Colorado Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems: Health Integration Prenatal-to-three Program
The Colorado Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems: Health Integration Prenatal-to-three Program (CO-ECCS) is advancing the infrastructure, capacity, equity and sustainability of Colorado’s maternal and early childhood systems of care to achieve the vision that “All children are valued, healthy and thriving and have equal access to services, supports and resources” in Colorado.
Illuminate Colorado, together with the Colorado Health Institute, is workingcollaboratively with key partners and agencies comprising Colorado’s infrastructure for the delivery and coordination of prenatal-to-three (P-3) services toensure the successful implementation of the CO-ECCS goals and activities.
Background About Funding
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA ), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, awarded approximately $5.1 million through 20 cooperative agreements to states and non-profit organizations to support the Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems Health Integration Prenatal-to-Three (ECCS) Program.
These funds will advance cross-sector collaborations and partnerships, health system improvements, state-level policy and fiscal innovation, equity, and family leadership to promote early developmental health and family well-being among prenatal to three-year-old (P-3) populations.
Colorado is among the 20 grantees awarded funds through the ECCS Program to build state capacity and infrastructure to integrate and strengthen maternal and early childhood systems.
Its particular focus on the prenatal-to-age-3 period maximizes the opportunity to reach and support families during the earliest stages of parenting. The grant, awarded to the Colorado Department of Human Services Office of Early Childhood provides $255,600 annually for five years (2021-2026) to implement projects that will advance Colorado’s maternal and early childhood systems of care and help Colorado achieve the vision that “All children are valued, healthy and thriving and have equal access to services, supports and resources.”
Guiding the Work In Colorado
To guide the implementation of the Colorado Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems Grant: Health Integration Prenatal-to-three Program (CO-ECCS), the Early Childhood Leadership Commission (ECLC), Colorado’s federally- authorized state advisory council for early childhood, approved the formation of the Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems Working Group on December 16, 2021 and subject to annual review and reauthorization.
Meetings of the ECCS Working group are currently being scheduled and various CO-ECCS Goal Implementation groups may be formed. Click HERE to view the entire ECCS Calendar. Use the ‘Category’ button to select ‘Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems Grant’ and view all upcoming ECCS events.
Over the past decade, hundreds of partners and more than 5,000 families have informed the advancement of Colorado’s early childhood and maternal child health systems.
The [Colorado Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems: Health Integration Prenatal-to-three Program] will build upon Colorado’s foundation to implement innovative and creative approaches that cut across federal, state, and local systems and services, which will result in an equitable and comprehensive P-3 system.
The project will also strengthen the state infrastructure and capacity to serve children and families P-3 by integrating and aligning health services so that families are able to receive a full continuum of support during the most critical times in their child’s life.
Collaborating Partners are Focused on Achieving Three Goals Over the Course of Five Years
Beginning With Sets of Key Activities in 2022 Outlined Below
Increase Engagement
CO-ECCS GOAL: Increase the engagement of new stakeholders, such as families and health providers in the system of wrap-around supports for families during pregnancy through the first three years of a child’s life.
Expand health care providers’ use of a single point of entry and coordinated intake and referral system.
Identify and assess policy barriers across early childhood systems and build on health innovations to improve systems.
Alignment of family engagement strategies across early childhood and maternal child health initiatives and create a structure for incorporating feedback into planning.
Align Early childhood and Maternal Child health Systems
CO-ECCS GOAL: Align early childhood and maternal child health systems to advance the sustainability of multi-generational preventive services and systems.
Support five local communities in collaborative planning and blending funds for program implementation.
Merge health into the early childhood system by examining existing needs assessments that impact the early childhood population and implement health equity strategies.
Advance Health Equity
CO-ECCS GOAL: Advance health equity by creating an Early Childhood Health Equity Action Plan focused from the prenatal period through the first three years of a child’s life.
Examine racial disparities identified in data sets and needs assessments and use data to inform the health equity plan.
Collect information from diverse partners through existing advisory councils to inform the P-3 HealthEquity Action Plan.
Produce and disseminate an Early Childhood Health Equity Action Plan.
ECCS Working Group
The Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems Working Group was approved by the ECLC in 2021 to guide the implementation of the Colorado Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems Grant: Health Integration Prenatal-to-three Program (CO-ECCS).
ECCS Working Group Charter
The Working Group is charged as an advisory group for the ECCS Grant. The Working Group will engage stakeholders in the system of wrap-around supports for families during pregnancy through the first three years of a child’s life to ensure alignment of Colorado’s early childhood and maternal child health systems. In order to advance health equity of P-3 services, the Working Group will collect information and examine data from diverse partners to inform a Health Equity Action Plan.
