Colorado State Profile:

View Colorado's state profile in PDF format.

Key Facts About

Children birth to 3 years, their families, and the child care system that serves them

2005 estimated population: 4,665,177
U.S. Census 2005 Population Estimate

2000 population: 4,301,261
U.S. Census 2000

Administration for Children and Families (ACF)-Child Care Bureau Data

• An average of 6,003 children 0-3 are served per monthby the Child Care and Development Fund
  (FY 2005 ACF-801 data, Child Care Bureau)
• In Federal Fiscal Year 2004 the Infant/Toddler ChildCare and Develpment Fund Set-Aside =$1,163,133
  (FY 2006 CCDF Allocations Based on Appropriations,U.S. Dept. of HHS, ACF)

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) - Office of Head Start Data

329 children served by 10 grantees are in Early HeadStart
(2006 Early Head Start Funded Enrollment)
(EHSNRC Database-September 2006)

U.S. Department of Education (DOE) - IDEA, Part C Data

3,754 children under 3 receive early intervention services under IDEA, Part C
(U.S. Dept. of Education, Office of Special Ed. Programs, Data Analysis System (DANS), 2005)

Child Care Referral Data

59% of all the requests for child care to the child care resource and referral programs were for infant and toddler care
(Child Care Profile, 2006 State Facts NACCRRA)

Special initiatives within the State/Territory

Infant/Toddler Caregiver Credential:	No
Infant/Toddler Child Development Associate (CDA) *:	40 issued in 2005 27 issued in 2002 28 issued in 1998
Early Learning Guidelines for 0-3:	No
Infant/Toddler Specialist Network:	No

Child Care Licensing data - Staff to Child ratios

In Center-Based Care the staff-to-child ratios are

1:5 for 6 weeks to 36 months^*; 1:7 for 24 to 36 months; 1:8 for 2.5- to 3-year-olds; 1:10 for 3- and 4-year-olds
(State Licensing Regulations)

In Family Child Care the staff-to-child ratios are

1:4 (with no more than 2 children under 12 months) OR 2:6 (with no more than 3 children under 12 months).

These ratios apply only to infant/toddler homes, which are defined as a type of family child care home providing care only to children birth to three.
(State Licensing Regulations)

Children under the age of 3 data

202,570 Children under The age of 3 live in Colorado

Under 1	66,489
1-2 years	67,506
2-3 years	68,575

U.S. Census 2005 Population Estimate

Women with Children Under the Age of 3 in the Labor Force Data

69% of Colorado Women with Children Under the Age of 3 Are in the Labor Force

Employed	69%
Not in the Labor Force	30%
Unemployed	1%

Current Population Survey, March 2001

Infant Child Care Fees data

Average annual fee for full-time child care for an infant in:

Center based care

$7,459

Cost As a percent of Income Data

Cost of child care for an infant as percent of median income for two-parent families	10%
Cost of child care for an infant as percent of median income for single parent families	29%

Child Care in America: State Facts, NACCRRA, 2006

State/Territory Lead Child Care Lead Agency Information

Colorado Department of Human Services
Division of Child Care
1575 Sherman Street, 1st Floor
Denver, CO  80203-1714

Voice:  303-866-5948
Toll Free: 800-799-5876
Fax: 303-866-4453
Website: http://www.cdhs.state.co.us/childcare/

For the CCDF Administrator's contact information go to:
http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/statedata/dirs/display.cfm?title=ccdf

For more information about Colorado go to:
http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/statedata/statepro/display.cfm?state=colorado

^*Council on Professional Recognition Back
^*Infant nurseries care for children 6 weeks to 18 months; toddler nurseries care for children 12 months (when walking independently) to 36 months. Back