97949384F498F5BB872589F1005831CC Hearing Summary

Jade Wooward, Illuminate Colorado, gave an overview of the programs and services available. She discussed practice and policy recommendations recommended in 2018 that led to legislation in House Bill 19-1193. She gave recommendations including maintaining current funding that supports child care for parents in behavioral health and substance use treatment, ensuring that onsite child care services are funded, and exploring the additions of enrollment in treatment and recovery services as an eligible activity for Colorado Child Care Assistance Program. She discussed safe storage practice recommendations and highlighted the work of Circle of Parents.

Dr. Courtney Everson, Colorado Evaluation and Action Lab, discussed what makes the project unique and how they are able to track results further after birth. She discussed the importance of the first year of life for both the baby and caregiver. She spoke about the importance of using data to drive outcomes. Dr. Clemens asked that the committee request a 250,000 annual appropriation. She discussed Senate Bill 21-137 and ways to strengthen the legislation and advance project impact through key enabling language revisions. Members of the panel answered questions from the committee.