Healthy Child Care Colorado

For 30 years, Healthy Child Care Colorado (HCCC) has worked where health and early childhood meet. Our story began in 1995, when the national Healthy Child Care America initiative was created. A year later, in 1996, Healthy Child Care Colorado was formed at the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment, led by a cross-sector committee. Collaboration has been at the heart of our work ever since. In 2001, HCCC joined Qualistar Colorado and partnered with Children's Hospital Colorado to provide training and technical assistance to Child Care Health Consultants (CCHCs). In 2011, we conducted a statewide needs assessment to set the priority areas that would guide our work.

In 2019, Healthy Child Care Colorado became an independent nonprofit organization, and our growth sped up. In 2020, the Pyramid Plus Center moved to HCCC, and we launched the Lactation Friendly Child Care Recognition. That same year, we co-founded the Keep the Lights On Fund to give child care programs quick grants during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, we established Colorado's Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Network Hub. In 2022, we launched the Pyramid Facilitator Certification Program. In 2023, we led a statewide evaluation of the CCHC system, made recommendations to improve it, and prioritized fair access to support for children with special health needs in early learning settings.

As we celebrate this milestone, our commitment holds: advancing equity, support, and opportunities for early childhood professionals, children, and families across Colorado. With your support, we will keep building safe, supportive, and healthy early childhood settings and systems where children and professionals learn and grow for the next 30 years and beyond.