On a sunny Saturday afternoon, Jesus and Gloria Chavez arrive at Focus Point Family Resource in northeast Denver.  Gloria is pushing the stroller with 2-year-old daughter, Jessica, while Jesus rushes to keep up with Jessica’s big sister, 5-year-old Nayeli.

They’re not going to a party.  They’re not headed to meet up with friends.  This family outing is different.  The Chavez family is here for health insurance.

While both Jesus and Gloria work hard to support their family they cannot afford health insurance.  And, when it comes to their girls’ health, they say that concerns them.

“Without health insurance, you tend to keep the little ones at home when they are sick because it costs so much to go to the doctor,” says Gloria.

The Chavez’s are not alone.  According to the Colorado Health Foundation, one in six children in Colorado was without health insurance in 2008.  A startling statistic that prompted Making Connections Denver at Mile High United Way to take action.

“Some families may be unaware that they are eligible for health care coverage through the State of Colorado and Medicaid,” says Zulema Inai, School Readiness Coordinator for Making Connections. 

So, Inai and Making Connections planned, coordinated and staged a financial and health resource fair at Focus Point, aimed at informing families like the Chavez’s that help is available.

Specifically, eligible families can apply to have their children covered under Colorado’s Child Health Plan Plus.  The program provides low-cost health insurance for uninsured children and pregnant women who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid, but cannot afford private health insurance.

“We know that the application process can be overwhelming,” says Inai, “that’s why we have volunteers here to take them through step by step.”

For Jesus and Gloria Chavez that extra help gives them extra hope they say they wouldn’t have if not for Mile High United Way.

“This is such a big help,” says Jesus,” and, it makes us feel safer knowing that we can now completely take care of our girls.”

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The Salvation Army Aurora Childcare Program has transformed my family. Enrolling my two kids here has enabled me to have enough time to go back to school and land a higher paying job in clerical medical administration that was enough to get my family off welfare.

But that’s just the beginning.

We escaped some pretty awful circumstances in Michigan. We were living in a shelter and came to Colorado last year. The difference has already been significant, especially for my children.

My daughter Aleece is enrolled in Pre-Kindergarten at the Center and my 9-year-old son Derek comes here after school while I’m at work.

On a day when I visit her at the childcare center, her teacher, Miss Cindy, asks her what the different parts of the flag stand for. She knows that the red stripes stand for the blood that was shed, the white is for purity, and the blue is for truth. She’s only 4 years old and gives me a big, all-knowing smile after her answers.

Kids who have not experienced early childhood education will learn to read in kindergarten. Aleece will know how to read before she even starts. I’m proud; she’s already at a kindergarten level. She sounds out letters and recognizes words. She’s ahead of the game.

Aleece is also learning many important things that are helping her develop a healthy lifestyle and personality, including conflict resolution. When the kids get angry, they are encouraged to “stop, drop and chill.”

When she started here, she was so shy; we’ve been through a lot. In class she wouldn’t raise her hand if she thought she might be wrong. Now, her confidence level is sky high. It’s a great thing to see as a mom.

I drive past a few daycares during my daily commute from Aurora to Lakewood. A lot of the kids are just staring out the windows looking bored. But not mine. I know that my kids are engaged here.

They’re learning and having fun. Sometimes when I pick them up in the evening, they ask, “Why are you here, mom?” It’s pretty great to have that kind of security.

I seriously considered moving my family to Lakewood because the commute is so harsh, but my kids love it here.

The Salvation Army Aurora Childcare Program is so much more than just a daycare. I don’t worry if they are safe. I know they are. They go above and beyond. My son is finished with school at 2:15 p.m. They pick him up and bring him to the center until I can get there at 5:30 p.m. It really helps me out. My whole life is my kids and I just want what’s best for them.

As a single mom, there never seems to be enough hours to get everything accomplished. I get the kids home by 6 p.m., we have dinner, do bath time and I try to get them to sleep by 9 p.m. I try my best to read to them, but we always seem to run out of time. That’s why this childcare center is so important. It helps fill in the gaps and makes sure they are prepared to succeed in school.

