Invest In Kids

INVEST IN KIDS PARTNERS WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO ENSURE THE SUCCESS OF EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMS THAT IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF COLORADO'S YOUNGEST CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES.

THE INCREDIBLE YEARS (IY) IS A SUITE OF PROVEN PREVENTION PROGRAMS THAT INCREASE A CHILD'S SUCCESS AT SCHOOL AND AT HOME BY PROMOTING POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS. THE PROGRAM'S GOAL IS TO IMPROVE SCHOOL PERFORMANCE, REDUCE CHILD BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS, PROMOTE POSITIVE AND CONSISTENT DISCIPLINE, AND SUPPORT CAREGIVERS THROUGH A HOLISTIC APPROACH INVOLVING CHILDREN, PARENTS, AND TEACHERS. THIS EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAM IS MADE UP OF THREE DISTINCT COMPONENTS THAT WORK TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE OUTSTANDING OUTCOMES: PRESCHOOL PARENT PROGRAM (PARENT PROGRAM; STRENGTHENS POSITIVE PARENTING SKILLS); DINOSAUR SCHOOL (SKILL BUILDING FOR CHILDREN, TAUGHT IN CLASSROOMS); AND TEACHER CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT (TCM). DURING THE 2021-2022 PROGRAM YEAR SERVICES WERE OFFERED ACROSS 21 COUNTIES IN COLORADO WITH THE SUPPORT OF INVEST IN KIDS. - DINOSAUR SCHOOL NUMBERS SERVED: 382 TEACHERS AND EDUCATIONAL STAFF SUPPORTED THE DELIVERY OF DINOSAUR SCHOOL TO 5038 STUDENTS. - TEACHER CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT (TCM): SERVED 55 TEACHERS AND EDUCATIONAL STAFF, SUPPORTING 777 STUDENTS. - PARENT PROGRAM NUMBERS SERVED: 73 PARENT PROGRAM FACILITATORS DELIVERED PARENT PROGRAM TO 470 PARENTS ACROSS 49 UNIQUE PARENT GROUPS IN COLORADO.

NURSE-FAMILY PARTNERSHIP (NFP) IS A COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSING PROGRAM THAT TRANSFORMS LIVES THROUGH IMPROVED PREGNANCY OUTCOMES, PROMOTION OF CHILD HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY FOR FAMILIES. NFP'S LIFE-CHANGING IMPACT FOR MOTHERS AND BABIES IS DEMONSTRATED THROUGH LONG-TERM, RIGOROUS SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH. NFP PARTNERS HIGHLY TRAINED PUBLIC HEALTH NURSES WITH FIRST-TIME MOMS LIVING IN POVERTY TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVES AND CREATE BETTER FUTURES FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR BABIES. NFP IS ONE OF THE FEW PROGRAMS IN THE COUNTRY WITH OVER 40 YEARS OF CLINICAL TRIALS. THESE TRIALS PROVE THAT NFP PRODUCES LONG TERM CHANGES IN CLIENTS' LIVES. IN COLORADO, FY 21-22 DATA SHOWS 4,290 CLIENTS SERVED AND 3,671 CHILDREN SERVED IN THE PROGRAM. OUTCOMES INCLUDE: - 91% OF BABIES WERE BORN FULL TERM - 88% OF BABIES WERE BORN AT A HEALTHY WEIGHT - 84% OF CLIENTS WERE SCREENED FOR DEPRESSION DURING PREGNANCY - 96% OF CLIENTS INITIATED BREASTFEEDING - RESEARCH SHOWS THAT ENROLLING 1,000 LOW-INCOME FAMILIES IN NFP IN COLORADO PREVENTS 45 PRETERM BIRTHS, 253 CHILD MALTREATMENT INCIDENTS, 303 VIOLENT CRIMES BY YOUTH, AND 3 INFANT DEATHS.

CHILD FIRST IS AN EVIDENCE-BASED, TWO-GENERATION MODEL THAT HELPS FAMILIES BUILD STRONG,NURTURING RELATIONSHIPS THAT HEAL AND PROTECT YOUNG CHILDREN FROM THE DEVASTATING IMPACT OF TRAUMA AND CHRONIC STRESS. CHILD FIRST IS THE ONLY PSYCHOTHERAPEUTIC INTERVENTION IN THE HOME VISITING SECTOR QUALIFYING FOR FEDERAL MATERNAL, INFANT & EARLY CHILDHOOD HOME VISITING FUNDING. AS A HOME-BASED INTERVENTION MODEL THAT WORKS WITH THE CAREGIVER AND CHILD, CHILD FIRST IS DELIVERED BY A TWO-PERSON TEAM CONSISTING OF A LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIAN WITH EXPERIENCE IN IN EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND A FAMILY SUPPORT PARTNER, WHO WORKS WITH THE FAMILY ON THE SOURCES OF STRESS THAT IMPACT THEIR FAMILY AND CONNECTS THE FAMILY TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES. THE PROGRAM IS UNIQUE BECAUSE IT COMBINES TWO COMPLEMENTARY APPROACHES TO HEALING FROM TRAUMA AND ADVERSITY: IT DIRECTLY DECREASES THE STRESSORS EXPERIENCED BY THE FAMILY THROUGH CONNECTING THEM TO NEEDED SERVICES AND SUPPORTS AND IT FACILITATES A NURTURING, RESPONSIVE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP. RESEARCH HAS DEMONSTRATED THAT THIS APPROACH PROTECTS THE YOUNG DEVELOPING BRAIN AND METABOLIC SYSTEMS FROM THE DAMAGING EFFECTS OF HIGH STRESS ENVIRONMENTS SUCH AS POVERTY, HOMELESSNESS AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. CHILD FIRST IS NOW BEING DELIVERED BY FOUR LOCAL IMPLEMENTING AGENCIES AND AS OF SUMMER 2021 IS AVAILABLE IN 13 COLORADO COUNTIES.