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Decades of underinvestment in affordable housing, recently cited by outgoing HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge, have dramatically impacted families with children. (Adobe Stock)

Renaissance marks quarter century serving homeless, low-income kids

This month marks the 25th anniversary of the Renaissance Children's Center, which serves low-income families and those experiencing homelessness with …

It costs single parents in Colorado $16,333 per year for center-based child care, which is 41% of the state's median income. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Colorado Ranks 15th for Child Well-Being

Colorado moved up one spot overall, from 16 to 15, in this year's Kids Count Data Book published by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, which ranks states …

It is estimated that some 89,000 Colorado children will grieve the death of a parent or sibling by age 18. (Adobe Stock)

Pandemic Funds Brought Grief Care to More Colorado Students

A groundbreaking bereavement service is expanding efforts to reach kids where they are: in schools, churches and other community sites. Emily Napier…

Free school meal waivers passed by Congress during the pandemic reduced childhood hunger, supported academic achievement and improved student behavior. (Adobe Stock)

Clock Ticking Down on School Meal Waivers

Time is running out for Congress to extend school meal waivers passed during the COVID public health emergency to help cafeterias find creative ways t…

There are currently 80,000 Colorado college students eligible for full SNAP benefits, the program formerly known as food stamps. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado Struggles to Get Students Back into College

DENVER -- Women and low-income students disproportionately put their college careers on hold during the pandemic, according to a new report. Of the 1…

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 prohibits discrimination based on disability. (Adobe Stock)

All Eyes on New Douglas County School Board Over Masks

DENVER -- Students with disabilities in Douglas County won some time after a federal judge ruled last week a new county health department order making…

Advocates for extending pandemic-related universal free school meals say the program helps remove the stigma of so-called

Free School Meal Expansion During Pandemic Spotlights Ongoing Need

AURORA, Colo. -- School districts across Colorado had to get creative to ensure families could access critical meals during pandemic-related closures…

Advocates are calling on state and federal lawmakers to shift policies, such as replacing the term

Children's Advocates Urge Lawmakers to Expand Access to Outdoor Learning

DENVER -- As Congress considers making significant investments in the nation's child-care system, children's advocates say now is the time to make …

Working Americans pay a higher tax rate on their wages than people who are wealthy pay for passive income gained through investments in stocks and bonds. (Adobe Stock)

Wealthy Coloradans Urge Congress to Raise Their Taxes

DENVER - Some 200 wealthy taxpayers and business owners, including 14 in Colorado, are asking Congress to raise their taxes. An open letter …

Before the pandemic, the percentage of Colorado children living in poverty fell from 17% in 2010 to 11% in 2019, a faster decline than in all but five other states and the District of Columbia. (Adobe Stock)

COVID Economic Shock Puts Decade of Children's Progress at Risk

DENVER - Colorado ranks 15th in the nation for overall child well-being, according to The Annie E. Casey Foundation's 2021 Kids Count Data Book…

Community child-care programs in El Paso County have added pollinator gardens, native plants and other natural elements to kids' outdoor play areas. (Pixabay)

Adding Nature to Kids' Play Boosts Education, Health

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Plastic- and rubber-dominated playgrounds in Colorado Springs have added winding pathways with tall grasses, gardens…

In 2017, Pueblo's poverty rate was nearly double the state rate, with nearly half of single parents with kids younger than age 6 living in poverty. (Pixabay)

Report: Free Child Care Could Remove Barriers for Pueblo Families

PUEBLO, Colo. -- A new Colorado Fiscal Institute report on working families in Pueblo, one of Colorado's poorest regions, shows investing in free or …

The average-size district could pay as much as $1.8 million to reopen all of its school buildings under the new safety guidelines established by health and education experts. (Julia M Cameron/Pexels)

Teachers Call on Congress to Fund Safely Reopening Schools

DENVER -- As school districts scramble to reopen in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic, educators in Colorado and across the nation say they'll …

During the last recession, 40,000 Colorado children fell into poverty, and the state's child poverty rate did not return to pre-recession levels for five years. (PxHere)

Groups Call for Federal Nutrition, Health Assistance

DENVER -- Children's advocates are urging Colorado's U.S. Senators -- Republican Cory Gardner and Democrat Michael Bennet -- to move quickly to pass …

Census numbers determine how the federal government distributes taxpayer dollars to states for education, food assistance, health care, housing and many children's programs. (U.S. Census Bureau)

Census 2020: Redoubling Efforts to Count Kids 5 and Younger

DENVER --The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way nonprofits delivering in-home early-childhood development programs connect with families. As the …

The U.S. Census Bureau has extended the deadline for collecting data to Oct. 31 because of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. (US Census Bureau)

Coronavirus Poses New Challenges for Counting Older Coloradans in Census

DENVER -- Colorado's foundations are going all in on efforts to ensure an accurate count in the 2020 census, and with daily life upended by the …

The 2020 census has suspended field operations, but forms still can be filled out online at 2020Census.gov, over the phone by calling the number provided in your invitation, and by paper through the mail. (Pixabay)

