 
EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCILS
Beyond early learning, child health is a critical component of school readiness. We know that children who do not have their health needs met cannot be ready to learn in even the most stimulating and developmentally appropriate educational environments. With this in mind, The Colorado Trust has approved a five-year, $5 million commitment in grants to assist Colorado's local Early Childhood Councils in better integrating health and health care into the state's broader early childhood development system.
Colorado's Early Childhood Councils are a recent legislative expansion (HB06-1062) of the Consolidated Child Care Pilots that existed from 1997-2006. Currently, 31 Early Childhood Councils are active in 56 of Colorado's 64 counties. Each Early Childhood Council is a collaborative working to build a comprehensive early childhood system within its local community to connect children and families to quality services in early care and education, primary and mental health care, and family support.
The following Councils have received six-month planning grants - ranging from $5,000 to $7,500 each - to engage local health professionals in their planning processes; determine the health needs of its young children that are not being met; document the gaps in its community's early child health services; and identify specific health objectives to address:
1. Alliance for Kids (El Paso County)
2. Arapahoe County Early Childhood Council
3. Bent, Otero & Crowley Early Childhood Council
4. Bright Futures (Delta, Montrose, Ouray and San Miguel Counties)
5. Broomfield County Early Childhood Council
6. Chaffee County Early Childhood Council
7. Denver Early Childhood Council
8. Douglas County Early Childhood Council
9. Early Care and Education Council of Boulder County
10. Early Childhood Council of La Plata County
11. Early Childhood Council of Larimer County
12. Early Childhood Council of Las Animas & Huerfano Counties
13. Early Childhood Council of Logan, Phillips & Sedgwick Counties
14. Early Childhood Council of Moffat & Rio Blanco Counties
15. Early Childhood Council of the San Luis Valley
16. Early Childhood Councils of Kit Carson, Washington & Yuma Counties
17. Early Childhood Partnership of Adams County
18. ECHO & Family Center Council Network (Fremont County)
19. Elbert County Early Childhood Council
20. First Impressions of Routt County
21. Gunnison-Hinsdale Early Childhood Council
22. Mesa County Partnership for Children and Families
23. Montelores Early Childhood Council (Dolores and Montezuma Counties)
24. Morgan County Early Childhood Council
25. Park & Teller Early Childhood Council
26. Promises for Children (Weld County)
27. Pueblo Early Childhood Council
28. Roots & Wings for Children: Prowers County Early Childhood Council
29. Rural Resort Region Early Childhood Council - Northeast Division (Grand and Summit Counties)
30. Rural Resort Region Early Childhood Council - Western Division (Eagle, Garfield, Lake and Pitkin Counties)
31. Triad Early Childhood Council (Clear Creek, Gilpin and Jefferson Counties)
Upon the successful completion of the six-month planning phase, each Early Childhood Council will be eligible to apply to The Trust for multi-year grants to implement their health integration plans. Throughout the process, Councils will also receive ongoing technical assistance from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to develop and implement their plans.
Learn more about how one of these Councils, ECHO & Family Center Council Network in Fremont County, has achieved one of the best immunization rates in the state. For more information about The Trust's partnership with the Colorado Early Childhood Councils, contact Deidre Johnson, Program Officer, 303-837-1200, deidre@coloradotrust.org.
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