Overview

Assuring Better Child Health and Development (ABCD) and Healthy Child Care Colorado (HCCC) are partnering to lead the “Healthy Universal Preschool Collaborative,” a two-year project funded by the Delta Dental of Colorado Foundation (DDCOF) that aims to integrate oral health as well as screenings and referral within Colorado’s Universal Preschool Program (UPP) sites. These efforts will build capacity within Local Coordinating Organizations (LCOs) to support sites in preparing to meet the new quality standards. Additionally, the project also leverages Child Care Health Consultants (CCHCs), which are required by licensing for every child care center, as they have a unique and critical role in supporting inclusion, health, safety, and wellness in early childhood programs. 

Six Local Coordinating Organizations (LCOs) serving 11 counties were selected to participate in this project. These LCOs will partner with Co-Design Teams, UPP Sites, and CCHCs in their communities to integrate oral health and support the rollout of the new UPP Quality Standards (8-CCR 1401-1-4.112) at the local level. Read the press release for more information. 

Read Press Release
Project Overview Slides

Local Coordinating Organizations

Six Local Coordinating Organizations (LCOs) serving 11 counties were selected to participate in this project:

  • Denver Preschool Program in partnership with Denver’s Early Childhood Council (Denver County)
  • Joint Initiatives for Children (El Paso County)
  • United Way of Weld County (Weld County)
  • Early Learning Ventures (Morgan County)
  • Early Childhood Council of San Luis Valley (Alamosa, Conejos, Costillo, Mineral, Rio Grande, and Saguache Counties)
  • ECHO & Family Center Early Childhood Council (Fremont County)

These LCOs will partner with Co-Design Teams, UPP Sites and CCHCs in their communities to integrate oral health and support the rollout of UPP Healthy Development Quality Standards.

Co-Design Teams

Each LCO will establish a Co-Design Team to lead to the development of community-level developmental and oral health screening and referral processes and procedures. Co-Design Teams are a group of UPP providers, parents, and other community partners who work as a team to focus on knowledge gain, relationships, and systems building. The Co-Design Team will also engage stakeholders throughout the process, and communicate with stakeholders throughout the project. Each LCO will recruit people from their local communities to participate in the Co-Design Teams.

Universal Preschool Program Sites (Sites)

For the purpose of this project, Sites are licensed or license-exempt child care programs in Colorado that participate in Colorado’s Universal Preschool Program (UPP) and are dedicated to putting time, energy, and resources toward a collaborative approach to meeting UPP Healthy Development Quality Standards (8-CCR 1401-1-4.112), particularly those related to oral health. During this project, participating UPP Sites will:

  • Gain knowledge on the importance of early childhood oral health for all staff at no cost
  • Review, revise, adopt, and implement oral health policies and procedures
  • Conduct on-site oral health screening and referral in UPP classroom(s)/group(s)
  • Share and disseminate healthy development resources with families
  • Foster relationships with child care health consultants (CCHCs) and their LCO
UPP Site Flyer

UPP Sites interested in participating in this project should complete the interest form below.

UPP Interest Form

Child Care Health Consultants 

Child Care Health Consultants (CCHCs) will play a critical role in the implementation of oral health education, screening, and referral that is required by UPP Sites in this project. The inclusion of CCHCs in this project is intentional, as they already have existing relationships with Sites and bring skills and expertise to early childhood providers and caregivers that are essential to the health and safety of our children, including their oral health. During this project, participating CCHCs will:

  • Gain knowledge and confidence related to oral health, including the importance of early childhood oral health and how to conduct screening and referral within early care and learning settings
  • Foster existing (and new) relationships with Sites and LCOs

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CCHC Flyer

CCHCs interested in participating in this project should complete the interest form below.

CCHC Interest Form

Key Resources