Additional goal implementation groups may be formed. Subscribe below for updates.
Meeting Materials & Schedule
All connecting links to join can be found on the agendas and the event calendar. Use the ‘Category’ button to select ‘Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems Grant’ and view all upcoming ECCS events. Meeting agendas will be posted as they become available. Other materials are available in the ECCS Shared Drive.
Interested in the CO-ECCS and the work of the ECCS Working Group? Subscribe below to receive emails from us, including reminders and agendas for ECCS Working Group meetings, meeting notes and follow-up action items.
If you are already a Illuminate Colorado community subscriber and want to join this group or increase your involvement, update your email profile today selecting ALL the information you would like to receive. Your profile will be updated and your previous email preferences will be deleted.
There are no upcoming events at this time.
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Backbone Support
Illuminate Colorado Strategic Initiatives team provides backbone support for the ECCS Grant.
After you subscribe for updates, we will reach out with more information to get you everything you need to get involved.
We all share a responsibility to ensure that children have the opportunity to reach their full potential.
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Learn About Our Work
Our children are our future employees, leaders and neighbors. No matter where they live, children need high-quality experiences and loving relationships to support healthy development.
We foster coalitions and networks to ensure continued progress on policy priorities, identify opportunities to protect existing policies that are serving families and enhance policy implementation and provide support for collaborative changes.
We encourageelected officials, community and state partners, educators, employers, parents, caregivers and young peoplewho are passionate about strengthening families to get more involved,collaborate and guide activities for April Child Abuse Prevention Month.
The Colorado Child Maltreatment Prevention Awareness Campaign Planning Committee works to draw attention to the prevention of child maltreatment here in Colorado through the annual statewide Pinwheels for Prevention® Campaign, which builds awareness for the need to strengthen families during Child Abuse Prevention Month each April.
Since 2009,this collaborative effort in Colorado has grown exponentially over the years with hundreds of local organizations and thousands of passionate people organizing pinwheels displays – one of the many ways we work together to inspire conversations about how to strengthening families in Colorado.
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2023 Campaign Goals
COMING SOON!
Interested in organizing awareness efforts in your community? Join the Colorado Child Maltreatment Prevention Awareness Campaign Planning Committee to help us set our campaign goals for 2023, plan campaign activities, and so much more!
Together with numerous Pinwheels for Prevention Campaign sponsors, we distributed 1,697,491 messages during the month of April 2022 to inspire a conversation to grow a better tomorrow for all children, together. Partnering with 54 organizations, we reached more than 76,139 Coloradans.
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The mission of the Colorado Infant Safe Sleep Partnership (ISSP) is to support families, providers, organizations and policymakers to increase infant safe sleep practices and address related barriers and disparities through education, practice change and systems improvement.
Who We Are
The Infant Safe Sleep Partnership members include public health and human services professionals, health care providers and community organization and nonprofit representatives.
Illuminate Colorado is able to support the work of the ISSP thanks to funding from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
Our Values
The ISSP commits to cultivating practices and projects that are:
Inclusive
Equitable
Collaborative
Consensus-informed
Evidence and researchinformed
Culturally responsive
Non-stigmatizing
Respectful of families’ choices
Calendar
The Colorado Infant Safe Sleep Partnership (ISSP) meets virtually on a bimonthly basis. Visit the ISSP calendar or subscribe for meeting notifications.
The ISSP acknowledges that systemic disparities and inequities impact experiences and outcomes related to infant safe sleep practices.
We recognize that infant safe sleep practices are impacted by sleep and feeding culture and may be impacted by systemic factors such as economic security, physical and behavioral health access, transportation access, systemic/historical racism, housing and immigration status.
Thus, the work of the ISSP must be approached with cultural humility and responsiveness, anti-racism, and an understanding of the systemic disparities that impact safe sleep practices.
Priority Areas
The ISSP is focused on working collaboratively with families, providers and other community stakeholders to address three priority areas.
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The ISSP Strategic Plan provides more information on these priorities and the work beginning in 2021.
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Education
Develop culturally–responsive public awareness and educational campaigns collaboratively with families and community–based organizations.
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Practice Change
Design and implement Quality Improvement initiatives based in hospitals and provider education opportunities simultaneously.
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Systems Improvement
Work in constant partnership with community organizations to address systemic issues that may impact safe sleep practices including:
economic security,
physical and behavioral health access,
transportation access,
systemic/historical racism,
housing and
immigration status.
GET INVOLVED
The ISSP is actively seeking participation from a wide variety of communities committed to increasing infant safe sleep practices and address related barriers and disparities.
Just interested in the work of the Infant Safe Sleep Partnership? Subscribe below to get information from the ISSP following meetings and highlighted awareness tools.
