Index: Education
Education - Early Childhood
What We Measured:
Children's Health:
Highlights:
- From 2002 to 2011, the average monthly number of Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) cases, or families helped, decreased 55%. Beginning in January 2012, the Larimer County Department of Human Services announced there was no longer a waiting list for this program. (Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP))
- In 2010, approximately 53.7% of Larimer County 3- and 4-year-olds were enrolled in nursery school or preschool compared to 47.6% in the United States and 49.8% in Colorado. (Enrollment - Preschool)
Children's Health:
- The greatest number of birth defects in Larimer County between 2002 and 2006 were due to heart anomalies. (Birth Defects)
- Since 2000, the Infant Mortality Rate in Larimer County has met the Healthy People 2010 Objective of 4.5 or less in 2004, 2007 and 2009. (Infant Mortality)
- Larimer County has consistently had a lower percentage of low birth weight babies than Colorado. (Low Birthweight Babies)
Related Studies:
- 2011 KIDS COUNT in Colorado! details how Colorado's children have been affected by the Great Recession. (Colorado Children's Campaign)
- The State of Children and Youth in Larimer County (July 2009) [pdf], this report, prepared by Healthier Communities Coalition of Larimer County, offers a snapshot of how children and youth in Larimer County are doing at the beginning of the 21st century.
- Math and Science in Preschool: Policies and Practice (March 2009) [pdf], addresses the development of mathematics and science understanding in preschool children, including recommendations for early education in these areas. (National Institute for Early Education Research)
- The State of Preschool ranks Colorado 36th in the nation in 2010 for state spending on preschool education. (National Institute for Early Education Research)
- Setting the Foundation [pdf] (March 2007) - This report explores the P-20 Educational System, which is designed to integrate learning from preschool through post-secondary education training.
- Proven Benefits of Early Childhood Interventions found that early childhood intervention programs yield benefits in academics, behavior, delinquency, and labor market success. (June 2006 - RAND Corporation, Karoly, Kilburn, and Cannon)
- Stair Steps to Quality: A Guide for States and Communities Developing Quality Rating Systems for Early Care and Education [pdf] (July 2005) - this is a "how-to guide" for early childhood development professionals, child care resource and referral staff, child advocates, business leaders, and elected officials to creating quality rating systems for early childhood education.
- The 2011 KIDS COUNT Data Book - this annual report, released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, reports on national trends in child well-being. In addition to the report, customized graphs, maps, ranked lists, and state profiles can be generated through the online KIDS COUNT Data Center.
- Study of Projected Demand and Impact of Early Care and Education Services in Larimer County, Colorado [pdf] (August 2010) - prepared by JVA Consulting for The Early Childhood Council of Larimer County.
- NICHHD Study of Early Child Care & Youth Development - this study, supported by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, examines how variations in child care relate to children's development.
Related issues within Compass:
- Child Abuse
- Education: K-12
- Individual Economy: Food Stamps, TANF, Free/Reduced School Lunches
- Juvenile Crime: Arrests, Charges Filed, Probation
Additional Resources:
- Child Care Bureau - this Department of Health & Human Services website contains datasets, grant announcements, and information on the federal Child Care and Development Fund.
- Colorado Department of Human Services: Division of Child Care
- Early Childhood Council (ECC) of Larimer County
- Healthier Communities Coalition of Larimer County (HCC) - is a broad-based coalition of nonprofit, business, government and citizen leaders focused on improving the health and well-being of Larimer County residents.
- Larimer County Child Care Resource and Referral - (The Early Childhood Council of Larimer County)
- Larimer County Health Department - information on immunizations.
- Larimer County Human Services Department - information on basic assistance programs, including the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP).
- National Association for the Education of Young Children
- National Child Care Association
- National Child Care Information Center - this United States Department of Health & Human Services website contains links to child care resources.
- National Institute on Early Childhood Development & Education
- Zero to Three - information on infants and toddlers.