BRIGHT FUTURES

BRIGHT FUTURES IS DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE LIVES OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN WESTERN COLORADO THROUGH INTEGRATED SERVICES IN EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE, EDUCATION, AND FAMILY SUPPORT. OPERATING AS AN EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL, FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER, AND THE LOCAL COORDINATING ORGANIZATION (LCO) FOR UNIVERSAL PRESCHOOL (UPK), THE ORGANIZATION SERVES DELTA, MONTROSE, OURAY, SAN MIGUEL, AND SAN JUAN COUNTIES.KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN THE PAST FISCAL YEAR:1) EARLY CHILDHOOD QUALITY & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT: 80% OF LICENSED CHILDCARE PROVIDERS ENGAGED IN QUALITY IMPROVEMENT THROUGH COLORADO SHINES. 93 EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHERS RECEIVED PYRAMID COACHING, POSITIVELY IMPACTING 1,337 CHILDREN. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED 69 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR EARLY EDUCATORS.2) FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES: TAILORED PROGRAMS STRENGTHENED FAMILIES AND IMPROVED OUTCOMES FOR VULNERABLE CHILDREN (BIRTH-18). THROUGH PARENTS AS TEACHERS (PAT), 364 HOME VISITS WERE CONDUCTED, AND 243 PARENTS ATTENDED WORKSHOPS. THE INTEGRATED SUPPORT SERVICES TEAM SERVED 39 CHILDREN WITH A HOLISTIC, CHILD-CENTERED APPROACH. $37,589 WAS DISTRIBUTED TO 8 FAMILIES THROUGH A "FLEX FUNDING" PROGRAM TO OFFER BASIC NEEDS SUCH AS HOUSING, FOOD, OR TRANSPORTATION.3) SAN MIGUEL COUNTY EARLY CHILDHOOD SUPPORT: UNDER THE STRONG START PROGRAM, BRIGHT FUTURES ADMINISTERED QUALITY IMPROVEMENT/CAPACITY-BUILDING GRANTS, TEACHER RECOGNITION AWARDS, AND CHILDCARE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. A TOTAL OF $733,785 IN GRANTS AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WAS AWARDED. 4) UNIVERSAL PRESCHOOL IMPLEMENTATION: AS THE STATE-APPOINTED LCO, THE ORGANIZATION SUPPORTED FAMILIES, SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND EARLY CHILDHOOD PROVIDERS IN FIVE COUNTIES TO ENSURE UPK ACCESS. 5) EARLY CHILDHOOD INFRASTRUCTURE & EXPANSION: PARTNERING WITH RURAL HOMES EARLY CHILDHOOD INITIATIVE, THE ORGANIZATION SUPPORTS HOMEOWNERSHIP PATHWAYS FOR FAMILY CHILD CARE PROVIDERS IN OURAY COUNTY. TEMPORARY STATE STIMULUS FUNDING ENABLED INITIATIVES SUCH AS FAMILY CHILD CARE HOME NAVIGATION, AND EXPANDED QUALITY IMPROVEMENT GRANTS. 6) AMERICORPS EARLY CHILDHOOD PILOT PROGRAM: RECRUITED 7 AMERICORPS MEMBERS AT 4 CHILDCARE SITES IN TELLURIDE, MONTROSE, DELTA, AND GUNNISON. 5 MEMBERS WERE RECRUITED LAST FISCAL YEAR, AND 1 GRADUATED FROM THE PROGRAM.BRIGHT FUTURES CONTINUES TO ADDRESS THE REGION'S CHILDCARE GAPS, ENHANCE FAMILY RESILIENCE, AND IMPROVE ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY EARLY LEARNING, ENSURING LONG-TERM BENEFITS FOR CHILDREN AND COMMUNITIES.