Pyramid Network Hub

Since 2020, Healthy Child Care Colorado has served as the Pyramid Practitioner Network Hub for Pyramid Model implementation in Colorado. We work at the local, state, and national levels to strengthen awareness and support for early childhood social and emotional well-being. 

Introduction

The Pyramid Model is a collaborative professional development system that fosters and sustains evidenced-based practices to support the social-emotional development and inclusion of children. 

The Pyramid Model builds upon a tiered public health approach to providing universal support to all children to promote wellness, targeted services to those who need more support, and intensive services to those who need them.

Pyramid Center Model

Pyramid Practitioner Network Hub

The Pyramid Practitioner Network Hub uses our Foundations and annual Action Plan to guide our work. The Foundations include our purpose statement, guiding principles, desired outcomes, and core functions. The Action Plan articulates our annual goals and priorities for each core function of work. The core functions of the Pyramid Practitioner Network Hub include Engagement & Support, Learning & Implementation, and Leadership & Advocacy. 

We support the social-emotional development and inclusion of all children ages birth through five by promoting and expanding evidence-based Pyramid practices in Colorado. View our full Foundations and Action Plan by clicking on the button below. 

Leadership Structure

Our leadership structure collaborates to provide insight, context, expertise, and guidance to Healthy Child Care Colorado on matters of programming, research, opportunities, funding, and systems alignment. We aim to ensure Pyramid-related efforts maintain relevance, meaning, and utility in local, state, and national contexts.

State Leadership Team Members

The State Leadership Team includes the following members: 

  • Brenda Maes, Colorado Department of Early Childhood, Workforce Development  
  • Chris Henager, Freemont County Head Start  
  • Debbie Kunz, Bal Swan Children’s Center  
  • Eva Jankovsky, Colorado Department of Early Childhood, EQIT  
  • Heather Craiglow, Colorado Department of Early Childhood, Head Start Collaboration  
  • Jason Marsh, Sewall Child Development Center  
  • Lia Closson, The Family Center / La Familia  
  • Lynna Frymoyer, Bright Futures (Early Childhood Council)  
  • Melissa Caron, Early Connections Learning Centers  
  • Missy Taucher, Colorado Department of Education  
  • Dr. Stacy Howard, The Buell Foundation  
  • Taran Schneider, Healthy Child Care Colorado  
  • Virginia Kile, Western Slope Consultant 

Healthy Child Care Colorado Staff: Robin Levy, Alison Hargarten, Kim Wolff

Professional Development Workgroup

Membership of the workgroup will be maintained to ensure relevance of statewide programming to implementers and integration of content into broader systems. The work of this group will focus on Colorado’s transition from the Pyramid Plus Approach (PPA) to the new, national Pyramid content, which will continue to be a Training of Special Recognition. They will also work to develop a Facilitator Certification Continuation, or renewal, process. The workgroup includes the members listed below. Additional participants may be called upon to join team meetings and throughout the process.   

  • Nicole Donatto, The Edification Station 
  • Daisy Thomson, Mesa County Partnership for Children and Families 
  • Jennifer Coggin, Ability Connection Colorado 
  • Alisha Emile, Primrose DTC 
  • Donna Salvador, Trainer/Coach/Facilitator 
  • Jennifer Young, Early Childhood Options 
  • Kelly Esch, Early Childhood Network 

Healthy Child Care Colorado Staff: Robin Levy & Kim Wolff 

Positive Solutions for Families Workgroup

Positive Solutions for Families is an evidence-based, family-friendly workshop of seven modules to help professionals working with families of children ages 2-5 years. They have been used nationally to provide training on Pyramid Model practices to family members within various settings. Each module package includes a presentation script, slides, videos, activity descriptions, and handouts. 

Membership of the workgroup will be maintained to ensure relevance of statewide programming to implementers and integration of content into broader systems. The work of this group will focus on creating a Positive Solutions for Families “Training Endorsement” that aligns with Colorado’s state systems. The workgroup includes the members listed below. Additional participants may be called upon to join team meetings and throughout the process.   

  • Kimberly Theller, Early Childhood Options, Co-Chair 
  • Kelly Herndon, Independant Contractor 
  • Nicole Donatto, The Edification Station 
  • Anne Conklin, Independant Contractor 
  • Kate McGuire, Mile High Early Learning 
  • Kayleen Stratton, Independant Contractor 
  • Lia Closson, The Family Center / La Familia 
  • Sobia Khan, Colorado Consulting  
  • Patricia Matus-Amat, Denver Community College 
  • Melissa Caron, Early Connections Learning Centers and PSLT 

Healthy Child Care Colorado Staff: Robin Levy & Kim Wolff 

Implementation Workgroup

The Implementation Workgroup will work to define the four intensities of Program-wide implementation of the Pyramid Model.

Launching Fall of 2024

Impact and Evaluation Workgroup

The Impact and Evaluation Workgroup will explore and identify methods of data collection at all levels of Pyramid implementation in Colorado. 

Launching Fall of 2024