Census 2020: Risk of Undercount in Rural Colorado

STERLING, Colo. -- The census is supposed to be a complete count of everyone in the country, but people always are missed, and rural residents tend …

In 2016, census numbers were tapped to calculate and deliver more than $13 billion for Colorado programs, roughly $2,300 per resident. (Pixabay)

Census 2020: Fears Remain Even After Citizenship Question Blocked

DENVER -- The U.S. Supreme Court blocked the Trump administration's efforts to add a citizenship question to the 2020 Census, but immigrant rights …

Los centros de salud de Colorado est�n celebrando la Semana Nacional de los Centros de Salud Comunitaria (National Community Health Center Week) con caritas pintadas y otras festividades, en todo el estado.

Los Centros de Salud Comunitarios plantan árboles para “Arraigar” a las Comunidades

LAMAR, Colo. – Los centros de salud de Colorado están cumpliendo con el tema de este año en la Semana Nacional del Centro de Salud …

Children of color make up more than half of Colorado children living in poverty, yet account for just 41% of the state's total child population. (Pixabay)

Report: Colorado Still Middle of Pack for Child Well Being

DENVER – Colorado ranks above average when it comes to child well-being, according to The Annie E. Casey Foundation’s 2019 KIDS COUNT …

Colorado counties are getting food stamps to clients faster, and won more than $2 million in federal performance bonuses in 2016 and 2017. (USDA)

Room for Improvement in Colorado Food-Stamp Participation

DENVER – Colorado counties are making progress getting SNAP benefits – the program formerly known as food stamps – to low-income res…

Mercury pollution in the U.S. has declined by 80 percent since 2012. The neurotoxic heavy metal has been shown to disrupt fetal brain development. (Tony Webster/Wikimedia Commons)

Moms Not Backing Down Over EPA Mercury Pollution Proposal

LAFAYETTE, Colo. - Moms from Colorado and 14 other states testified this week in Washington, D.C., at the only hearing scheduled by the Environmental …

Cereal, with or without milk, is the top menu choice for Denver Public School students. (USDA)

School Cafeterias Open Again; Breakfast On the Menu

DENVER – Kids are back in school, and that means regular access to nutritious food for many Colorado children. Theresa Peña, regional …

Nearly 90 percent of white children in Colorado have at least one parent with some college education, but Latino parents are less likely to have experience enrolling in college. (White House)

Twice as Many Colorado Whites Graduate College Than Latinos

DENVER – More Latinos need to graduate from high school and college in order to have a fighting chance of earning a middle-class income…

Colorado ranks 17th nationally in child education, largely due to high rates of preschool enrollment relative to other states. (AECF)

Thousands of CO Kids at Risk of Not Being Counted in 2020 Census

DENVER – Colorado ranks 20th in child well being, according to The Annie E. Casey Foundation's 2018 KIDS COUNT Data Book that ranks all states …

High-quality early learning and care leads to improved educational achievement and health, and increased employment and future earnings. (Pixabay)

Bill Would Bump Up State Tax Credit to Help Families Pay for Child Care

DENVER — Lawmakers in Colorado have introduced a measure aimed at helping working families struggling with rising child care costs. The bill …

En general, uno de cada diez colorade�os actualmente luchan contra el hambre o enfrentan inseguridad alimentaria. (Pixabay)

Plan guía para nueva campaña que busca acabar con el hambre en Colorado

DENVER -- El “Plan de Colorado para Acabar con el Hambre” (The Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger), publicado ayer, exige una mayor …

Breastfeeding has been shown to improve the health of newborns and can lead to higher IQs. (Getty Images)

Colorado Celebrates the Benefits of Breastfeeding

DENVER - August is National Breastfeeding Awareness Month, and today at Cole Park in Alamosa, an event celebrates nature's solution for getting …

Sheila Custard, like many Coloradans � especially working single parents � struggles to find dependable and, most critically, affordable child care. (Joe Mahoney/Mahoney Images)

Addressing Colorado's 'Child Care Deserts'

DENVER - Sheila Custard says her stomach ties up in knots on weekends when she thinks ahead to Mondays and Tuesdays, the two days she struggles to …

Colorado's report card for delivering food stamps to struggling families is in, and there's good news but room for improvements. (Pixabay)

Food Stamps Reaching More Coloradans; State Still Ranks 45th Nationally

DENVER – More Colorado families who qualify for food stamps, the program known federally as SNAP, are getting assistance. That's according to …

A new study finds every very young children pick up on signals of nonverbal biases among adults. (Pixabay)

Study: Children Absorb Nonverbal Social Bias from Adults

DENVER – To adults, it's sometimes unclear how much goes over kids' heads and how much they're absorbing. According to research from the …

Student anxiety and incidents of harassment have increased since the 2016 presidential election, according to a survey of school personnel. (iStockphoto)

Survey: Student Anxiety, Harassment on Rise After Election

DENVER – This year's presidential election has had a big impact on the nation's schools, grades K-through-12, according to a national survey of …

