on about the Councils at their website or contact Jenna Davis or Sharon Triolo-Moloney.
Jenna Davis
Senior Consultant Early Childhood Councils Program Colorado Department of Education
303-866-6606
Davis_J@cde.state.co.us
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