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A festive newsletter banner for December 2024 by the Colorado Department of Early Childhood features holiday-themed text, CDEC logos, and a red bar with the department name. Below, a smiling family stands at a vibrant night market with heart-shaped gingerbread cookies and festive lights.
In This Issue:
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As part of our commitment to accessibility, you may notice expanded captions in our newsletter to ensure a more inclusive experience for all readers.
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- CDEC Chili Cook-Off Success
- Family Needs Assessment Final Report
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- Upcoming Rule-Related Public Meetings
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- Colorado Medicaid Approved to Expand Medicaid Coverage through Continuous Eligibility
- Finding Financial Balance this Holiday Season
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- Rocky Mountain Early Childhood Conference Scholarship
- Multilingual Resources in the TEACH Colorado Early Childhood Teacher Recruitment Toolkit
- The Early Childhood Workforce Development Subcommittee (ECWD) is looking for a Head Start Representative
- National Apprenticeship Week
- Listening Sessions Inform IECMH Advisory Council Strategic Plan
- ADHD Training Recording
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- Lake County Spotlight: A Success Story in Head Start and McKinney-Vento Partnership
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As part of our commitment to accessibility, you may notice expanded captions in our newsletter to ensure a more inclusive experience for all readers.
 Four smiling individuals stand indoors near white columns, a large plant, and a decorative vase. Text on a blue overlay with transparent snowflakes reads: "Inside CDEC: Highlights & Happenings."
Inside CDEC: Highlights & Happenings
CDEC Chili Cook-Off Success!
 The CDEC team came together for an afternoon filled with delicious competition, community spirit, and giving back.✨ With 11 amazing chili and soup entries, CDEC staff had the chance to sample and vote for their favorite dish.
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A big congratulations to our winners:
🥇 1st Place: Niki Adams - Chicken Chili Special Recipe
🥈 2nd Place (Tied): Dr. Lisa Roy - Firehouse Chili & Naomi Gonzales - Homemade Pozole
🥉 3rd Place: Emily Cline - Hot Chicken Chili
Thank you to everyone who participated and supported this event! Plus, thanks to everyone's generosity, we collected canned goods to support local shelters.
Here’s to more fun, food, and community spirit at CDEC! 🎉
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Facility Needs Assessment Final Report
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The Colorado Department of Early Childhood, in partnership with Community Development Institute (CDI), has published the Colorado Child Care Facility Needs Assessment. This report offers insight into the physical state of early childhood facilities across Colorado.
Additionally, the report identifies opportunities and barriers to expanding and opening early learning facilities. The Colorado Facility Needs Assessment guides early learning advocates with recommendations for supporting child care facilities at the state level, local level, and for supportive organizations.
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 Three children walk along a snowy path, one in a wheelchair wearing a red jacket, and two others in colorful winter clothing. Text on a bright purple overlay with transparent snowflakes reads: "Colorado Universal Preschool Updates" , and the "CO UNIVERSAL PRESCHOOL" logo is in the bottom right.
Colorado Universal Preschool Updates
Want to stay informed about Colorado Universal Preschool registration and important updates? Subscribe to our monthly UPK newsletter today!
Get the latest news, key dates, and essential information delivered straight to your inbox throughout the registration period—and beyond. With new dates coming soon, you won’t want to miss a thing!
Sign up now and be the first to know: Colorado Universal Preschool Newsletter
 Five smiling children sit on a carpeted floor with toys scattered around, set against a colorful background of books and play items. Text on a blue overlay with transparent snowflakes reads: "CDEC Rulemaking Updates."
CDEC Rulemaking Updates
Upcoming Rule-Related Public Meetings:
RAC County Subcommittee Meeting (ZOOM Link)
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Date: Thursday, December 5, 2024
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Time: 9:00 - 10:30 a.m.
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Topic(s):
- Proposed permanent rules for the Colorado Universal Preschool Program (UPK) to align the low-income eligibility criteria with the 2024 Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG); and
- Proposed emergency rules for the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP) to implement Colorado House Bill 24-1223 and reflect recent adjustments to the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF).