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Illuminate Colorado is home to the Colorado Chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America, the nation’s oldest and largest organization committed to preventing child abuse and neglect before it happens.
SuPPoRT Colorado envisions a Colorado that equitably serves all families through prevention and reduction of substance use during pregnancy and provides multigenerational support for families to thrive.
The priorities, strategies and activities of SuPPoRT Colorado are guided by family voice experiences and leadership. Strategic planning, activity engagement and impact are each data-informed.
SuPPoRT Colorado is convening, supporting and guiding the advancement of the following four priority areas.
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Where the Work is Happening
Reduce stigma around accessing substance use disorder treatment and recovery supports for pregnant and parenting people.
SuPPoRT Colorado Work Groups
Learn more about the groups working to address this priority area.
Provider Education Work Group
The Provider Education Work Group is working to expand healthcare provider education resources related to substance use and pregnancy with an emphasis on family leadership and addressing implicit bias.
Family Advisory Board
The Family Advisory Board (FAB) is working to build capacity around storytelling to reduce stigma.
Ensure systems, and the people who work within them, develop policies and practices with families that support warm handoffs and standardize practices to address inequities.
SuPPoRT Colorado Work Groups
Learn more about the groups working to address this priority area.
CHoSEN Collaborative
The Colorado Hospital Substance Exposed Newborns Collaborative better known as the CHoSEN Collaborativeis working to broaden the collaborative to include practice change opportunities related to all substances as well as to focus on additional recruitment.
The Plans of Safe Care Work Group is working to develop specific recommendations and best practices for implementation of Plans of Safe Care.
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Where the Work is Happening
Build Colorado’s statewide capacity to align efforts, apply lessons from our data and recognize and respond to emerging needs
SuPPoRT Colorado Work Groups
Learn more about the groups working to address this priority area.
Steering Committee and Family Advisory Board
The Steering Committee and Family Advisory Board will co-author a set of recommendations for how opioid settlement funds could support priorities of the SuPPoRT Colorado work.
Policy Analysis Work Group
The Policy Analysis Work Group is working to develop policy guidance in response to emerging needs and best practices.
Data and Research Advisory Group
The Data and ResearchAdvisory Group is working to build data and research capacity in the state through the Colorado Perinatal Substance Use Data Linkage Project and Qualitative Study and other emergent opportunities.
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Where the Work is Happening
Build Colorado’s statewide capacity to identify Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and support impacted families.
SuPPoRT Colorado Work Groups
Learn more about the groups working to address this priority area.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Work Group
The FASD Work Group is working to implement the education recommendation from the Colorado 2020 FASD Report.
Progress Over a Decade
SuPPoRT Colorado has made significant progress over the past decade, advancing a variety of notable projects and initiatives.
A History of Accomplishments
Published a white paper regarding families impacted by prenatal substance use and held eight regional convenings to educate and support communities on the topic.
The convenings involved more than 300 participants from nine different disciplines and resulted in the development of action steps based on locally identified needs.
A History of Accomplishments
Coordinated the SuPPoRT Colorado Best Practices Hospital Learning Collaborative aimed to increase consistency in implementation of best practice approaches in the identification of and response to newborns prenatally exposed to substances at the time of birth across Colorado.
A History of Accomplishments
Cultivated partnerships to increase the impact of collective work, including merging with the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Commission and forming a SuPPoRT Colorado Family Advisory Board to provide regular consultation centering lived experience.
A History of Accomplishments
Hosted statewide multidisciplinary opportunities to collaborate with stakeholders and learn more about intersections of substance use and pregnancy across the state.
A History of Accomplishments
2009 – SuPPoRT Colorado Summit of almost 90 professionals to discuss the needs and values of SuPPoRT Colorado work.
A History of Accomplishments
2017 – SuPPoRT Colorado Summit including over 150 attendees to provide feedback on the top recommendations from the Hospital Learning Collaborative and to ultimately set the SuPPoRT Colorado Steering Committee’s 2018-2020 priorities.
A History of Accomplishments
2020 – virtual SuPPoRT Colorado Town Halls engaging about 60 participants to refine and set the SuPPoRT Colorado Steering Committee and Family Advisory Board’s 2021-2022 priorities given the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and emergent needs.
SuPPoRT Colorado also has a long history of providing subject matter expertise translating best practice recommendations into critical statutory changes to improve the care of families impacted by prenatal substance exposure.
HB12-1100 Pregnancy & Evidence Of Substance Use
Developed the language for HB Bill 12-1100 and worked with partners and legislators to ensure its passage to protect drug screen and test results obtained through prenatal care from being used in criminal prosecution of a pregnant person.
