Children's Outreach Project

A nonprofit organization

Children's Outreach Project is a high quality, early childhood education center founded in 1970. The agency provides services to low-income and developmentally delayed children between the ages of 2.5 and 6, giving vulnerable children the extra boost they need to close the learning gap.

Testimonials

Natalie is a single mother of two children, a daughter Anna age 5, and a son David age 4. She struggles every day to make ends meet and provide for her children. Children's Outreach Project works with Natalie to help link her to public assistance programs, child care assistance and cover 35% of the tuition for her children to attend our program. Children's Outreach Project accepts government child care subsidies through programs such as such as the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) and the Colorado Preschool Program (CPP), but these subsidies do not cover the actual cost of programming. Therefore, additional funds are raised through grants, donations, and a variety of fundraising efforts in order to serve the neediest of families. It is estimated that every dollar invested in early childhood education programming saves the taxpayer approximately $7 on remedial services and criminal justice system costs long-term.

Since Anna and David have begun at C.O.P. our staff has watched them blossom into inquisitive and motivated young students. The family attends our twice-monthly family education night Kids Connect led and sponsored by the Denver Junior League volunteers. At every session families are served a healthy dinner, participate in literacy based activities and receive a book to take home. Natalie, Anna and David are some of our most loyal participants. Last year Anna won second place in the reading contest, reading a total of 390 books over the course of the year. Even though Natalie works full time and has limited free time, she acknowledges that this will give her children a better start to their education and help them see that literacy should be a priority in their lives.

Natalie is not alone. Over half of our families annually are single mothers, from young mothers working to get their GEDs to graduate student mothers working on their dissertations, C.O.P. is there to help them provide a future of possibilities for their children. Ensuring working parents have access to safe, high-quality, and affordable child care that promotes their child's school readiness is one of the best strategies for breaking the cycle of poverty.

Natalie says of our program, "It's like a home away from home. It's the truth. All of the teachers keep me up to date with everything and help me learn how to use the techniques at school at home as well. Our teachers and staff are always there to answer any questions I have. My kids don't have much support at home, it's only me. But I know when they're here they have everyone! I've seen them grow so much, learning to write their names and improving their relationships socially as well. This is where my children began their lives; we'll always remember our time at Children's Outreach Project."

Mission

The mission of Children's Outreach Project is: To provide a quality early childhood education to typical, accelerated and developmentally delayed children in the metro Denver area.

Background Statement

When Children's Outreach Project was founded in 1970, it began as a unique, early childhood, special education project. The school was initiated by the University of Colorado Medical Center's JFK Child Development Center to fill a gap in services for high-quality child care for children with special needs. Originally the school was used as a day placement facility for abused, neglected and at-risk children. In the 1980's a strong demand for integrated, high-quality early childhood education (ECE) necessitated a program expansion, and Children's Outreach Project became an independent nonprofit organization. In 1986 the organization secured deeded land and constructed the current dome-shaped building at 8000 Pecos Street. While the facility has undergone expansion and continual maintenance, the program is still housed in the same building today. In 2007, Children's Outreach Project became the first four-star Qualistar rated child care facility in Adams County. We continue to maintain a high-quality rating and make it a priority of our organization every year as we continue to progress.

Today, the school continues to provide therapeutic educational programming and reaches out to parents with children of all abilities by offering quality care and support. For 45 years, Children's Outreach Project has lived by its pledge to nurture and guide students toward a productive and positive future. Our roots are deep in the community we serve. Families can sense the commitment of the teachers, aides and therapists and our dedicated teaching staff have been with us long term with little turn over.

Organization Data

Summary

Organization name

Children's Outreach Project

other names

C.O.P.

Year Established

1970

Tax id (EIN)

84-0824956

Category

Education

Address

8000 Pecos St
Denver, CO 80221

Service areas

Adams County, CO, US