“Mile High United Way and our community partners now support nearly 4,500 children in high quality early care and education,” said Diana Romero Campbell, senior director of School Readiness. “There is a significant difference between early childhood education centers and daycare. United Way supports childcare centers that are not only a safe place for young children, but a place that will prepare them for long-term success in school.”

The Salvation Army is one of Mile High United Way’s oldest community partners. The Salvation Army Aurora Childcare Program receives significant support from Mile High United Way’s School Readiness initiative. To learn more, please visit, www.unitedwaydenver.org.

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He’s not quite 5 years old, but Carson is more than ready for kindergarten. He socializes well with his peers and quickly grasps the academics. But, there is a certain element to Carson that makes him extra special: he has autism.

Autism is a brain disorder that affects development. Autism can affect a person’s ability to communicate, relate to others, and interact with his or her surroundings.¹

“Carson still wasn’t talking by the time he was 2 years old,” said Carson’s mom, Cari. “I knew something was very wrong; he would communicate with flailing hands instead of words. It was very scary as a mother; I just wanted to understand what he was trying to say.”

Carson’s lack of communication also made socializing with other children very difficult. Cari knew she needed extra help and sought assistance from Children’s Outreach Project in Adams County, a four-star early childhood education center rated by Qualistar.

Carson began attending Children’s Outreach Project five months ago, and the difference it has made already in his young life is remarkable.

“I’ve been so impressed with his progress,” said his teacher, Kari Snellbaker. “Because of his autism, he really didn’t know how to play with other kids. He loves cars and trucks and was content playing by himself. Now, after five minutes by himself, he puts the toys away and joins the other children in an activity. He’s much more aware of his surroundings.” Carson is also improving everyday in academics.

“When he came to us, he could really only scribble the letters of his name,” said Kari. “Now he is able to form letters of his name and he comprehends what they stand for.”

Carson’s mom also notices a big difference since he started at Children’s Outreach Project.

“One of the gifts Carson received this year on Christmas morning was a pack of four books from his grandma,” said Cari. “To my amazement, he sat down and read all four of them one right after another - with unopened presents nearby. He was so happy reading out loud to me. Children’s Outreach Project has given him the learning skills he needs for school.”

With support from Mile High United Way’s School Readiness initiative, Children’s Outreach Project is making sure children, like Carson, are prepared to succeed when they enter school.

Through our partnership with Qualistar, Mile High United Way has supported quality-improvement efforts at 41 early care and education centers across metro Denver. Today, more than 3,300 children from low-income families are attending these early care and education centers, like Children’s Outreach Project, that have achieved a high rating from Qualistar. Mile High United Way’s support helped boost Children’s Outreach Project from a three-star rating to a four-star rating in the last four years.

The early care and education center dexterously weaves lessons of acceptance and diversity into all classrooms for children ages 2 and one-half to 6. Classrooms are organized according to age and integrate typical, developmentally delayed and accelerated children in the same space. The developmentally delayed children practice peer mirroring and challenge themselves. In turn, the typical and gifted children learn important lessons about accepting differences.

Children’s Outreach Project and Mile High United Way also collaborate in the Early Childhood Partnership of Adams County. The partnership uses the collective effort of non-profit organizations, mental health agencies and public school officials to leverage national dollars in the field of early childhood education.

“The best thing an investor can do is to put their dollars into early childhood education,” said Stephanie Baer, executive director of Children’s Outreach Project. “People are really starting to wake up and educate themselves about the importance of birth-to-5 scientific research and its economic impact. We are all a part of this, not just the kids. What we are doing here in early education spills over to the public school system and eventually into the community when that child graduates from high school. If children enter school unready to learn, they may never catch up. This ends up costing the community valuable tax dollars.”

Carson is an extremely happy boy. He loves coming to Children’s Outreach Project and is greeted with hugs from the other children every day.

“I don’t know what I would do if there wasn’t Children’s Outreach Project; it’s a scary thought,” said his mom.

