Kids Thrive

Our community and Colorado prosper when our kids thrive because they are our future workforce, leaders and community members. All kids, no matter where they live need high-quality care giving for their development. We all have a role to play in helping parents and caregivers prepare Colorado's kids for the future.

Children’s social and emotional development begins before birth and is just as important to their success as their cognitive and physical development.

Children’s physical health also begins before birth and lays the foundation for future healthy development.

Services and policies that help strengthen families, prevent abuse and neglect, aid caregivers struggling with adversity, and promote positive interactions within families and caregivers help kids develop their potential.

vaccination

Colorado law (Board of Health rule 6 CCR 1009-2) requires all students attending Colorado schools and licensed child cares to be vaccinated against certain diseases, unless an exemption is filed. Schools and child care centers are required to report immunization and exemption data (no personal information is submitted) for their enrolled students to the state health department each year. This information is then shared with the public each spring, and can be found at COVaxRates.org.   

Vaccine preventable diseases such as pertussis, measles and Hepatitis A are causing illness in Colorado currently. For vaccine hesitant families, please view these resources to find out more about vaccines and how to stop the spread of vaccine preventable diseases. 

  • Vaccine Information for Parents from the Colorado Department of Health
  • Watch as Dr. Offit talks about altering the vaccine schedule in this short video, part of the Talking about Vaccines with Dr. Paul Offit video series
  • 2020 Parent Letter from Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment regarding school immunizations
  • see Related Resources to the right, to view the ACIP recommended immunization schedule for 2019-2020. 

toddler vaccination

Local Resources & Programs

Find information about local resources and programs that support kids and families.

Websites on Social Emotional Development

See websites with more information on social emotional development.

Websites on Children's Physical Development