HB19-1193 Behavioral Health Supports For High-risk Families
Recommended the expansion of the criminal protection from HB12-1100 to also include conversations with behavioral health providers about substance use during pregnancy through HB 19-1193.
SB20-028 Substance Use Disorder Recovery
Drafted and convened a stakeholder process for components of SB 20-28 regarding updating child abuse and neglect definitions related to prenatal substance exposure to de-emphasize the focus on positive drug tests for controlled substances at time of birth and to increase consistency in holistic assessments of families.
Get Involved
The SuPPoRT Colorado Steering Committee is tasked with identifying and implementing strategies for reducing the number of families impacted by substance use during pregnancy and for improving outcomes for families across the lifespan.
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Get Involved
In 2021-2022, SuPPoRT Colorado is convening, supporting and guiding work groups to advance the priority areas identified by the SuPPoRT Colorado Family Advisory Board and Steering Committee and informed by stakeholder input in 2020.
Illuminate Colorado Strategic Initiatives team supports the SuPPoRT Colorado Steering Committee and Family Advisory Board, the CHoSEN Collaborative and the SuPPoRT Colorado Work Groups.
After you sign up to join a work group, we will reach out with more information to get you everything you need to get involved.
We foster coalitions and networks to ensure continued progress on policy priorities, identify opportunities to protect existing policies that are serving families and enhance policy implementation and provide support for collaborative changes.
Strengthening Families™ is a research-informed approach to increase family strengths, enhance child development and reduce the likelihood of child abuse and neglect. It is based on engaging families, programs and communities in building five key protective factors.
The effort to embed Strengthening Families™ in the work of child- and family serving agencies of all types has continued unabated in Colorado since 2007 through this learning community for professionals across sectors to stay on top of new research and best practices related to the protective factors.
Illuminate Colorado coordinates the Colorado Strengthening Families Network, hosting a quarterly online learning community for professionals across sectors to stay on top of new research and best practices related to the protective factors.
Join the network to get invites to meetings and connect with others to share your work and learn from communities all across Colorado.
Ryan (he/him/his) joined the Illuminate team in March of 2020 and is currently the Director of Communications. In his role, Ryan leads the development and execution of strategic communication plans while promoting the organization's programs and educational opportunities. Passionate about communications work that leads to social change, Ryan knows that Illuminate’s work– and how it is communicated– is impacting lives and building better childhoods across our state. Ryan has a masters degree in Media & Public Communication from the University of Denver and comes to Illuminate with experience working with non-profit organizations, graphic design, videography, and photography.
Outside of work, Ryan enjoys snowboarding, watching NBA basketball (go OKC Thunder!), and spending evenings at home playing strategy board games with his husband. His favorite thing about living in Colorado is the great weather and snowboarding on the Western Slope!
Sarah (she/her/hers) joined the Illuminate team in August of 2022 as the Communications Associate. In her role, Sarah provides administrative support to the Communications Team, working with the entire organization and community members from all over the state to manage first impressions for Illuminate Colorado and connect people interested in the prevention of child maltreatment.
Before coming to Illuminate, Sarah worked on the development, launch, and management of ParentsThrive.org, an online tool for new and expecting parents in Colorado. Having earned her B.A. in Biochemistry from Colorado College, she is interested in early childhood wellbeing and development, and the communications involved in connecting families to the support they need to thrive.
Outside of work, Sarah loves to run, nordic ski, practice yoga, and find new podcasts. Her favorite part of living in Colorado is being close to friends and enjoying the awesome winters!
Anna joined the Illuminate team in June of 2019 and serves as the Director of Evaluation and Strategic Learning. In her role, Anna leads the data collection, evaluation, and strategic learning efforts at Illuminate with the goal of advancing organizational functioning, reach, and impact. She also oversees the design and implementation of Illuminate's data systems and infrastructure in pursuit of this same goal.
Central to Anna's role is helping to foster an organizational culture of learning at Illuminate and promote the use of data as a tool for continuous growth and improvement. In her positions prior to Illuminate, Anna was able to pursue her passion for developing learning and evaluation strategies to advance programs and services that promote the health and wellbeing of individuals, families, and communities.
Anna’s favorite things about living in Colorado are her family, the mountains, and endless sunshine!
Joan (she/her/hers) joined the Illuminate team in September of 2019 as the Director of Family Support. In her role, Joan oversees the development and implementation of the Illuminating Child Care and Circle of Parents programs. Joan came to Illuminate with over 20 years of experience in Early Childhood Education, always working to support children and families in their communities.
A big fan of the outdoors, her favorite thing to do during Colorado summers is take the trailer out for camping trips in the mountains!
