Welcome to the Pueblo County Early Childhood Resource page. This page provides resources for parents and caregivers of young children in Pueblo County to help care and nurture the community’s youth.

It's important to promote physical and emotional wellness for young people by helping them to:

  • Learn what a healthy relationship looks like.
  • Identify personal relationship standards.
  • Effectively communicate these standards to others.

This webpage is updated monthly. To suggest information to include, please email [email protected].

 
 Cartoon group of preschool kids and teacher. Teacher reading for kids.

Job Board

Looking for employment caring for children? Check our job board for Early Childhood Job Opportunities in Pueblo County, CO.

Children First Chatter. Your Leader in Early Childhood Information in Southeastern Colorado

The Children First Department @ Pueblo Community College host's a weekly podcast discussing all things early childhood (prenatal – 8yrs). The Department's motto is ‘Your leader in Early childhood information’.

Prenatal

The prenatal period sets the stage for a child’s healthy start in this world. Taking care of yourself and your unborn baby while pregnant through regular prenatal care visits and making healthy choices can set both up for success after birth. It will also help a child’s ability to eat, move, grow, communicate, socialize, and learn once born.

 

Family Planning

Family Planning includes planning pregnancies, including the time between pregnancies, and preventing unwanted pregnancies by using a contraceptive method, such as birth control. Family Planning also includes physical and emotional health associated with sexuality.

 

Physical health can be improved by:

  • Eating healthy, well-balanced meals.
  • Engaging in routine exercise.
  • Avoiding use of nicotine-containing products, drugs, and alcohol.
  • Being aware of the risk for breast and cervical cancer.
  • Obtaining routine health screenings.
  • Being aware of the risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and receiving testing or treatment when appropriate.

 

Individuals that are emotionally healthy with their sexuality:

  • Communicate openly with partners.
  • Observe and honor sexual rights of others.

Visit the Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment’s Go Ask Tara website for information about sexual health, birth control, STIs, and pregnancy for young people and adults.

Family Planning and Pre-Pregnancy Counseling

Clinic Hours:

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Wednesday : 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Clinic appointments can be made by calling 719-583-4380.

 

Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC)

Whether pregnant, postpartum or raising a child younger than five, you can receive nutrition education, breastfeeding support, free healthy foods and referrals healthcare/community resources. Apply for WIC at www.coloradowicsignup.org

 

 

Birth (Zero to Two Years Old)

The weeks and months after delivery can bring questions for even the most experienced parents. During this time, parents should focus on four basics: self-care, sleep, feeding, and bonding with the baby. Although these seem easy to remember, sometimes parents need support and help figuring things out. Don’t be afraid to seek help, whether baby-related or personal.

Birth Certificates

Applications and Certificates can be obtained with appropriate identification and proof of relationship at the Pueblo Vital Records Office.

 

Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC)

Whether pregnant, postpartum or raising a child younger than five, you can receive nutrition education, breastfeeding support, free healthy foods and referrals healthcare/community resources. Apply for WIC at www.coloradowicsignup.org

 

CDC Milestone Tracker App

Milestones matter. Track your child’s milestones from age two months to five years with the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) easy-to-use illustrated checklists. Get tips for encouraging your child’s development and find out what to do if ever concerned about their development.

 

Ages and Stages

Provides reliable, accurate developmental and social-emotional screening for children between birth and age six. Drawing on parents’ expert knowledge, Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) has been designed to pinpoint developmental progress and help catch delays in young children—paving the way for meaningful next steps in learning, intervention, or monitoring.

 

 

NTSOC ABA Therapy

Nursing & Therapy Service of Colorado’s ABA program focuses on trauma-informed care in collaboration with existing therapies that uses a naturalistic, play-based format while teaching functional communication, social, and coping skills.

Applied Behavior Analysis Therapy is considered the “gold standard therapy” for helping people with developmental disorders gain new skills and reduce unsafe behaviors. NTSOC’s ABA therapy branch is provided in-home or in the community, based on the needs of your child.

Lead Prevention Program

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), there are at least four million households with children that are being exposed to high levels of lead. Visit the page for information on where to locate lead in and around the home, how to test for lead, and how to reduce risks.

 

 

Safe Sleep for Babies

Every year there are thousands of sleep-related deaths among babies. Learn how to help prevent this.

 

 

Health First Colorado

Medicaid in Colorado is known as Health First Colorado.

 

Children with Special Healthcare Needs

Health care professionals support families to manage a wide range of questions, concerns, and services for children with special health care needs. Visit the page for information on eligibility, screening resources, and specialty clinics and services.

 

Vaccinations

Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment offers low-cost vaccinations to families of children up to age 19 through a program called Vaccines for Children, or the VFC program. This program provides vaccines for children on Medicaid, children who are underinsured or uninsured, or those that are Alaskan Native/American Indian. The health department also offers vaccines to children with CHP+ or private insurance.

