Early Childhood Colorado - Information Clearinghouse

Description
The Early Childhood Colorado Partnership is a network of partners from state and local agencies, statewide nonprofits, local early childhood councils, foundations and universities committed to ensuring the vision of the Early Childhood Colorado Framework is effectively implemented in Colorado.

The Partnership provides the space and conditions for diverse partners across the comprehensive early childhood system – encompassing health, mental health, family support and early learning – to come together, identify common results, share best practices, implement strategies and track progress towards indicators of child and family wellbeing and systems performance improvement. To do this, the Early Childhood Colorado Partnership uses a results-based approach to develop, guide and inform its collective work.

Oct 22, 2012: Meeting Notes | View the meeting recording and materials
On October 22, 2012, the Early Childhood Colorado Partnership participated in an interactive training and planning session on Results Based Accountability. By the end of the meeting, the Partnership had identified population-based results desired for Colorado’s young children and recommended headline indictors per result area.

Dec 12, 2012: Meeting Notes | View the meeting recording and materials
On December 10, 2012, the Early Childhood Colorado Partnership discussed the following Meeting Objectives:
- Discuss progress and close-out the Framework in Action State Plan: 2010-2012
- Finalize RESULTS and headline INDICATORS for 2013+ work
- Describe the first quarter 2013 process and objectives for the EC Colorado Partnership

Jan. 29, 2013: Mini-Progress & Possibilities in Early Childhood
Investment Model: One-pager | Investment Model: Presentation | Colorado Kids Presentation
View the meeting recording and materials
The first quarter Mini-Progress & Possibilities in Early Childhood event occurred on January 29, 2013. More than 45 partners participated in a presentation and discussion about the School Finance Partnership, facilitated by Reilly Pharo with the Colorado Children’s Campaign, and the Colorado Early Investment Model, facilitated by Colin Tackett with the Office of the Lt. Governor and Bruce Atchison, Consultant.

Framework in Action State Plan: 2010-2012 -- Winter 2012 Progress and Close-Out Report
The Framework in Action State Plan: 2010-2012 was developed in 2009 by over 100 state partners to identify next-steps for cross-sector early childhood systems efforts at the state-level. The purpose of developing the plan was to capture, integrate and guide various state efforts and initiatives, as well as promote shared leadership, ownership, and action towards systemic improvements and enhancements across the sectors of a comprehensive early childhood system.

Feb. 25, 2013: Meeting Notes | Slides | Headline Indicators | Video
On February 25, 2013, the Early Childhood Colorado Partnership met to further partners understanding on using a Results Based Accountability approach, share Partnership updates, and launch RESULT Work Groups. Result Work Groups discussed the Headline Indicators and related data trends, identified additional information needed as well as partners to engage.

April 16, 2013: Early Childhood Colorado Partnership Grant Proposal: A one-page description of the purpose and goals of grant
The Early Childhood Colorado Partnership, through The Civic Canopy, will submit an application in response to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service’s Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems: Building Health through Integration funding opportunity announcement. The purpose of this grant is: Mitigation of toxic stress and trauma in infancy and early childhood (birth to 3).

April 25, 2013: The Early Childhood Colorado Partnership has submitted a proposal to the US Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration in response to the Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems: Building Health through Integration funding opportunity. The proposed grant plan will bring together partners from across the comprehensive early childhood system to develop a shared understanding and collective approach to address the complexities of preventing and buffering the impact of adverse childhood experiences in infancy and early childhood. Additional grant documents may be found at http://civiccanopy.org/eccp_cc_grant.

May 15, 2013: The Early Childhood Colorado Partnership will host a “Progress & Possibilities in Early Childhood” event on May 15th from 2:00-5:00pm. The event will feature presentations and discussions on: Colorado’s Early Learning Challenge Fund grant plans, the implications of health care exchanges on young children and their families, and state policy updates. Check flyer for more information, including logistics for in-person and on-line participation. Please RSVP for this event to ealrychildhood@civiccanopy.org.

April 22, 2013: The Early Childhood Colorado Partnership met to engage in a Turn-the-Curve Activity designed to use and understand data to inform strategies and actions. Meeting notes capture the discussion including the formalizing of a Partnership Agreement and review of the Partnership’s Data Agenda.

The Early Childhood Leadership Commission presented their 2012 Annual Report on January 20 before Governor Hickenlooper, Lieutenant Governor Garcia and the Senate Education, Senate Health and Human Services, House Education and House Health and Environment Committees. The 2012 Annual Report highlights the Commission work around state systems to better serve children and families, and sets the agenda for 2012. The Joint Session Annual Report proceedings are available via audio recording on the House Education Committee January 20 audio archive.

On February 8, 2010, Governer Ritter signed the Executive Order establishing the Early Childhood Leadership Commission (ECLC). The ECLC is a collaborative legislatively authorized group that is coordinating and establishing early childhood policy in Colorado.

The purpose of ECLC is to improve outcomes for young children ages birth to eight and their families by advancing the alignment, coordination, and efficiency of programs and services. Learn more about the ECLC’s mission, composition and governance.

The Early Childhood Colorado Framework is the ECLC’s guide for developing a comprehensive, coordinated service delivery system for Colorado's youngest children. This high-level leadership commission will accelerate and sustain Colorado's commitment to improving outcomes for young children. The Commission will:
1. Develop an inter-agency data system to help streamline services, drive continuous quality improvement, and promote shared accountability.
2. Recommend a state-level oversight and coordination structure for early childhood that increases efficiencies and supports equity and access for children and families.
3. Improve the quality, access and capacity of early childhood services across all sectors

Early Childhood Leadership Commission Annual Report dated January 21, 2011

Join the conversation on the Early Childhood Leadership Commission’s Groupsite today!

Early Childhood Leadership Commission page

The Early Childhood Colorado Framework was developed in 2008 as a resource and guide for comprehensive early childhood systems work in Colorado. The Early Childhood Colorado Framework:
• Recognizes the needs of the whole child and family by including outcomes that cut across the early learning, family support and parent education, mental health, and health sectors.
• Communicates the vision for comprehensive early childhood work by helping early childhood partners see how their work, individually and collectively, contributes to the greater picture of all children in Colorado being valued, healthy, and thriving.
• Ties “comprehensive systems building” language to specific strategies for action and measurable outcomes for children, families, and early childhood professionals.
• Provides a framework to guide and focus the actions of public and private stakeholders who work with or on behalf of young children.
• Promotes an outcomes-based approach to early childhood systems efforts.

To identify next steps for cross-sector early childhood efforts at the state level, over 100 partners came together in 2009 to develop the Framework in Action State Plan.
The purpose of developing this plan was to capture, integrate and guide various state efforts and initiatives, as well as promote shared leadership, ownership, and action towards systemic improvements and enhancements across the sectors of a comprehensive early childhood system. Using a results-based approach, the Framework in Action planning process was designed to:
• Identify focal points around which to organize state-level work
• Focus and coordinate activities among multiple partners
• Communicate cross-sector priorities
• Ensure public accountability for results