Contact me about: Illuminating Child Care, Circle of Parents
Linda (she/her/hers) joined the Illuminate team in November of 2021 as the Director of Finance and Human Resources, where she provides day-to-day oversight of her team’s functioning. Coming to Illuminate with over 20 years of experience in Nonprofit Finance and Human Resources Management, Linda has been instrumental in the startup of two nonprofits where she designed and implemented financial structures and human resource functions.
Linda loves living in Colorado because she gets to be close to family. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her grandbabies, reading, and singing!
Sadie Rose (she/her/hers) joined the Illuminate team in January of 2021 as the Education Program Manager. In her role, Sadie Rose provides training and facilitator support for Illuminate’s Child Sexual Abuse Prevention training. Having spent a decade as a victim advocate, Sadie Rose knows that communication and education are essential to de-stigmatization and allows for open and honest conversations. “The more we talk about child maltreatment the better we can creatively problem solve and collaborate to prevent it from occurring.”
Born and raised in Southwest Colorado, Sadie Rose loves that she can drive two hours in any direction and be in a totally different climate. She enjoys spending time outside of work with her husband, dogs, and two retired equine therapy horses.
Contact me about: Child Sexual Abuse Prevention trainings
Sarah (she/her/hers) joined the Illuminate team in December of 2019 as the Bloom Yoga Program Manager. In her role, Sarah brings healing centered, trauma informed yoga to children, families and professionals. Coming to Illuminate with over 15 years of experience in the field of child welfare, Sarah believes that everyone should have access to yoga and regulation practices. Sarah found yoga and mindfulness in her own healing and resilience and she can’t wait to share it with others. Sarah is a registered yoga teacher, children’s yoga teacher, and is trained in trauma informed yoga.
Sarah has 2 kids, a dog (Basil), and a cat (NASA). Outside of work, Sarah loves to enjoy the Colorado fall colors by getting outside for a hike. Sarah and her family love to cook– head over for some sushi or spaghetti (their specialities!)
Eric (he/him/his) joined the Illuminate team in September of 2020 and is currently the Child Care Operations Manager. In his role, Eric works on RV Honey (part of the Illuminating Child Care program) providing child care and navigation services to families. Eric came to Illuminate with over 15 years of experience teaching and working with children, and is passionate about providing children and families with every opportunity to thrive. Eric has a degree in Human Development and has a Level 4 Certification through Colorado Shines.
Eric’s favorite part of living in Colorado is the sunshine and the mountains!
Jessica (she/her/hers) joined the Illuminate team in September of 2020 as the Senior Circle of Parents Associate. In her role, Jessica supports the management of data and dissemination of materials for the Circle of Parents program, as well as leads the Learning and Development Committee. Prior to coming to Illuminate, Jessica spent two years as an AmeriCorps member, gaining experience managing data. Jessica knows that numbers can tell overlooked stories and are essential in the effort to help families, no matter where they are in life.
Also having earned her B.A. in Criminal Justice, Jessica spent two years working as a Beauty Advisor at Sephora!
Contact me about: Circle of Parents, Learning and Development Committee
Patsy (she/her/hers) joined the Illuminate team in March of 2020 as the Child Care Manager and is currently the Core Values Committee leader. In her role, Patsy supervises lead teachers, plans ongoing professional development training, collaborates with community members to implement Illuminating Child Care in their neighborhoods, organizes daily on-site childcare services for parents, and partners with families to provide navigation services for long-term childcare. Caring deeply about the wellbeing of families and development of children, Patsy has been instrumental in the implementation of different types of early learning programs including Center Base and Home Base.
Patsy’s favorite things about living in Colorado are the open outdoor spaces and wonderful weather. She makes an effort to visit the mountains each year to reconnect with nature and take walks in the park to relax. Patsy is also always a fan of a fresh cup of ice cream!
Toni (she/her/hers) joined the Illuminate team in 2018 and is currently the Circle of Parents Program Manager. Illuminate Colorado is the state intermediary for Circle of Parents and, in her role, Toni oversees the program, providing tools and resources to help families heal. As a parent in recovery who has been facilitating Circle of Parents in Recovery groups since 2014, Toni knows that every parent is a leader and needs support to discover that about themselves. In recognition of her work, Toni has received the Casey Excellence for Children Award.
Toni has three daughters and is a kinship care provider for three grandchildren– she points to her family as her source of strength and biggest cheer section. Her favorite thing about living in Colorado are the mountains!
Cassie (she/her/hers) joined the Illuminate team in March of 2020 and is currently the Strategic Initiatives Manager. In her role, Cassie supports Illuminate's systems change efforts that are focused on organizational practice change and policy by offering backbone support to the Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Coalition and Infant Safe Sleep Partnership, supporting the CHoSEN Collaborative, and supporting Illuminate's efforts around state and federal legislative policy. Cassie came to Illuminate with experience providing services to children and families, and knows that creating a better world for children and families requires efforts at all levels of the Spectrum of Prevention and collaboration between individuals, families, and multisector professionals.
