United for Families

Early Childhood Education

United For Families

Program Mission

Promote healthy development and academic success for young children by increasing access to high-quality childcare and education, providing training for parents and caregivers, and investing in innovative community programs.

How The Program Works

Through a community-led approach, we are expanding access to high-quality early childhood education, so more children can enter kindergarten ready to thrive.

Early Childhood Education program for Metro Denver families - How the program works

We provide technical assistance and training to improve the quality of childcare programs. This includes training and resources to support the Family, Friend, and Neighbor (FFN) providers who care for nearly 60% of young children in Colorado.

We connect families to resources and wraparound services, such as basic needs assistance, through our 211 Help Center.

We partner with community-based organizations and government agencies to expand the number of licensed high-quality child care slots.

We are also opening a child care and education center at our building in Five Points, providing nearly 60 high-quality slots for families with children ages 0-5. 

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2023 Early child care and education story - Ermisenda and her son Gerald

Why EARLY EDUCATION MATTERS

90% of a child’s brain development happens in the first few years of life, laying the foundation for future learning and achievement.¹ Children who participate in quality early childhood education experience higher graduation rates and lifetime earnings.

Mile High United Way is committed to improving our childcare landscape and to moving the needle on school readiness through our United for Families program.

1. Brain Architecture | Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University

IMPACT AT A GLANCE

Last year:

  • 980 parents and children served through our United for Families program
  • 452 licensed early childhood education slots created or maintained through our investments
  • 84 children provided with one-on-one school readiness support through our HIPPY program
  • 2,520 at-home learning kits distributed to families
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Tamara M. Sparks Early Learning Center

We have adapted to meet one of our community’s greatest needs by converting our conference center into a best-in-class early learning center!
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The Mobile Preschool

Mile High United Way and Right on Mobile Education (ROME) launched the first mobile preschool in the City and County of Denver to increase access to high-quality early childhood education.
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The HIPPY Program

Our HIPPY program (Home Instruction for the Parents of Preschool Youngsters) helps parents support their child’s kindergarten readiness in the comfort of their own homes.
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Our Stories

It Takes a Village… Providing Essential Baby Care Items to Support Families
HIPPY Helps Families like Yazmin and Ruben Get Kindergarten Ready
Mile High United Way Hosts Inaugural Ceremony Celebrating Early Childhood Education Milestones
Blog: Improving School Readiness in Denver’s Low-Income Neighborhoods

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

Through the United for Families initiative, Mile High United Way offers the Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) program to families working to ensure all children begin school kindergarten ready.

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
Program Goals

OUR 2025 GOALS

Increase the number of licensed, high-quality, affordable childcare slots by 35% in each of our target neighborhoods.

Increase the number of informal caregivers and parents who are receiving multi-generational early childhood education training for lasting impact. 

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United for Families

Invest in Mile High United Way’s community programs, like United for Families, to help children get a strong start in life.

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