In 2021, Colorado families dealt with social and economic hardships. These hardships were more pronounced for families of color, and those headed by single women.[1] A year later, the economy had shifted, with more job opportunities but also more inflation. To learn how Colorado families were doing,…
In 2022, many Colorado families were still financially stretched. Several boosts from earlier in the pandemic ended in 2021, such as stimulus checks and the expanded Child Tax Credit.[1] In our April 2022 survey, families were still not prospering financially. Forty-four percent of survey respondent…
Health care officials consider vaccines a crucial tool in preventing infections and severe illness from COVID-19. However, approved vaccines are not yet available for children under the age of five, and some families remain unsure about whether to vaccinate their children at all. The Centers for Dis…
The Colorado Sun | Erica Breunlin “If you know children well and notice changes, it’s just important to…make some connections as to what the cause is… Especially if you’re seeing some persistent changes, to really be thinking about whether those are just situational or whether they are sig…
Staying optimistic during a pandemic is a challenge for anyone, but the difficulties of finding appropriate child care and transitioning to remote learning have been especially hard for diverse-speaking families. About 28% of Colorado children under eight are diverse language learners (DLLs),…
“Despite clear evidence acknowledging racism as a major life stressor for Black youth, theoretical models of early childhood adversity have largely neglected the multifaceted influence of racism on mental health outcomes.” Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) lead to increased …
“When it comes to how mothers and their infants fare in pregnancy and delivery, race—or, more precisely, racism—matters.” —from Maternal and Child Health Inequities Emerge Even Before Birth The health and well-being of mother and baby are so tightly connected and inequitie…
Why full-day kindergarten matters Full-day kindergarten (FDK) is beneficial for children, parents, and teachers. Last year, less than half (41.3%) of Colorado children met all kindergarten entry expectations. At later grades, academic gaps become increasingly harder to close, making access to early …