One-year-old Alden Mock is tested for lead exposure at the Pediatric Associates office in Montrose. (Nathaniel Wick for The Colorado Trust)

Colorado Children at Risk for Lead Exposure Aren’t Being Tested

DENVER – Many children in Colorado are at a high risk for lead poisoning, but aren't being tested, according to analysis by The Colorado Trust…

A study has shown foster parents' need for more support and training. (Pixabay)

Study Shows Foster Parents' Need for More Support, Training

DENVER – Child welfare systems need to provide foster parents with more training to care for children who have experienced instability and traum…

North High School students in Denver demonstrate against the school-to-prison pipeline during the Dignity in Schools 2015 Week of Action. (Padres & J�venes Unidos)

Restorative Justice: Shutting Down the School-to-Prison Pipeline

LEADVILLE, CO – A school district in rural Colorado is shifting its approach to student discipline in an effort to keep more kids in school and …

Colorado health groups are crying foul over claims made by opponents of Amendment 72. (Pixabay)

Health Groups Challenge Cigarette Tax Opponent Claims

DENVER – Coloradans are enduring the typical onslaught of political advertising this election season, and many are familiar with arguments …

September is National Better Breakfast Month. (Pixabay)

Colorado Gets Jump on National Better Breakfast Month

DENVER – With summer vacation over and children back in school, it's fitting that September is National Better Breakfast Month. In 2007…

Varias organizaciones de Colorado celebran la Semana del Centro Nacional de Salud (National Health Center Week) repartiendo mochilas (�backpacks�) gratis con material escolar, para ni�os de bajos ingresos. (Pixabay)

Las Clínicas regalan a los niños un saludable regreso a clases

Denver, CO – Esta es la “National Health Centrer Week” (Semana del Centro Nacional de Salud), durante la que las clínicas …

Raising SNAP or food-stamp benefits would lead to healthier diets for low-income families, according to a new report. (Pixabay)

Report: For Healthier Diets, Raise SNAP Benefit Amounts

DENVER -- Giving low-income families a little more money to spend on food would lead to healthier meals and free up funds for other necessities such a…

More than 600 community sites across Colorado are set to provide meals to children up to 18 years old at no cost during summer months. (Pixabay)

Now Serving: Free, Healthy Summer Meals to Colorado Children

DENVER – Summer should be a fun time for all Colorado children, but many are at risk of going hungry when school cafeteria doors close…

Colorado students would benefit from stronger physical education requirements, according to a new report. (Pixabay)

Study: Colorado Students Would Benefit from Stronger Physical Education Policies

DENVER - Students across the nation would benefit from stronger physical-education requirements, but most states are dropping the ball on keeping …

Minority students are more than three times as likely to receive harsher punishments than white students in Denver's public schools, according to a report released Monday. (Pixabay)

Report Card: Racial Disparities Continue in Denver Schools

DENVER - Minority students are more than three times as likely to receive harsher punishments than white students in Denver's public schools…

Colorado ranks 46th in the nation connecting struggling families with food stamps, leaving more than $680 million in grocery sales on the table annually. (Hunger Free Colorado)

Colorado Lagging Behind Nation on Food Stamps

DENVER – People are at their best when they have enough to eat, but one in seven Coloradans still doesn’t know when or where to get a …

New research indicates such distractions as mobile phone use that interrupt a parent's care and bonding time with infants may impair a child's brain development. (Galatas Stock Image)

Parent Cell Phone Use Could Disrupt Child Brain Development

DENVER – Parents, put down your smartphones when you're taking care of your baby. That's the message from University of California …

Winter Break means no access to school meals for many kids in Colorado. (Solovyova/iStockphoto)

No Winter Break for Kids' Hunger

DENVER - Kids get a big break from schoolwork when winter holidays arrive, but it's no vacation for parents struggling to pay bills and put food on …

Safe Kids Worldwide has some easy and effective tips for drivers and parents to make sure all ghosts and goblins can trick-or-treat safely. Credit: Viafilms/iStockphoto

Tips for Keeping Trick-or-Treating Children Safe on Halloween

DENVER - Halloween can be one of the best nights of the year for children across America. But for parents, it can be nerve-wracking. On average…

Septiembre es el Mes de la Conciencia sobre Obesidad Infantil (National Childhood Obesity Awareness) en Colorado, donde 1 de cada 4 ni�os tienen sobrepeso. Cr�dito: IPG Gutemberg UK Ltd./iStockphoto.

En septiembre, Colorado enfoca su atención en la obesidad infantil

DENVER – Los niños de Colorado y demás estados son el centro de atracción durante septiembre, que ha sido declarado "Natonal …

PHOTO: The Colorado School Experience is a new video project by Great Education Colorado. The group is asking people to make videos illustrating the effects of lean school budgets on students. Photo credit: AiClassEland/Wikimedia Commons.

Colorado Education Gets its Close-up

DENVER - Education advocates in Colorado are moving beyond policy briefs and fact sheets. "The Colorado School Experience," a new video project…

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