Having grown up in Louisiana and Texas, Cassie’s favorite thing about living in Colorado is being able to spend time outside in all four seasons, and how easy Colorado makes it to vote!
Contact me about: Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Coalition, Infant Safe Sleep Partnership, CHoSEN Collaborative, organizational legislative policy efforts
Dawn (she/her/hers) joined the Illuminate team in March of 2022 as the Strategic Initiatives Manager. In her role, Dawn provides backbone support to ensure the successful implementation of CDEC's Colorado Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems: Health Integration Prenatal to Three (CO-ECCS) Project. Through Dawn’s experience directly supporting children and their families in navigating services and supports, she has seen how important it is for families to feel heard and valued. She comes to systems building work in hopes to innovate and cultivate the conditions that ensure children are able to thrive, that their families are empowered and supported, and their communities are nurturing environments.
Outside of work, Dawn likes to cook and bake, as well as spend time with her two dogs, Rosie and Crosby. Her favorite thing about living in Colorado is that she doesn’t need to travel far to enjoy the solace of the outdoors, especially the backcountry!
Contact me about: CO-ECCS Project & the ECCS Working Group
Theo (they/them/theirs) joined the Illuminate team in August of 2022 as the Community Initiatives Associate. In their role, Theo provides administrative support to the Colorado Partnership for Thriving Families. Coming to Illuminate with experience in child welfare, supervising Court Appointed Special Advocates for youth with open Dependency and Neglect cases, Theo is passionate about prevention work and systems change to strengthen families. In addition to having earned their Masters of Social Work, Theo has also been published in The Journal of Baccalaureate Social Work!
Outside of work, you can find Theo crafting, playing board games with their partner (their high school sweetheart!), watching RuPaul's Drag Race, or walking their dog, Louise. Theo’s favorite thing about living in Colorado is the beautiful scenery and being able to spend time outdoors!
Contact me about: Colorado Partnership for Thriving Families
Justine (she/her/hers) joined the Illuminate team in June of 2021 and is currently the Communications Manager. In her role, Justine supports Illuminate Colorado’s work to strengthen families, organizations, and communities by connecting community members and professionals to its vision and mission through strategic communications. Coming to Illuminate with experience communicating with stakeholders such as students, families, educators, donors, board members, and community members, Justine is passionate about meaningful, transformative storytelling. She knows the importance of encouraging others to use their voices to share their own stories and inspire curiosity, growth, and equity. Justine has a Master of Arts in English from the University of Colorado Denver and a Certificate in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace from the University of South Florida.
Outside of work Justine enjoys spending time outdoors, specifically going for hikes!
Contact me about: Strengthening Colorado Families and Communities Conference, Child Abuse Prevention Month, Events
Hayley (she/her/hers) joined the Illuminate team in January of 2022 as the Evaluation and Strategic Learning Manager. In addition to the development, maintenance, and refinement of Illuminate’s data collection and database infrastructures for its diverse programming, Hayley also supports the Director of Evaluation and Strategic Learning in monitoring and optimizing the implementation of program evaluation plans. Hayley enjoys collaborating with Illuminate’s staff and partners to continuously improve programs and is driven by the ever-growing need for family and child-focused, evidence-based supports in Colorado.
Outside of work, Hayley has fun trying to improve her downhill skiing skills, cheering for the Colorado Avalanche, and caring for a 100 lb. therapy dog named Sully.
Jade has served as the Executive Director of Illuminate Colorado since its inception in 2015, following 7 years as the Executive Director of founding partner agency, the Colorado Alliance for Drug Endangered Children. Prior to this work, she provided family support services in a variety of settings to families impacted by homelessness, domestic violence, and substance use disorders. Jade has a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration.
As the Executive Director of Illuminate Colorado, she has participated in and led many state level initiatives related to child maltreatment, substance use, child maltreatment prevention, public awareness, and collaborative community approaches.
Currently, Jade serves on the Colorado Partnership for Thriving Families Steering Committee, SuPPoRT Colorado Steering Committee, Delivery of Child Welfare Services Task Force, Home Visitation Investment Task Force, Essentials for Childhood Steering Committee, Early Childhood Department Transition Advisory Group, Safe Child Care Task Force, Plans of Safe Care Rule Writing Group, and Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention.