Vaccines protect against disease and keep children healthy. Getting vaccinated is an important part of childhood.  If vaccines are given according to schedule, children are protected against fourteen different vaccine-preventable diseases by the age of two.

 

Vaccine-Preventable Diseases

  • Chickenpox
  • Diphtheria
  • Influenza (Flu)
  • Haemophilus Influenza B
  • Hepatitis A and B
  • Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
  • Measles
  • Meningitis

 

  • Mumps
  • Polio
  • Pneumonia
  • Rotavirus
  • Rubella
  • Tetanus
  • Pertussis (Whooping Cough)

 

Vaccines for Preteens and Teens

Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) is a required booster for middle school.  The first dose of HPV and meningococcal vaccines are recommended for kids between ages 11 and 12. HPV protects against cervical and certain other cancers. Meningococcal conjugate and meningococcal B vaccines protect against meningitis and are recommended for teenagers going to college.

 

How Vaccines Work

Vaccinations come in two forms: inactivated and live virus.

Inactivated vaccines use the killed version of the virus being vaccinated for. These vaccines cannot cause disease. The child’s immune system is exposed to small doses of the inactive virus, which slowly allows the body to start building protection, or immunity, against that virus.

Live virus vaccines such as measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), and varicella (chickenpox), contain a weakened virus designed to stimulate the child’s immune response.

Vaccines are the safest, most effective way to prevent these diseases from reappearing and spreading again. Minor side effects from shots such as pain at the injection site and low-grade fever are common but resolve quickly and can be treated at home.

Many misconceptions related to vaccines exist. If you have any questions or need further guidance, contact your primary care provider or the health department at 719-583-4380.

Immunization Clinic

Clinic Hours:

Monday and Thursday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Wednesday, Tuesday and Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Clinic appointments can be made by calling 719-583-4380.

 

Immunization Schedule

Easy-to-read schedule for all immunizations.

 

Early Childhood - Youth

Forming caring, nurturing relationships and experiences in the early years of life is an important part of raising a child. To help an early learner, talk to them, keep them moving, give them a variety of sensory experiences, and teach them social skills.  This combination of activities makes connections in the developing brain, which can lead to success in school and life beyond that. It is important that this is provided by all involved caregivers.

 

Are you looking for childcare?

 

 

 

 

Learn about CCCAP (Español)

 

Universal Preschool (UPK) Colorado

Beginning in the 2023-2024 school year, families in Colorado can receive at least 15 hours per week of free, voluntary preschool for 4 year olds through the Universal Preschool (UPK) Colorado program. 3 year olds with qualifying factors are eligible for 10 free hours per week. UPK Colorado is administered by the newly-created Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC).

 

Colorado Childcare Assistance Program

The Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP) helps eligible families pay a portion of childcare costs while they are working, searching for work, or in school. Visit the website for information on eligibility, how to apply, and help choosing a childcare provider.

 

CACFP Participation in Colorado

Provides an opportunity to see whether licensed child care providers serving children birth through five are participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) across the state. The data used to create this map was from March 2021. Includes overlays of community food deserts and poverty levels.

 

Child Care Aware

The organization leads projects that increase quality and availability of childcare, undertakes research, and advocates for child care policies that positively impact the lives of children and families.

 

Colorado Shines

Colorado Shines is a quality rating and improvement system for Colorado’s licensed early care and learning programs. Using proven methods, it measures quality based on how an early learning program supports children, families, and professionals.

 

Childcare map

Use this interactive map to find the perfect childcare fit for your family.

Are you caring for a child?

Provider Coaching

Reach out to Children First for childcare provider coaching, resources, trainings, and regulation guidance. Contact Children First for information on becoming a childcare provider.

 

Childcare Facility Inspections

Childcare facilities include full-day centers, preschools, before and after school programs, and summer camps. Health inspections help reduce risk of exposure to infectious diseases and food-borne illnesses. Visit the page for information on health regulations, breastfeeding in childcare, and trainings for providers.

 

Vaccination Record Guidelines

Childcare centers are required to ensure all enrolled children are up to date on immunizations needed by age. Follow the easy immunization schedule for guidance.

 

Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP) Contracting

If selected as the caregiver for a child enrolled in CCCAP, child care providers have the option to become a CCCAP provider. For more information on this process, visit the website or call 719-225-6865.

 

Mental Health Consultations

Health Solutions offers no-cost services to help caregivers build skills when working with youth. Email [email protected] for more information on available services and how to get started.

 

Want to know how else PDPHE is working on high quality childcare?

Communities That Care (CTC)

Goal: To prevent youth substance use, delinquency, and violence by minimizing negative things in the environment (risk factors) and increasing positive things in a young person’s life (protective factors). Visit the page for youth adviser application, testimonials, and what CTC is doing in the community.

 

Pueblo Early Childhood Council

Visit the website to learn more about council membership and focus areas of the council.

