Healthy Child Care Colorado is proud to share exciting updates that are reshaping early childhood health across our state. Through innovative programs and strong community partnerships, we are taking great strides to ensure our children have a healthy start—one smile at a time.
The Healthy Universal Preschool Collaborative (HUPC) is making remarkable progress by integrating essential health screenings into Universal Preschool (UPK) statewide. These screenings include oral, vision, hearing, and developmental assessments. By partnering with local coordinating organizations and community partners, HUPC is ensuring that preschools are well-prepared to meet the new state health requirements effective July 2025. (Read the latest press release by Delta Dental Foundation of Colorado)
Since its launch, the HUPC project has reached significant milestones:
- Local Coordination: Six Local Coordinating Organizations are actively serving 11 rural and urban counties: Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Denver, El Paso, Fremont, Mineral, Morgan, Rio Grande, Saguache, and Weld.
- Community Involvement: Over 75 community partners including educators, health care professionals, and community stakeholders are working together on co-design teams.
- Wide Reach: More than 100 UPK programs serving more than 1,500 children are now participating across diverse settings, including home, center, and school-based sites.
- Professional Development: Over 120 early childhood professionals have been trained in Cavity-Free Kids.
- Health Consultations: More than 20 Child Care Health Consultants have committed to working with Local Coordinating Organizations and UPK programs to conduct oral health screenings using new training and screening tools developed by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE).
The Cavity Free Kids Training is now live on Colorado’s Professional Development Information System (PDIS). This self-paced online course was thoughtfully designed with input from passionate educators and healthcare professionals. It offers practical strategies that make it easy to integrate oral health best practices into daily classroom routines.
Here’s what makes the training stand out:
- Self-Paced Learning
- Practical, Real-World Strategies
- Supports Overall Child Health
- Offered in both Spanish and English
- No Prerequisites Required
- Participants can earn professional development hours toward licensing and the Early Childhood Professional Credential (ECPC).
Together, these initiatives are building a healthier future for Colorado’s children. By integrating comprehensive health screenings and providing innovative training for early childhood professionals, we are setting a new standard for early childhood health and education.