Mission

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.  

 

Core Values and Principles

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. You can find our full strategic roadmap here. 

Mission Strategies

Serve as a hub for consultation

  • 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

Consultants and programs are prepared, supported, and motivated to improve their practice

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

 

The research is clear, for every

$1

invested in building a stronger early childhood system, the return on that investment is

$9

for every dollar invested.

 

Limited access to high quality early childhood means low income and at-risk children are behind

12-14 months

At-risk and vulnerable children in quality early childhood education programs are

2 times

more likely to attend college