Excitement around the ECCBC Comprehensive System Development Initiative continued in 2008.  The highlights would not have been possible without the continued support from our partners through out the county.

• The Expert Committee, comprised of 25 early childhood program experts from around Boulder County, completed their assigned task of recommending program and service priorities for a comprehensive early childhood system.

• The Advisory Council convened in July 2008 to continue the critical work of the Expert Committee and its membership is comprised, to a large extent, from people who sat on the Expert Committee.

• October 30, 2008, ECCBC hosted a community event:  A Community Conversation about Children in Poverty in Boulder County and featured the Honorable Barbara O’Brien, Lt. Governor, as well as Alex Medler from  The Colorado Children’s Campaign and Frank Waterous from The Bell Policy Center. Over 100 people from across Colorado attended.

• Richard Garcia, Executive Director of the Colorado Statewide Parent Coalition, joined the Board of Directors in January 2008.  A continuing goal of the Board is to increase representation from early childhood’s diverse stakeholders and Richard’s appointment is seen as a major step toward meeting this goal. 

• Paperwork was submitted to the IRS to complete the merger of County Kids First and ECCBC which will result in ECCBC having independent status as a non-profit 501 (c) 3.

• The Professional Development Program, in collaboration with our county partners, delivered over 1400 hours of quality improvement programming at no cost to early childhood providers.

• Over $23,000 in financial incentives were distributed to 54 licensed childcare providers in Boulder County.

• The School Readiness Quality Improvement project completed its last year with the second cohort of child care providers to complete the three year Qualistar rating program.  A third cohort will be chosen in 2009.

• The Providers Advancing School Outcomes (PASO) continued to promote and improve quality in informal child care settings in the Latina community in Boulder County.

2009 will build on the successes of 2008 and we welcome your participation in this groundbreaking work.

Respectfully,

Steve Callander, Board President                                       Bobbie Watson, Director