About Us
Our mission is to build safe, supportive, and healthy early childhood settings and systems where children and professionals learn and grow.
People & Places
We promote and support best practices by providing grants, professional development, technical assistance, and advocacy.
We collaborate with national, state, and local entities to meet the needs of the people and places serving our youngest children. Our focus on improving health, safety, and well-being in early childhood settings and systems is what ignites our passion for this incredibly important work.
Obesity Prevention
Social & Emotional Well-Being
Oral Health
Injury Prevention
Core Values
These serve as “compass points” that guide the organization’s development, culture, strategy, and sustainability.
Strategic Roadmap
Our strategic roadmap includes mission strategies, organizational development strategies, and desired outcomes.
Mission Strategies
Serve as a Network Hub for Consultative Roles
- Set professional standards
- Offer professional development
- Build communities of practice
- Provide technical assistance
- Promote consultation
Support Quality Improvement Efforts
- Offer professional development
- Administer Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care Recognition
- Provide technical assistance
- Make improvement and sustainability grants
- Conduct observation and assessment
Advocate for Best Practices & Sound Policies
- Be a strong voice for health and safety in early childhood
- Engage and contribute expertise in coalitions and committees
- Promote inclusion and systems alignment
Desired Outcomes
Build bridges between sectors
Strengthen early childhood systems and infrastructure
Organizational excellence and sustainability
History
Healthy Child Care Colorado arose out of the Healthy Child Care America initiative that began in the 1990s with support from the US Department of Health and Human Services, the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration; the Child Care Bureau, Administration for Children and Families; the American Academy of Pediatrics; and the American Public Health Association. These partners recognized the potential to positively impact the health and safety of children in early childhood settings throughout the country.
Colorado stakeholders recognized the importance of collaboration, so the Colorado Children’s Hospital, the Colorado Department of Human Services, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, and the Colorado Office of Resource and Referral Agencies worked together to establish Healthy Child Care Colorado. These founding organizations remain active members on the steering committee.
Why Early Childhood Matters
$1 = $7
The research is clear, for every dollar invested in building a stronger early childhood system, the return on that investment is seven dollars.