Angelica (she/her/hers) joined the Illuminate team in April of 2022 as the Director of Family Connects and is currently the Director of Home Visitation. Under the guidance of the Executive Director, Angelica leads the intermediary functions of planning and implementation of the Family Connects program in Colorado. Additionally, she works in partnership with local communities to coordinate, facilitate, and lead the planning, installation, and sustainability of the program. Coming to Illuminate with over 15 years of experience in the Early Childhood sector, Angelica is passionate about providing families with support and connecting them with resources when they need them most. Angelica knows that all parents need support and believes in the importance of investing in resources and support– early and for everyone.
Angelica was born in Bogota, Colombia, has two teenage sons, and loves to hike, ride bikes, and paddle board. Her favorite thing about living in Colorado is the outdoors and the liberal mindset!
Kelli (she/her/hers) joined the Illuminate team in March of 2022 as the Strategic Initiatives Manager. In her role, Kelli facilitates coalitions and work groups with an emphasis on behavioral health system efforts. Kelli is passionate about strengthening families and organizations in order to improve well-being for families. Coming to Illuminate with experience as a Problem Solving Court and Child Welfare professional specializing in working with families impacted by substance use, she believes in the collaborative process to enhance organizational practice in order to support families and prevent child maltreatment.
Kelli’s favorite part of living in Colorado are the seasons and the ability to travel to beautiful places across the state!
Contact me about: Supporting Perinatal Substance Use Prevention, Recovery and Treatment (SuPPoRT) in Colorado. SuPPoRT Colorado Steering Committee, working/advisory groups and the SuPPoRT Colorado Family Advisory Board
Hattie (she/her/hers) joined the Illuminate team in December of 2018 as the Senior Community Initiatives Manager. In her role, Hattie provides backbone support to the Colorado Partnership for Thriving Families, leads Illuminate's family engagement efforts, and manages community capacity-building initiatives. Passionate about primary prevention, Hattie came to Illuminate with experience in reproductive health policy, advocacy, and community organizing as well as sexual assault prevention programming. Hattie knows that community and family voices are essential to making long-term impacts in the field of Public Health.
Outside of work, Hattie likes to take advantage of the Colorado sunshine and mountains by backpacking, cross-country skiing, and backcountry skiing!
Contact me about: Colorado Partnership for Thriving Families; family engagement; community capacity-building
Anne (she/her/hers) joined the Illuminate team in November of 2015, and currently serves as Deputy Director. In her role, Anne leads development and implementation for organizational program growth, including but not limited to new curricula, programs, expansion, and leverageable opportunities. She also supervises Family Support Programs, Home Visitation Programs, and Education Programs.
Additionally, Anne is trained as a facilitator in a variety of areas including substance use and families, protective factors, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), abusive head trauma, and child sexual abuse prevention.
Anne's career choice, like many people who serve in the field of strengthening children, families, and communities, was influenced by personal reasons from past experiences or environments. “I personally do this work because I believe I have the opportunity through my experiences and knowledge to partner with others to make a positive change in the lives of families.”
Having lived in many states and overseas, Anne eventually decided to return home to Colorado– there is no place like home, she says!
Jillian (she/her/hers) joined the Illuminate team in August of 2017 and is currently Deputy Director. In her role, Jillian leads development and implementation of systems changes strategies, responds to shifting conditions, and supports organizational and program sustainability. She also directly supervises Communications, Evaluation, Grants & Development, Policy, and Strategic Initiatives. With a background in organizing community members around opportunities to affect health policy, Jillian is passionate about her work because she wants to live a happier, healthier, and more just world where families have what they need to thrive.
Jillian lives in Denver with her husband and dog, Max. She enjoys hiking, reading, and gardening– especially growing food to share! Jillian’s favorite part about living in Colorado is the beautiful sunshine!
Jason (he/him/his) joined the Illuminate team in January of 2018 and is currently a Senior Education Program Manager. In his role, Jason develops evidence-based curricula and delivers trainings focused on strengths-based prevention and intervention concepts. With a background in serving individuals, families, and children in a variety of education and human services roles for 25 years, Jason is passionate about work that strengthens families and changes lives. Jason is Illuminate Colorado’s resident expert on substance use and families, leading the Child Welfare Training System and Smart Choices Safe Kids programs.
Jason, his wife, and their three daughters live in the foothills of the Rockies. They love many things about Colorado: blue skies, green forests, clean air, big mountains, deep snow, good concerts, rivers, hot springs, huts– the list goes on!
Contact me about: Child Welfare Training System and Smart Choices Safe Kids
Missy (she/her/hers) joined the Illuminate team in March of 2020 and is currently a Senior Education Program Manager. In her role, Missy builds relationships with people and organizations that shift their perspective and practices in ways that benefit the long term outcomes for children and youth within communities. Her work includes developing curriculum, training and group facilitation, individual or group coaching, program planning and development, and supporting organizational implementation.
