Childcare quality & licensing
The Garfield County Childcare Program is a unique, proactive program whose focus is to meet the needs of early education professionals in Garfield County. We promote recruitment, retention and quality in early education.
Program
Family childcare home licensing for Garfield and Pitkin counties: pre-licensing consultation, ongoing technical licensing assistance and support for licensing programs.
- If you are interested in licensing as a family childcare home call 970-945-9191, ext. 3066 or visit Family Child Care Home
- For information about starting a childcare center, preschool, camp or school age program call 970-945-9191, ext. 3068 or visit Non-Home Child Care Program
Grants
Through partnership with the Aspen Community Foundation Family Child Care Start-up Grants are available. Call 970-945-9191, ext. 3066 for this and other grant opportunities.
Responsive coaching (Child Care Consultant)
Whether you have a child development question; want help tweaking the daily schedule; need support with activity ideas for setting up an environment conducive to different types of play and learning; or help addressing challenging behaviors, our consultant is available to help meet needs as they arise. A childcare consultant is available to work with any licensed home or center in Garfield County, please call 945-9191, ext. 3065.
Resource van
The resource van is a lending library on wheels. A variety of books and children’s materials are available for licensed childcare homes and centers in Garfield County. If you’d like a childcare consultant to visit you with the resource van, please call 945-9191, ext.3065.
Training
Educational opportunities through workshops and on-site training for providers – training opportunities are offered throughout the year and often in collaboration with community partners. Not seeing what you are looking for? Just ask. We can help find, coordinate or design a training.
Child care costs
Child care financial assistance navigation is available to any family needing assistance with what options are available when child care costs seem out of reach. Our bilingual outreach consultant is happy to help navigate choices and necessary paperwork.
To file a complaint about a licensed child care program or to report unlicensed child care call the Division of Early Care and Learning 303-866-5958.
Child Care resource partners
Colorado Shines allows you to look up child care facilities here and throughout the state. You can: search by address, zip code, city, or provider name; view child care licensing history; and find tips on how to select care. 877-338-2273
Early Childhood Network (ECN) provides local child care referrals for families as well as professional development support and resources for licensed & friends, family and neighbor care. 970-982-7111
Rocky Mountain Early Childhood Council (RMECC) provides information on programs with reported child care availability, early childhood job openings, and helps early childhood programs navigate the Colorado Shines Quality Rating & Improvement System. RMECC is always looking for new membership. 719- 486-7273
Professional Development Information System (PDIS) offers free, on-line training on a variety of early childhood topics in English & Spanish. Many trainings required for licensing can be found here.