Our Work

Early Child Care & Education

We believe all children deserve a strong start in life.

In Metro Denver, there are 77,000 more children under the age of 6 than there are child care spots.¹ Mile High United Way is committed to creating an environment that fosters affordable, high-quality early care and education where our youngest learners enter school ready to thrive in kindergarten and beyond.

¹ Denver Business Journal

Our Programs

How We Support Early Child Care & Education

211 Help Center

Our 211 Child Care Resource & Referrals Specialists help families with referrals for child care and financial assistance as well as education about the quality and availability of care.

United for Families

We increase access to high-quality child care by expanding the number of licensed child care slots, providing training for parents and caregivers and investing in early education programs.

Community Investments

Early experiences lay the foundation for success. We strategically invest in organizations that deliver innovative solutions in early child care and education.

Impact At a Glance

Last Year
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parents and children served through our United for Families program.

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home visits to families, helping parents support their child’s school readiness at home.

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child care slots created at the Tamara M. Sparks Early Learning Center

LEVI'S STORY

Planting Seeds For a Child's Future

As a toddler, Levi was shy and rarely spoke. His mother, Dulce, worried she’d done something wrong. Three years later, Levi is thriving in school, in part thanks to our Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) program. HIPPY is our evidence-based program to help parents and caregivers be their child’s first teacher. Once a week, our staff member Nancy provided Dulce with resources and support to prepare Levi for a lifetime of learning and success.

“Levi is more open and friendlier now. Before, he never wanted to talk, but now, he’ll raise his hand saying, ‘I know the answer! ... His change is a miracle to me.”

More STORIES

“HIPPY Is Not Just a Program – It Is a Family.”
It Takes a Village… Providing Essential Baby Care Items to Support Families
Mile High United Way Hosts Inaugural Ceremony Celebrating Early Childhood Education Milestones
Blog: Improving School Readiness in Denver’s Low-Income Neighborhoods

Our HIPPY program is one way we’re addressing the early learning shortage and helping create pathways to success for children.

July 3, 2024

During our first Women United Village, more than 100 families received supplies to help care for their little ones, including diapers, strollers, car seats, and more.

June 6, 2022

On June 12, 2021 Mile High United Way was thrilled to celebrate the first-ever graduation ceremony for HIPPY students and their parents.

June 21, 2021

Molly Yost, Mile High United Way’s Director of Early Childhood Initiatives, shares how our United for Families initiative is moving the needle on school readiness in Metro Denver.

September 24, 2019

Invest in Mile High United Way

Help children in our community get a strong start in life with a high-quality early education.