Children First @ Pueblo Community College

Mission Statement

It is the mission of Children First as the leader in early childhood information in Southern Colorado to:
- Establish partnerships
- Expand collaborative services
- Enrich communities
- Ensure opportunities for early childhood professionals
- Enhance the availability of quality care for young children
- Educate parents and students about the importance of quality child care

Organization Description

Established in 1995, the Children First Department is the regional Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) for the following eleven counties: Baca, Bent, Chaffee, Crowley, Custer, Fremont, Huerfano, Las Animas, Otero, Prowers and Pueblo. In the broadest sense, the field of CCR&R does whatever it takes to make child care work for students, families and communities. Additionally, we provide assistance for the Early Childhood professions. Staffed by six highly qualified and experienced early childhood professionals, and completely grant funded, the department provides a variety of services to community that help support families. These services include, but are not limited to, customized child care referrals to licensed providers, assistance accessing community resources; professional training opportunities for early childhood professionals, coaching/mentoring to improve the quality of services offered by those professionals and helping children achieve school readiness. We also provide consultation for families on interviewing child care providers and help them learn what to look for in a quality child care setting (formally known as ‘day care’).
The Children First department is also the home for the Pueblo Early Childhood Council (PECC) which serves Pueblo County. The Pueblo Early Childhood Council is one of the 17 original Colorado Community Consolidated Child Care Pilots (now referred to as ‘Councils’), established by the Colorado General Assembly in 1997. The Council is a group of community agencies committed to working together to improve the lives of all Pueblo children. There are 34 total Councils in the state of Colorado. Our Council focuses on comprehensive systems building to brighten the future for all Pueblo’s children. As the Council, we collaborate with more than 225 community partners. This strengthens our efforts to build a quality early childhood system in our community and in Colorado.

Organization Type

Early Childhood Council, Higher Education Institution/University, Child Care Resource and Referral and UPK Local Coordinating Organization for (Bent Baca Crowley Otero Prowers and Pueblo)

Organization Contact Info