¹ http://www.neurologicalresource.org/definitions.htm.

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Five-year-old Musa Turner is usually a very quiet and reserved child. That’s why his family was so surprised last summer when he eloquently articulated the history of slavery. Not only did he know the basic facts, he clearly understood the concepts and knew that it was wrong to own people.

“It was amazing to listen to a five-year-old recite something so profound,” said his father, Vincent Turner.

Musa learned about slavery during Black History Month while attending the Hope Center, an early care and education center supported by Mile High United Way. The Hope Center partakes in a “high scope” curriculum with components of art, science, literacy, technology, dramatic play and math infused in every classroom. Special needs, regular and gifted children all receive the same components of this innovative curriculum with varying levels of difficulty.

A long-time partner of Mile High United Way, Hope Center is funded in part by the life-changing School Readiness initiative, which focuses on ensuring that children from low-income families are prepared to succeed when they enter school.

“My husband and I both got a feeling of connectedness and love from Hope Center right away,” said Musa’s mother Deronn Turner. “As an African American female growing up in Oklahoma, I was never encouraged to become much of anything other than a hairdresser. It was OK for the teacher to call us stupid. I encountered very archaic ideas about black children not being as intelligent. Hope Center is the exact opposite of my experience in school.”

Deronn and Vincent Turner have sent all three of their children to Hope Center.

Musa’s younger sister Senbi Turner, age 3, is a sweet, respectful child who wakes up every morning excited to attend Hope Center. Last year, Senbi’s teachers noticed she was having difficulty with her fine motor skills.

“They told us to have her play with Play-Doh and clothespins at home to help correct the problem,” Deronn said. “It worked, and she’s so proud that she can now write and spell her name on her own. If she entered kindergarten without this small problem corrected, who knows if it would have ever been noticed.”

Of the Turner’s three children, two have graduated from Hope Center and are thriving in school. Their oldest child, Shemsu, now 8, was placed in the gifted preschool program at the age of three. His teacher, Brenda Natt, still remembers him with acute detail.

“Shemsu was an amazing child to have in class. He was extremely verbal, had a profound vocabulary, and the wisdom of a seventh grader,” she said.

Diversity is found in every niche of the school from the teachers to the students and staff. Children even get “foster grandparents” in their classrooms and are exposed to various languages, such as Spanish, French and sign language.

Mile High United Way played an important role in helping Hope Center achieve the highest standard in early childhood education, a Qualistar rating of four.

“It’s important for us to level the playing field for inner city and low-income children and families,” says the Hope Center’s executive director, Gerie Grimes. “We want these children to have the same opportunities as everyone else in the community. If the children have the same tools at the beginning of their lives, they are more likely to experience a successful educational experience throughout their lives. Every child has the right to quality education. It’s our duty to provide high quality education for families.”

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Quirina was 16 and a sophomore in high school when she became pregnant.  Scared and overwhelmed, she dropped out, with no plans to return.  How could she manage school and take care of a baby?  She wasn’t like other teenagers.  Her life wasn’t filled with thoughts about who was going to ask her to the prom or where she could hang out after school. Quirina didn’t have just herself to think about anymore.  She was different, and she had to make a different choice.

During her pregnancy, Quirina lived with her sister’s family.  Time flew quickly and before she knew it, her daughter was five months old, and Quirina was a year behind in school. Through good fortune, she heard about Florence Crittenton School for teen mothers and their children in Denver, which receives significant support from Mile High United Way through its partner agency, Parent Pathways.

Now, teen mom and 1-year-old daughter Amarah are enrolled at “Flo Crit.”  While Quirina works toward her high school diploma, Amarah attends a high quality early care and education program in the same building.

On a typical day, Amarah intermingles in a colorful and stimulating environment half a world past babysitting.  Accompanied by a soft background of classical music, she socializes with the other children and quickly navigates toward mom as she enters the room.  Together they sit and read on Quirina’s lunch break.  The vibrant 1-year-old is engaged in her classroom activities at the Florence Crittenton Early Learning Center for infants and toddlers.  Amarah is learning social skills and expanding her language and cognitive skills so she will be ready for preschool.