Rules Advisory Council (RAC) Meeting (ZOOM Link)
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Date: Thursday, December 12, 2024
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Time: 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
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Topic(s):
- Proposed permanent rules for UPK, to align the low-income eligibility Criteria with the 2024 FPG;
- Proposed permanent revisions to the transportation rules for Child Care Centers, Family Child Care Homes (FCCH), Children’s Resident Camps, School-Aged Child Care (SACC); and Neighborhood Youth Organizations (NYO) to implement Colorado House Bill 24-1055; and
- Proposed emergency rules for CCCAP to implement HB24-1223 and recent changes to the CCDF.
Public Rulemaking Hearing (ZOOM Link)
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Date: Thursday, December 19, 2024
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Time: 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.
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Emergency Rulemaking:
- Proposed emergency rules for CCCAP to implement HB24-1223 and recent changes to the CCDF.
Permanent Rulemaking:
- Proposed permanent rules for UPK, to align the low-income eligibility criteria with the 2024 FPG;
- Proposed permanent revisions to the transportation rules for Child Care Centers, FCCHs, Children’s Resident Camps, SACCs; and NYOs to implement HB24-1055; and
- Proposed revisions to the Children’s Resident Camps and Special Activities rules as a result to the Comprehensive Rule Reviews conducted pursuant to section 24-4-103.3, C.R.S.; and implementation of Colorado Senate Bill 24-071.
How to Engage in the Rulemaking Process: Send all written comments regarding the proposed rules, or clarifying questions via email to: CDEC_Rulemaking@state.co.us.
How to Stay Informed: Sign up to receive Rulemaking Notifications and consult the CDEC Rule Tracker for the latest updates on our rulemaking activities.
 A group of smiling individuals embracing each other warmly. Text on a green overlay with transparent snowflakes reads: "Community & Family Support."
Community & Family Support
Colorado Medicaid Approved to Expand Medicaid Coverage through Continuous Eligibility
New policy will improve health coverage access and outcomes for children 0-3 and adults released from state prison.
Read the full press release.
Finding Financial Balance this Holiday Season
The holiday season often brings joy yet can also add financial stress with marketers encouraging spending on products they claim will make the season unforgettable, especially for families with children. To maintain financial health, focus on your values and what makes the holidays meaningful for you.
For those celebrating on a budget, meaningful experiences can often outshine material gifts. Consider using this season to learn from and support other communities. Tools like decision-making worksheets can help you stay aligned with your priorities while keeping finances in check.
For further information and resources, click here to access the full article and resources.
 Three people sit at a round table in a classroom. A teacher in a light brown outfit smiles while guiding two girls, one writing with a pencil and another focused on her paper. Text on a purple overlay with transparent snowflakes reads: "Early Childhood Workforce."
Early Childhood Workforce
Rocky Mountain Early Childhood Conference Scholarship
Our partners at TEACH Colorado are providing support for three future early childhood lead teachers to attend the 2025 Rocky Mountain Early Childhood conference! To enter you must:
- Be an assistant teachers or career changer who is interested in becoming a lead teacher, and who is not currently enrolled in a lead teacher qualification or licensure program
- Sign up here with TEACH Colorado BEFORE registering for RMECC between now and December 31, 2024.
P.S.: Future educators can also access free advising, webinars, how-to guides, and up to $1,100 financial incentives by signing up here.
 A smiling child in a yellow shirt stands with outstretched arms against a vibrant background with an orange circle and a white graduation cap above. Blue text below reads: "Plan the seed, grow big dreams."
Multilingual Resources in the TEACH Colorado Early Childhood Teacher Recruitment Toolkit
TEACH Colorado's Early Childhood Teacher Recruitment Toolkit provides free resources for child care providers, school district and communities recruiting and hiring early childhood educators. You'll find images, sample social media captions, videos, multilingual resources, flyers, a link for your website, and more (including an opportunity to win a gift card to Lakeshore Learning!). Check it out here!
The Early Childhood Workforce Development Subcommittee (ECWD) is looking for a Head Start Representative
The federally recognized state advisory council, otherwise known as the Early Childhood Leadership Commission (ECLC), hosts a subcommittee that focuses on facilitating the recommendations from the Comprehensive Early Childhood Workforce Plan. The Early Childhood Workforce Development Subcommittee (ECWD) is looking for a Head Start representative to serve on the committee.
