Our 2020 Annual Report is here. In the midst of some difficult times, it’s still worth taking a deeper look at the good work our programs have accomplished. In this post, we’ll look at the Learning & Development programs we have that support early childhood professionals. If you want to read more in-depth about our Family Support programs, check out the next post in the series here.

Note – this report covers our 2018-19 fiscal year from July 2018 to June 2019.

If you want to view the digital version, you can access it here. Or contact us and we can provide you with a print copy.

Generational Success

In recent years, Colorado began to embrace a “Whole Family” and “Two-Generation Approach” which focuses on supporting young children, parent, and caregiver groups holistically instead of individually. ACECC more formally adopted this approach in 2017 and has since streamlined its programs and services into two domains that align with the Early Childhood Colorado Framework, Learning and Development and Family Support.

The Two-Generation Approach, or 2Gen, builds family well-being by intentionally serving the whole family. When we focus on generational success, we can help ensure that positive outcomes not only happen now, but make a difference long term. A 2Gen approach helps children through childcare programs and home visiting, while also helping caregivers through parent education, resource referrals and more. Why 2Gen? To see positive outcomes pass from generation to generation.

Want to learn more about this Two-Generation Approach? This approach was adopted by Arapahoe County Department of Human Services and developed by The Aspen Institute.

Report Highlights

Modern-day families are more likely to be single-parent households, face increased pressure to balance work with raising their kids, and often struggle finding childcare that’s both affordable and high quality. These are problems for every family, regardless of income level.

That’s why we offer parenting classes, in-home visitation programs, child care navigation services, and coaching to improve the quality of early childhood programs and environments. In 2019, we grew our quality support for early childhood professionals, supporting more sites with more hours of coaching than before.

Learning & Development

Our learning & development initiatives support early childhood professionals throughout Arapahoe County, giving them the tools and support they need to continually improve the quality of their learning environments for young children.

Quality Improvement

Through our Colorado Shines Quality Improvement program, we walk alongside early childhood care and education providers in their quality journey. Working within the Colorado Shines framework, our state’s quality rating and licensing system, our coaches provided face-to-face coaching, curriculum support, developmentally appropriate classroom supplies, and individualized services based on the needs of each program.

Expanding Quality in Infant & Toddler Care (EQIT)

Our EQIT courses are part of a statewide Expanding Quality in Infant Toddler Care (EQ) Initiative. The EQ Initiative was initially developed after a 1990s study found that 42% of infant and toddler rooms actually endangered children’s health and safety. Although the state of early childhood has improved since then, caregivers still need training and support to create high quality environments for their children. Our affordable, interactive courses meet that need.

Workforce Development

Our wraparound services go beyond quality improvement and focus on improving overall child health and wellness, safety, parent education, and professional development. We offered affordable training for early childhood professionals, including:

• Annual Quality Forum

• Leadership Learning Community

• Shining Bright Quarterly Workshops

• Colorado Shines PDIS onboarding

• Rating Scale Trainings

A Network of Support for Early Childhood Providers

When we support early childhood professionals in their career, we make a difference in the lives of kids, families, and our community. Through our Colorado Shines Quality Improvement program, we act as a support system for local child care providers, building relationships and support people before, during, and after they have been rated through Colorado Shines.

In 2019, we focused heavily on improving the lowest rated child care centers in Arapahoe County. We:

This support is critical because of the challenges faced by the early childhood workforce. In a survey of Colorado’s early childhood directors, more than 60% said that a top challenge was finding and keeping quality staff (Colorado’s Early Childhood Workforce 2020 Plan). In 2017, Colorado’s median wage for child care staff was $12.60. Many providers face high turnover rates among staff and self-reported that many move on to higher-paying jobs. One out of five Arapahoe County early childhood professionals reported switching jobs in 2019 (Colorado Early Care and Education Workforce 2019 Dashboard).

Meanwhile, demand for high-quality and affordable childcare continues to increase. The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment has predicted an estimated 30% increase in need for early childhood professionals by 2025 (Colorado’s Early Childhood Workforce 2020 Plan).

That’s why when we support early childhood professionals in their career, we not only help them grow, but make a difference in the lives of kids, families, and the community.

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Making a Difference

What happens in early childhood deeply impacts a child’s future physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development. And the reality is that donations make a huge difference in our work.

By supporting Arapahoe County Early Childhood Council, you are helping to ensure that Arapahoe County families have access to high quality early learning and support and that the early childhood professionals who work with our families have the training and education needed to excel.

We’re also a qualifying agency for the Colorado Child Care Contribution tax credit, meaning that you can claim an income tax credit of 50% tax credit when you donate! Learn more about how to make use of this today.