Welcome to

El Paso County's Early Childhood Council

COVID-19 Updates for Early Care & Education Programs

Child care providers play an important role both to prevent the spread of disease and to help families and communities stay informed. To assist you in this role, we are sharing the following with you:

  • If your program is in need of cleaning supplies, please use our Contact Us form below to submit your request. We will do our best to match needs with supplies being donated.
  • Please see News items at the bottom of this page for important COVID-19 guidance from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE).
  • Please look for important emails from Alliance for Kids. For the latest email about new ECE Huddles being formed, click HERE.
  • Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for information and updates.
  • If you are registered for upcoming AFK training, you will be contacted with information about cancellations and rescheduling.
  • If you need information or resources to share with families around the topics of emotional well-being, nutrition, health, or learning at home, please direct them to FamilySPEAK.org.

Our Vision

The Vision of Alliance for Kids to make El Paso County the best place to raise a child is realized through the collaborative efforts of community leaders from early care and education, health, mental health, and family support programs. These individuals come together as members of the AFK Council to ensure that families thrive and ALL children develop their potential.

Our Mission

Mission: The Alliance for Kids will serve as a vehicle that brings together agencies and individuals to work collaboratively on a seamless system of care for young children and their families in El Paso County.
 

Individuals, organizations, businesses, advocates, and community members - all working together to improve the lives of children and families.

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Alliance for Kids is here to assist providers, leaders, teachers, or those pursuing a career in early childhood education.

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We support parents & caregivers with resources to build strong families. This includes extended family, guardians, and foster care providers.

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Questions & Answers
to help you get started...

Alliance for Kids can help parents and families looking for quality child care. We are not a provider, but we can connect you with the resources and information you will need to get started. Please call us, or visit our Finding Quality Child Care page under the Parents & Families menu for more details. If you need financial assistance, you will find information on programs.

Alliance for Kids maintains a calendar of parenting classes. Visit FamilySPEAK under the Parents & Families menu for more information or go directly to FamilySPEAK.org.

Please visit our Opening a Child Care page for complete details. If you are required to be licensed, are interested in Pre-Licensing classes, or need other support, contact our Quality Initiatives Lead Supervisor.

Yes. Alliance for Kids offers scholarships depending upon the need of each student. Our Professional Development Specialist can provide guidance. Visit the Scholarships page under Providers | Leaders | Teachers.

Alliance for Kids can help early care and education programs and family child care providers with both aspects of Colorado Shines.  Whether it’s the Quality Rating Improvement System (QRIS) or the Professional Development Information System (PDIS), we are here to assist you!  Visit the Quality Programming tab under Providers | Leaders | Teachers for more details and contact information for staff that can assist you.

If you are looking for the one place to connect with local partners engaged in the early childhood conversation, join us for the next Community Network meeting! Mark your calendar for the third Thursday in January, April, July, and August. Visit our our Calendar page for meeting details/topics and to RSVP. Don’t miss your chance to connect and network with community partners and learn about local opportunities as well as statewide efforts in the field of early childhood.

“Connecting and networking for the purpose of taking action.”

 

“While taking classes for my program I have been able to take away a lot of new information that allows me to be a better teacher, so the children are all successful learners. I am better able to teach and assist children that need accommodations and modifications in an inclusive classroom on a daily basis.”
Scholarship Recipient
Summer 2017
We have gotten SO much from the class. It has improved almost all of our relationships as these skills pertain to adults as well.
Parent
Positive Solutions for Families Class
“I’m more focused on the social and emotional development of children now…on what is going on with each individual child that will help them do better next year in kindergarten - giving them those social and emotional skills that they need, that they might not always get.”
Family Child care Provider
Pyramid Plus Approach Training Participant
& Coaching Recipient
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Our newsletters are monthly and provide early childhood information, professional development opportunities, and information for families.

News

ECHO NEWS! Seed Grant and FCCP Cohort Applications Extended

Become an ECHO site! Download Echo Site Flyer HERE Visit the ECHO website for details HERE. Early Childhood Heath Outdoors

MORE

NEW! ECE Huddles are Forming | Join In!

