RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES
Denver’s Early Childhood Council works to ensure a strong system of early childhood support for Denver families. Our work aims to increase access to quality, affordable child care, as well as health and mental health care services and other resources essential to raising healthy children.
FIND CHILD CARE
Check out these great resources to help you find the right child care option for your family.
COLORADO SHINES CHILD CARE SEARCH
Search for a quality, licensed child care program in your community. Compare quality ratings and find each program’s history of licensing inspections and incident reports.
211 COLORADO
Get one-on-one support with your search from a child care referral expert. Call 1-877-338-2273, Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm. Chat and email options also available. Support available in multiple languages.
UNIVERSAL PRESCHOOL (UPK)
Browse providers and submit an application for your 4-year-old or qualifying 3-year-old. Choose from a pool of licensed and registered community-based, school-based, and home-based providers in Colorado.
QUALITY CHILD CARE: NO MATTER THE SETTING
When children come first, all child care can be high-quality care, no matter where or who provides it.
Keys to quality care include: safety, strong and loving relationships, and lots of back-and-forth interaction.
Many families rely on informal child care, provided by a family member, friend or neighbor, because it is convenient, affordable and available where and when they need it. Learn more about what to look for when evaluating your child care options.
What Makes Child Care High Quality?
GET HELP PAYING FOR CHILD CARE
The Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP) helps families with limited income pay for quality child care. Learn more about qualifications and the application process.
COLORADO’S EARLY LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT GUIDELINES
Practical tips and fun ideas that anyone can use to support young children’s healthy development from birth to 8 years old.
At EarlyLearningCO.org, find information about child development at each age, including videos that deepen our understanding of how we can support our children’s health and development through everyday interactions and routines.
Tips and information to support development at every stage.
RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES
Child Care Checklist & Key Questions
Looking for child care? This tip sheet has a checklist of what to look for in a program/provider. It also includes key questions to ask when you visit.
Preparing for Baby’s First Day in Child Care
This tip sheet can help you prepare so that your baby has a safe, comfortable experience in child care.
Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation
Families with children in licensed child care can access early mental health services to provide extra support for children who are having a hard time in their child care program or at home.
Preventing Suspensions & Expulsions
Learn about how to support your child if you think they might be struggling in their child care program.
FIND THE SUPPORT YOUR FAMILY NEEDS
Whether it’s for child care, food, housing, or other assistance, the Mile High United Way multi-lingual 2-1-1 Help Center offers help via phone, text, and live chat. You can also search the database of resources on your own.