With nearly 20 years of experience in local and national child welfare, treatment, and prevention programs, Missy knows that every person needs connection to thrive. She is driven by her passion for ensuring everyone has a village around them, walking beside them through the good and the difficult parts of life.
Born and raised in Colorado, Missy says she must love everything about her home state because she refuses to leave! Missy has three incredible children that are growing up way too fast– “they keep me and my life partner on our toes, out of money, and exhausted, but I wouldn't have it any other way!”
Contact me about: Strengthening Families and Protective Factors Trainer Network, Healthy Outcomes thru Positive Experiences, Youth Thrive
Marissa (she/her/hers) joined the Illuminate team in August of 2022 as the Finance & Human Resources Manager. In her role, Marissa supports the Director of Finance & Human Resources in various accounting and HR duties. Marissa is passionate about the Human Services field and loves to use her accounting and HR background to contribute to and support Illuminate’s amazing work. After earning her Associates degree in Criminal Justice, Marissa worked in accounting before leaving to pursue her interest in HR and non-profit work.
Marissa has two dogs, Daisy and Bandit, and she loves spending time with family– preferably while also enjoying outdoor activities like fishing and camping. Her favorite things about living in Colorado are all of the seasons and the colorful environment!
Jordan Davis (she/her/hers) joined the Illuminate team in January of 2023 as an Early Childhood Teacher. In her role, Jordan works with Illuminating Child Care team members Patsy and Eric on the mobile child care units, providing child care for families while caregivers receive treatment and support. After earning a degree in Sociology and Psychology, Jordan gained experience working with at-risk youth in a residential facility setting. Kids are always bringing excitement to Jordan’s life, and she loves working with children because of how unique each child is and the joy they bring to her life every day.
Jordan is a big fan of spending time with friends, listening to and talking about music, and learning to cook! “When I grow up I want to be like Julia Child and be able to cook more than pizza rolls.”
Her favorite part of living in Colorado are the beautiful summers and enjoying time outside.
Lex Loutzenhiser (she/they) joined the Illuminate team in January of 2023 as the Policy Manager. In their role, Lex supports organizational policy activities, including conducting policy research and analysis, engaging stakeholders, and advocating for policies that support Illuminate's mission and the communities we serve. Lex came to Illuminate with a background in social work, providing direct services to individuals who use substances and people living with HIV in rural Colorado. She also has experience conducting public health outreach and education, with a focus on youth and adult behavioral health, access to low barrier health services, and harm reduction.
Lex is passionate about this work because, through personal and work experience, they have witnessed the ways in which community supports can strengthen families and empower people to thrive. She enjoys engaging in innovative, evidence-informed, community-driven policy work that creates happier, healthier communities. As Congresswoman Ayanna Presley put it, "Policy is my love language."
Lex lives in Northern Colorado with their two cats and loves to cook, hike, and explore nature photography in her free time. Their favorite part of living in Colorado is the access to nature and the outdoors!
Cristina Bejarano (she/her/ella) joined the Illuminate team in February of 2023 as the Director of Strategic Initiatives. In her role, Cristina oversees the strategic planning, facilitation, and ongoing coordination of multiple coalitions and community-based efforts working to positively impact children and families across Colorado. As a public health professional working to increase health equity, Cristina has worked with local communities, philanthropy, federal and state governments, and international organizations to build collaborative relationships for collective impact.
Cristina’s lifelong passion is working with systemic structures to increase the communities' capacity for wellbeing, and she is thrilled to be working in a role that allows her to contribute to brighter futures for kids and families.
Outside of work, you can find Cristina running around with her two kids and partner and supporting community efforts. Her favorite part about living in Colorado is the four seasons that allow for fun outside activities all year long!
Contact me about: Strategic Initiatives and the Colorado Infant Safe Sleep Partnership (ISSP)
Mike Robbins (he/him/his) joined the Illuminate team in March of 2023 as the Grants & Development Manager. In his role, Mike is responsible for shepherding Illuminate's fundraising efforts through individual giving, grants, events, and sponsorships. Before joining Illuminate, Mike studied at The Institute for Leaders in Development at Denver University, and worked in nonprofit communications, resource development, grant writing, donor stewardship, event planning, and volunteer management. Mike is passionate about the health and wellbeing of children, youth and families, and loves that he is able to use his experience in mission-driven storytelling and development to grow Illuminate’s community of donors and grant funders.
In his free time, Mike enjoys hiking, yardwork, cheering on the Nuggets and Kansas State Wildcats, plus checking out great restaurants with friends. His favorite part about living in Colorado is the generosity, grit and tenacity of Coloradans!
