About the
Joint Initiatives for Youth and Families’ early childhood program, Alliance for Kids is El Paso County’s Early Childhood Council, and brings together agencies and individuals to work collaboratively on a seamless system of care for young children and their families in El Paso County to address the following:
- 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 AFK Council seeks to impact the local early childhood system by addressing its work in the following three areas: Learning & Development; Family Support & Education; and Health & Well-Being.
Alliance for Kids oversees a wide variety of programs, participates in community partnerships, and provides professional training and coaching designed to improve the quality of early education and child care in our region.
- View the JI/AFK 2020-23 Strategic Plan.
- View the JI/AFK 2019-20 Annual Report.
- View the JI/AFK 2020-21 Annual Report.
Our History
The Alliance for Kids was created in 1996 to ensure that all children in El Paso County have access to quality child care.
The El Paso County Department of Human Services (EPC-DHS) and local early childhood professionals developed a strategic plan and process for implementing quality early care and education programs. Over 50 key stakeholders formed the Alliance including parents, early care and education providers, school districts, higher education institutions, health organizations and community agencies.
Where we Are Today
Alliance for Kids (AFK) is the early childhood program of Joint Initiatives for Youth and Families (JI), and we are centrally located near I-25 and Woodmen Road. JI works as a collaborative team to meet the needs of our community.
El Paso County by the Numbers
46,414
Children under five in El Paso County
22,146
Current capacity for licensed for child care.
2,623
Children receiving Colorado Child Care Assistance Program subsidies.
470
Number of programs – both centers and family child care homes.