 

Family-Friendly Pueblo County (FFPC)

Visit the page for information on adopting family-friendly workplace practices and quality childcare.

 

Community Family Pre-School Resources

School Readiness Programs

Experts say 90% of all brain development occurs by the age of five. Education is very important in the early years as children are at risk of falling behind in kindergarten. Visit the Catholic Charities website for information on Parents as Teachers (PAT) and Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) programs.

 

Headstart

Operating a federally funded program for low income families with preschool aged children. For more information, call 719-420-0125.

 

El Centro de los Pobres

Provides aid to more than 5,000 families of migrant workers in the Diocese of Pueblo. For more information, call 719-947-3109.

 

Boone Migrant Headstart

This program serves children from six weeks to six years old whose families are engaged primarily in agricultural work.

 

 

Community Family Resources

 

Food Access Resources

Visit the Care and Share website for more information on finding food in your neighborhood, how to donate, and local food pantry schedules.

 

Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC)

Whether pregnant, postpartum or raising a child younger than five, you can receive nutrition education, breastfeeding support, free healthy foods and referrals healthcare/community resources. Apply for WIC at www.coloradowicsignup.org

 

Hope for Children

Kinship Family Resource Center offers a variety of supportive services for grandparents raising grandchildren and others who have stepped up to raise children when birth parents are unable or unwilling to provide care.

 

Youth and Adult Care Food Program

With funding from the USDA, the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) improves quality of meals served to kids and adults across Colorado. Funding allows for child care centers, family child care homes, at-risk afterschool programs, Head Start and outside-school-hours programs, adult day care centers, and emergency and homeless shelters to serve healthy snacks and meals.

 

Choose Pueblo

A County-wide collaboration, highlighting events and activities for families in one place

 

Community Family Mental Health and Development Resources

Pueblo Community Health Center

Pueblo Community Health Center (PCHC) offers a Patient-Centered Medical Home for all who seek care. Their practice model emphasizes a personal relationship with a Primary Care Provider (PCP) who leads and coordinates services with the help of a team of professionals. The goal is to offer better care for the patient. Importance is placed on comprehensive, continuous attention to the patient, for improved health outcomes.

 

CDC Developmental Milestones Checklists

Skills such as taking a first step, smiling for the first time, and waving “bye-bye” are called developmental milestones. Children reach milestones in how they play, learn, speak, act, and move (crawling, walking, etc.).

 

Shandy Clinic for Developmental Therapy

This clinic provides children with therapy and brings peace and hope to the family.

 

Early Childhood Therapy Programs

Children and adolescence face challenges at all ages that are unique to genetics, individual development, past experiences, and family culture. Therapists, case managers, and psychiatrists work together to provide services for children between birth and 18 years of age.

 

Pueblo Everyday Heroes

Adults play a big role in setting and outlining clear standards and expectations for behavior, communicating the importance of academic performance, supporting youth in meeting these expectations, and making sure youth share these values. Visit the campaign website for more information on how to get involved.

 

Early Intervention and Family Support Program

The education and support families receive through Early Intervention is the first step in becoming the strongest advocate in a child’s life. This strength and knowledge will continue to serve families as children continue to grow. All services are provided in a natural environment and are designed to follow the daily routines of the child.

 

Community Family Security Resources

Pueblo Child Advocacy Center

The Pueblo Child Advocacy Center's mission is to provide prevention education and a safe environment for an investigation of child abuse.

Mariposa Center for Safety

Mariposa Center for Safety provides a 24-hour crisis line which is answered by trained advocates.

The Domestic Violence Crisis Shelter offers emergency refuge, domestic violence counseling, legal advocate assistance and referral, community referral, and court accompaniment. The Domestic Violence Crisis Shelter can only offer housing to and assist women who are victims of domestic violence and their children (including males up to age 17).

Community Youth Activities Resources

YMCA

The YMCA seeks to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to participate in programs and services that assist in living fuller, healthier lives. Lower-income youth, teens, seniors, and families throughout the community are provided the opportunity to participate in more programs and services than ever before. Through the Financial Assistance program, the YMCA serves all people regardless of ability to pay. Eligibility is based on total earnings, extenuating circumstances, and available funds.

 

Library District

The library serves as a foundation for the community by offering well-equipped and maintained facilities, outstanding collections, and well-trained employees who provide expert service. The library district offers book and video rentals and family-passes to the zoo and the Children’s Museum.

Mentoring Programs

Mentoring is defined as a trusting relationship where a supportive individual provides support, guidance, and encouragement to youth. Mentors are committed to developing a relationship with mentees and helps mentees reach their potential and transition successfully into adulthood. Common types of structured mentoring include group, peer, and one-to-one mentoring. Mentoring programs can also have specific goals including academic achievement, career preparation, or behavior modification.

 

After School Alliance

Afterschool programs keep kids safe, inspire them to learn, and help working families. For every child in a program, two are waiting to get in. After School Alliance is working to change that.