Project Overview
This project aims to build infrastructure between child welfare and early childhood service systems in Colorado so that more children in need benefit from supports such as early intervention (EI), Head Start, Early Head Start, and quality childcare.
Project Timeframe/Years: October 1, 2011 – February 28, 2013
Project Summary:
Very young children involved with child welfare are at high risk for poor developmental, social-emotional, and educational outcomes, yet too few receive early care and education services. The CO-PIECES project is one of eight infrastructure-building grants between child welfare and early education partners funded by the federal Children’s Bureau. CO PIECES aims to strengthen state-level partnerships and engage three local county communities in developing model partnerships and strategies to successfully implement the Strengthening Families through Early Care and Education framework, developed by the Center for the Study of Social Policy (2004).
We are conducting the project’s process and outcomes evaluation.
Participating County Communities:
- El Paso, CO
- Fremont, CO
- Jefferson, CO
Grant Partners:
Colorado Divisions of Child Welfare, Child Care, Behavioral Health, and Public Health and Environment, Children’s Trust Fund; Lt. Governor’s Early Childhood Leadership Commission/Early Childhood Councils; Marsico Institute and the Butler Institute for Families at the University of Denver
Funded/Sponsored by: Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Children’s Bureau
Contact Information: Julie.McCrae@du.edu or (303) 871-4533
Research & Evaluation
We are conducting a statewide assessment to understand the “landscape” of child welfare and early childhood collaboration across Colorado. Directors from Child Welfare, Head Start, Early Head Start, and Early Intervention are completing an online survey, and focus groups will be held with Directors of agencies who serve Hispanic and Latino families specifically.
Assessment topics include:
- Service access and enrollment
- Benefits and drawbacks to 2003 and 2004 CAPTA and IDEA amendments to refer children with substantiated maltreatment to early intervention
- Formal collaboration mechanisms such as inter-agency agreements and shared resources
- Salient child welfare outcomes among 0 to 5-year-olds, such as rates of out-of-home placement or re-involvement
Results will be available this spring.
Please contact Julie.McCrae@du.edu or (303) 871-4533 for more information.
Resources & Publications
Check our our Evaluation PIECES Newsletter!
As the Colorado PIECES project evaluator, we have released the most current project update, highlighting project descriptions and results of a statewide needs assessment from agency directors:
Also take a look at our Part I: PIECES Collaboration Needs Assessment Report!
