In the 2007 legislative year, The Colorado Legislature passed House Bill 07-1062 (see corp docs) which created an integrated system of 31 early childhood councils across the state. “The general assembly hereby finds and declares that there is a critical need to increase services for young children and their families….It is therefore in the state’s best interest to establish a comprehensive system of early childhood councils to increase and sustain the availability, accessibility, capacity, and quality of early childhood services throughout the state.”
The 34 councils are organized under the Early Childhood Councils Leadership Alliance (ECCLA), a Colorado nonprofit charged with advocating for the work of the councils as well as to ensure that the work of the councils is coordinated and mutually reinforcing.
The Early Childhood Leadership Commission (ECLC) is the legislative oversight committee for both ECCLC and the 31 early childhood councils and is made up of Governor appointed representatives from business, nonprofits, early childhood councils, funders, and early childhood experts.
The Early Childhood Colorado Partnership is a broad and diverse network of state and local agencies, nonprofits, early childhood councils, universities, and beyond working to advance the vision of the Early Childhood Colorado Framework statewide. The Partnership provides the space and conditions for diverse partners across the comprehensive early childhood system – encompassing health, mental health, family support and early learning – to come together to identify common results, share best practices, and implement strategies to improve system effectiveness for child and family well-being.
The Early Childhood Summit is a group of early childhood policy leaders to review and give feedback into pending legislation that impacts families and young children. It is comprised of a diverse group of early childhood programs and policy experts. Contact co-chairs: Laura Knudtson or Olivia Coyne.
Colorado Children’s Campaign is a statewide policy and advocacy organization.
Colorado Center for Law and Policy is concerned with policy and legislation which impacts children and families.