Use this form to express your interest!
Next ECWD Meeting:
- Tuesday, December 3, 2024
- 1:00-3:00 pm
 Logo for National Apprenticeship Week's 10-year anniversary features a red ribbon with "Apprenticeship Week" in bold white, blue and gold accents, fireworks, and the dates "November 17-23, 2024."
National Apprenticeship Week was November 17th-23rd
Apprenticeships are valuable, work-based learning opportunities that support early childhood professionals. The CDEC invests in apprenticeship programs throughout Colorado to equip our early childhood workforce with tangible skills to provide the highest quality care for Colorado kids.Our partners are Colorado Mesa University, Red Rocks Community College and University of Colorado-Colorado Springs.
See Key Elements of all Registered Apprenticeships: https://app.smartsheet.com/dashboards/HxGQGC2m4HqCRWGJ2RR9XvCHM45GQ8M7rX34GQr1
Apprenticeships are one way our department is working to solve the shortage of teachers across our state.
Listening Sessions Inform IECMH Advisory Council Strategic Plan
A big thank you to the 55 early childhood and mental health partners who shared their expertise and insight last month. These listening sessions will help inform development of the first-ever strategic plan for Colorado’s Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) Advisory Council! Participants were asked to share their reactions to draft goals, which ranged from providing a clear understanding of IECMH to cultivating a skilled workforce, ensuring high-quality IECMH services are available, and more. The strategic plan will be available when completed later this winter.
ADHD Training Recording
Dr. Burgundy Johnson and Dr. Kelly Elliott facilitated a training last month to help early childhood professionals learn more about ADHD.
The Two experts shared ADHD risk/warning signs, evidence-based therapeutic skills that may be used to support families with a potential diagnosis of ADHD, and ADHD resources to connect families with. Dr. Burgundy Johnson is a board-certified child psychiatrist and expert in ADHD evaluation and treatment and Dr. Kelly Elliott is an infant/early childhood mental health expert. Recordings are available to learn more.
 Children lie in a circle on a brown carpet, smiling up at the camera in colorful outfits. Text on a red overlay with transparent snowflakes reads: "Data & Insights: By the Numbers."
Data & Insights: By the Numbers
Lake County Spotlight: A Success Story in Head Start and McKinney-Vento Partnership
During the Month of November, individuals, organizations, and communities across the nation are encouraged to work together to raise awareness and advance efforts to prevent and end youth homelessness.
The Colorado Department of Early Childhood and the Colorado Department of Education partner at the state level to offer technical assistance, training, and support for Head Start, Early Head Start, Migrant Head Start and McKinney-Vento District Liaisons so all children can enter school healthy, valued and thriving.
Colorado school districts identified nearly 18,000 students as experiencing homelessness in the 2022–23 school year, with preliminary 2023–24 counts showing an increase.
Research suggests that around 1.3 million infants, toddlers, and preschoolers experience homelessness annually, which translates to roughly 1 in 18 children under the age of 6. Early childhood development programs play a critical role in mitigating the traumatic impacts of homelessness on young children, while also providing developmentally appropriate learning opportunities and family support.
Less than 5% of young children experiencing homelessness are enrolled in a Head Start, Early Head Start, or local educational agency preschool program. Finding families experiencing homelessness with young children and connecting them to early childhood development programs is not only important, it is also required under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act and the updated Head Start Performance Standards.
A mother and toddler who moved to Lake County several years ago and have been doubled up with two other families meeting the definition of homelessness under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. The mother desired to have a place of her own. Because Lake County Wraparound has a Housing Navigator and other funds to assist with housing, they were able to assist the mother with upfront costs for an apartment. The mother was able to move into her own apartment thanks to support from Lake County Wraparound and is working to pay for the monthly rent. In addition, thanks to the growing partnership between the school district and Early Head Start, we were able to enroll the family in the Early Head Start program. The family continues to meet with Lake County Wraparound to receive support including a financial management plan.
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