Welcome to

El Paso County's Early Childhood Council

Alliance for Kids works with local service providers and organizations to support young children and families in El Paso County to:

Ensure that each and every child experiences an equitable, high quality continuum of services and supports that leads to success in school and life.
Improve the quality of early learning environments to prepare young children to enter kindergarten; build the resources and skills of families; and ensure that families have access to social, physical, and mental health services.
Be a hub for partners, providers, caregivers, policy makers, and business leaders to coordinate, collaborate, and align resources.

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.

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.

Alliance for Kids is an initiative of its fiscal agent Joint Initiatives for Youth and Families.

Questions & Answers
to help you get started...

Can you help me find child care?

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.

Do you offer parenting classes?

Alliance for Kids maintains a calendar of parenting classes. Some are offered by our Family Support & Education Specialist, and others are offered by partner organizations. Visit FamilySPEAK under the Parents & Families menu for more information or go directly to FamilySPEAK.org.

How do I start a child care business?

First, you will need to find out if you are required to become licensed. Please visit our Opening a Child Care page for complete details. If you do need to be licensed, there is contact information on that page for our Director Coach who will assist you, as well as the local agency that handles licensing (Institute for Racial Equity & Excellence – IREE).

Do you offer scholarships?

Yes. Alliance for Kids has several different early childhood education scholarships depending upon the need of each student. Our Professional Development Specialist can can provide guidance. For more information, visit the Scholarships page under Providers | Leaders | Teachers.

Can you help me navigate Colorado Shines?

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.

How do I join Alliance for Kids Council?

“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