The West Steps

EP 4 : Conversations on early care and education in Colorado

December 02, 2021 Colorado Children's Campaign Episode 4
The West Steps
EP 4 : Conversations on early care and education in Colorado
Show Notes

In traditional early care settings, the focus is primarily on educating the child. However, from what we know about our education system, the involvement of parents and caregivers in a child’s earliest years of education is essential to their success. Home visiting programs work to create this reality, especially for immigrant and refugee families who face numerous barriers to accessing high-quality care for their young children. Home visiting programs allow for the whole family, whole child approach to early childhood that House Bill 1304 intended to establish, and including home visiting as a part of universal preschool is essential for equipping parents with the skills they need to best support their children in their education. 

Episode 3 of our miniseries on the new Department of Early Childhood features a topic never before discussed on The West Steps: home visiting. We are joined by Melanie Collier, Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) Coordinator at the Spring Institute; and Katira Egal, a home visitor at the Spring Institute. Melanie and Katira open the episode with an informative overview of the differences between home visiting and other child care settings. They also describe their involvement in the transition to the new Department of Early Childhood, as well as their concerns and hopes for the future of child care in our state. As families from all over the world continue to make Colorado their home, it is critical that we provide their children with opportunities to gain the skill set they need to enter kindergarten fully prepared.

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