“We read a lot at home,” remarked Quirina, “She really likes Dr. Seuss and Disney books, and is a big fan of turning the pages herself.  I can tell right away that she learns more and more every day at Flo Crit.”

Florence Crittenton is an all-girl school that helps young mothers keep focused on their studies and parenting responsibilities.  “The staff are really easy to talk to,” said Quirina, “At my old school I didn’t feel like I was being heard, but here, they really care about both me and my daughter.  They understand that we are moms as well as students; I feel supported.”

The students participate in parenting classes as well as academics.  Parenting classes are exceptionally hands-on.  The ‘Child Care Lab’ class exposes teen mothers to children of all ages.  Moms observe and interact with all the children, so they will be prepared for the next phase of their own child’s development.  Students also participate in a ‘Family Albums’ course which involves the recording of their child’s developmental progress in a photo journal.  Both mom and teacher make comments about the child’s progress.  “Getting to be with girls in the same situation as me is pretty cool.  We ask each other questions and support each other.”

Quirina will receive her high school diploma next spring, and in just a few years, little Amarah will be primed for success when she begins school.  “I have no regrets about my situation.  I love being a mom and Amarah is what keeps me motivated to get my diploma.  But, without this school, I probably wouldn’t have ever finished.  But now I will, and Amarah is getting a head start on her schooling so she can succeed in school and in life.”

Mile High United Way is working hard to ensure that every child gets a chance like Amarah.  Through the collective generosity of the metro Denver community, 4,475 children from low-income families attended an early care and education center supported by Mile High United Way’s quality improvement efforts.  Our Five-Year Plan, launched just last year, calls for us to provide 10,000 children from low-income families with affordable, quality early childhood care and education by 2010.

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Preparing Young Children to Succeed in School

Shontel and her preschool-aged son, Diego, have firsthand knowledge of the difference that an accessible, affordable, and quality early learning center can make in the life of a family. Shontel is a single mother and a junior at the University of Colorado, pursuing a double major in Spanish and Communications. “Without this program,” she explains, “it wouldn’t be possible for me to work, go to school, be a mom, and achieve my goals.” 

As she speaks, Diego works diligently at the task of stacking blocks in a specific order from largest to smallest, and eventually moves on to practice his skill in sorting shapes. The program that Diego attends is one of eleven run by Mile High Montessori Early Learning Center, in partnership with Mile High United Way. Financial support from United Way ensures that children from low-income families have the opportunity to learn the necessary intellectual, emotional, and social skills to enter kindergarten and succeed in school.

Diego has attended the center since he was a baby, and Shontel observes that her son seems “above average from attending this program. He can do more than an average four-year-old, more than other children his age.”  Shontel is also pleased with Diego’s growing confidence and independent skills. “They teach him to do things on his own,” she points out. “And it carries over to home, where he will clean his own room, make his own bed, and put his things away.”

Kerri Greenberg, Vice President of Community Affairs at Mile High Montessori Early Learning Centers, explains the importance of quality early care and education, and the necessity of funding centers that have a trained and qualified staff, and that achieve a high rating for their educational focus.  “Our children definitely have greater success when they enter kindergarten,” she says. “As a matter of fact, we had several children last year enter kindergarten and test at the gifted and talented level in Denver Public Schools.”

Besides the excellent school readiness provided by Mile High Montessori programs, the other critical factor is that the centers are affordable for families with low incomes. Ms. Greenberg notes that without the support of funding partners like Mile High United Way, “parents wouldn’t have the opportunity to pursue work and school in order to become self sufficient. And if we weren’t here for the kids, they would enter school without any preparation."

Charlie Gallagher, a local business owner and philanthropist who has made a substantial five-year donation to support Mile High United Way’s school readiness programs says, “One of the most important ways to help our community is to make sure that low-income children have the same chance to succeed as every other child."As Shontel hugs Diego and prepares to leave for class, she couldn’t agree more.

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