| COLORADO TRUST CHILDREN, YOUTH & FAMILIES INITIATIVES EARLY CHILDHOOD ~ Qualistar Early Learning ~ The Trust supports Qualistar’s ongoing efforts to improve the quality of early childhood learning and care in Colorado. Qualistar provides both child care referrals statewide, along with a quality-of-care rating system. CHILDREN & YOUTH ~ Colorado AfterSchool Network ~ The nonprofit Colorado AfterSchool Network is working to increase the quality and success of all after-school programming in the state. CHILDREN & YOUTH ~ Bullying Prevention ~ Research shows that youth who bully are likely to end up with a criminal record when they reach their 20s, while victims of bullying often experience academic failure and low self-esteem. This Trust initiative provides support to 45 school districts, schools and community-based nonprofit organizations in implementing bullying prevention programs. CHILDREN & YOUTH ~ Safe2Tell Hotline ~ Developed as a result of safe school plans created through The Colorado Trust-sponsored Safe Communities~Safe Schools, along with a recommendation from the Columbine Commission and the Colorado Attorney General, the Safe2Tell Hotline provides students in all Colorado schools with a safe way to prevent and report violence by making anonymous calls to 1-877-542-SAFE. FAMILIES ~ Invest in Kids ~ The effective Nurse-Family Partnership – a program that helps to improve the prenatal health of new mothers, increase the mothers’ employment rates and reduce their use of welfare and food stamps, and decrease unintended pregnancies – continues to be made available to communities across Colorado through the work of the nonprofit organization Invest in Kids. FAMILIES ~ Supporting Immigrant and Refugee Families ~ This Trust initiative provides funding to 10 communities in their efforts to support established residents and immigrants in working together for strong, healthy communities. |