Dear Early Childhood Community, Alliance for Kids is sharing something NEW from Healthy Child Care Colorado. They are hosting a series

MORE

Child Care Programs Need Cleaning Supplies | Donate March 23 & 24

In response to a great need expressed by our community’s child care centers and family child care homes, Alliance for

MORE

COVID-19 Update from the Office of Early Childhood | March 20

Dear Colorado Child Care Providers, As we all work through this challenging and ever-changing situation, we want to continue to

MORE

Upcoming Events

Mar
30
Mon
6:00 pm EQIT Session E | March – June 2020
EQIT Session E | March – June 2020
Mar 30 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Important! Please note the specific times listed below: MANDATORY ORIENTATION: Monday, March 30, 2020, from 6:00-8:00 pm Wednesday Evenings with TWO Saturdays: April 1, 11, 15, 20, 22, 29 May 6, 11, 13, 20, 25, 27[...]
Apr
1
Wed
6:00 pm EQIT Session E | March – June 2020
EQIT Session E | March – June 2020
Apr 1 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Important! Please note the specific times listed below: MANDATORY ORIENTATION: Monday, March 30, 2020, from 6:00-8:00 pm Wednesday Evenings with TWO Saturdays: April 1, 11, 15, 20, 22, 29 May 6, 11, 13, 20, 25, 27[...]
Apr
2
Thu
6:30 pm Exploring Pyramid Plus Classroom...
Exploring Pyramid Plus Classroom...
Apr 2 @ 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Fun and practical ways to refresh your PPA skills Make & take projects at every session Resource sharing & plenty of discussion time This 4×4 (four strategies in four weeks) series is for early childhood[...]
Apr
4
Sat
6:00 pm EQIT Session D | February – May ...
EQIT Session D | February – May ...
Apr 4 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Important! Please note the specific times listed below: MANDATORY ORIENTATION: Thursday, February 20, 2020, from 6:00-8:00 pm Saturday Classes: February 22 March 7, 21 April 4, 18 May 2, 16, 30 Saturday classes will be from[...]
Apr
9
Thu
8:30 am Introduction to Child Assessment...
Introduction to Child Assessment...
Apr 9 @ 8:30 am – 10:30 am
This course provides an overview of child assessment, including the following: Identify components of the authentic assessment cycle and how it supports early childhood professionals in understanding what young children know and are able to[...]
Apr
11
Sat
8:00 am Pyramid Plus Approach Training |...
Pyramid Plus Approach Training |...
Apr 11 @ 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Do you need tools and strategies to effectively respond to challenging classroom behavior? Would you benefit from training/resources that addresses including all children in a meaningful way? Pyramid Plus Approach Training is a 48-hour course[...]
8:30 am NAEYC Code of Ethics | April 2020
NAEYC Code of Ethics | April 2020
Apr 11 @ 8:30 am – 10:30 am
Come and engage with your peers to learn about the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct in a fun and interactive way!  Learn how these guidelines for responsible behavior set forth a common basis for resolving[...]
6:00 pm EQIT Session E | March – June 2020
EQIT Session E | March – June 2020
Apr 11 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Important! Please note the specific times listed below: MANDATORY ORIENTATION: Monday, March 30, 2020, from 6:00-8:00 pm Wednesday Evenings with TWO Saturdays: April 1, 11, 15, 20, 22, 29 May 6, 11, 13, 20, 25, 27[...]
Apr
14
Tue
9:00 am Licensing Refresher | April 2020
Licensing Refresher | April 2020
Apr 14 @ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Stay current with child care licensing rules and regulations. This 3-hour training facilitated by IREE is designed to provide you with a refresher of licensing regulations related to the work you do, as well as[...]
Apr
15
Wed
6:00 pm EQIT Session E | March – June 2020
EQIT Session E | March – June 2020
Apr 15 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Important! Please note the specific times listed below: MANDATORY ORIENTATION: Monday, March 30, 2020, from 6:00-8:00 pm Wednesday Evenings with TWO Saturdays: April 1, 11, 15, 20, 22, 29 May 6, 11, 13, 20, 25, 27[...]

Community Resource Directory

Your Guide to local resources and supports for parents, Caregivers, and families.
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