Agency: Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) – Division of Early Learning Licensing & Administration
Website: https://cdec.colorado.gov
Description: The Colorado Department of Early Childhood licenses and regulates child care centers, family child care homes, school-age programs, and other early learning settings. Providers can access licensing regulations, inspections, applications, forms, and compliance resources.
Program: Colorado Shines
Website: https://www.coloradoshines.com
Description: Colorado Shines is Colorado's statewide Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS), helping early childhood programs improve quality through coaching, professional development, assessments, and quality ratings.
Registry: Colorado Shines Professional Development Information System (PDIS)
Website: https://www.coloradoshinespdis.com
Description: Colorado's official professional development registry where early childhood professionals complete required training, track credentials, maintain learning records, and access approved professional development.
Organization: Colorado Shines Child Care Referral
Website: https://www.coloradoshines.com
Description: Connects families with licensed child care programs while providing providers with technical assistance, coaching, quality improvement resources, and business support.
Organization: Colorado Association for the Education of Young Children (Colorado AEYC)
Website: https://www.coloradoaeyc.org
Description: Supports early childhood professionals through advocacy, conferences, networking, leadership development, and professional learning.
Organization: Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE)
Website: https://cdphe.colorado.gov
Description: Administers Colorado's Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), providing nutrition guidance, reimbursement, training, and technical assistance.
Agency: Colorado Department of Early Childhood
Website: https://cdec.colorado.gov
Description: Child care providers and employees must complete comprehensive background checks, fingerprinting, and other required clearances before working in licensed child care settings.
Program: Universal Preschool Colorado (UPK)
Website: https://upk.colorado.gov
Description: Colorado's Universal Preschool Program provides eligible children with access to state-funded preschool opportunities before kindergarten.
Program: Early Intervention Colorado
Website: https://cdec.colorado.gov/early-intervention-colorado
Description: Provides coordinated early intervention services for infants and toddlers with developmental delays or disabilities and supports families throughout Colorado.
Organization: Colorado Department of Early Childhood
Website: https://cdec.colorado.gov
Description: Provides workforce development initiatives, quality improvement funding, grants, scholarships, and financial assistance that support Colorado's early childhood professionals and programs.
Training requirements include orientation, health and safety, pediatric CPR and First Aid, prevention of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), medication administration (when applicable), child abuse reporting, and ongoing professional development. Training records are maintained through Colorado Shines PDIS.
Website: https://cdec.colorado.gov
Description: Access licensing applications, provider forms, inspection reports, regulations, background check information, and additional child care resources.
Website: https://cdec.colorado.gov
Description: Access licensing applications, provider forms, inspection reports, regulations, background check information, and additional child care resources.
Agency: Connecticut Office of Early Childhood (OEC)
Website: https://www.ctoec.org
Description: The Connecticut Office of Early Childhood licenses and regulates child care centers, group child care homes, family child care homes, and youth camps. The agency provides licensing regulations, inspections, provider resources, forms, and compliance guidance.
Program: Sparkler Quality Supports (Formerly NAEYC Accreditation Facilitation & QRIS Supports)
Website: https://www.ctoec.org
Description: Connecticut supports continuous quality improvement through coaching, accreditation support, technical assistance, and professional learning opportunities that help programs strengthen quality.
Registry: Connecticut Early Childhood Professional Registry
Website: https://www.ctregistry.org
Description: Connecticut's professional development registry allows early childhood professionals to maintain education and training records, document credentials, and access professional learning opportunities.
Organization: Connecticut Office of Early Childhood – Child Care Resource & Referral Network
Website: https://www.211childcare.org
Description: Connecticut's statewide Child Care Resource & Referral network connects families with child care while providing technical assistance, coaching, and professional resources for providers.
Organization: Connecticut Association for the Education of Young Children (CTAEYC)
Website: https://www.ctaeyc.org
Description: Supports early childhood professionals through advocacy, networking, conferences, leadership development, and professional learning opportunities.
Organization: Connecticut State Department of Education – Child Nutrition Programs
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/SDE/Nutrition
Description: Administers Connecticut's Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), providing reimbursement, nutrition guidance, training, and technical assistance.
Agency: Connecticut Office of Early Childhood
Website: https://www.ctoec.org
Description: Child care providers and employees must complete comprehensive criminal background checks and required clearances before working in licensed child care programs.
Program: Connecticut School Readiness Program
Website: https://www.ctoec.org
Description: Provides high-quality preschool opportunities for eligible children through state-funded early childhood programs designed to prepare children for kindergarten success.
Program: Connecticut Birth to Three System
Website: https://www.birth23.org
Description: Provides early intervention services for infants and toddlers with developmental delays or disabilities and supports families through coordinated services.
Organization: Connecticut Office of Early Childhood
Website: https://www.ctoec.org
Description: Offers workforce development initiatives, quality improvement funding, grants, scholarships, and financial assistance that support Connecticut's early childhood professionals and programs.
Training requirements include health and safety, pediatric CPR and First Aid, child abuse and neglect reporting, medication administration (when applicable), emergency preparedness, and ongoing professional development. Training records are maintained through the Connecticut Early Childhood Professional Registry.
Website: https://www.ctoec.org
Description: Access licensing applications, provider forms, inspection reports, regulations, background check information, and additional child care resources.
Website: https://www.ctoec.org
Description: Stay informed about licensing updates, policy changes, grant opportunities, quality initiatives, professional development, and early childhood news throughout Connecticut.
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