E453154D10E13978872582E300545313 Hearing Summary CLICS/CLICS2018A/commsumm.nsf PUBLICBILL SUMMARY For TWO-GENERATION APPROACH IN ACTIONINTERIM COMMITTEE EARLY CHILDHOOD AND SCHOOL READINESSDate Aug 8, 2018 Location SCR 357 Two-Generation Approach in Action - Committee Discussion Only Attachment Tag File Name Attachment http://www2.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLICS2018A/commsumm.nsf/0/800D12BD4769...$File/180808 AttachA.pdf?OpenElement 180808 AttachA.pdf 09:21:12 AM Representative Buckner, Chair, called the meeting to order. 09:22:25 AM Mary Alice Cohen, Two-Generation (two-gen) Initiatives Coordinator for the Colorado Department of Human Services (DHS), Victor Vialpando-Nunez, Dean of Academic Affairs for the Community College of Aurora (CCA), and Ethan Hemming, President & CEO of Warren Village, came to the table to begin their presentation. Ms. Cohen explained the history of the two-gen approach and distributed a handout to the committee [Attachment A]. She told the committee that early childhood programs run along the spectrum of child-focused, child-focused with parent elements, parent-focused with child elements, and parent-focused. She stated that the two-gen approach provides opportunities to meet the needs of both parents and children. Ms. Cohen spoke about looking at the needs of both and figuring out a way to harness solutions to address both groups effectively. She spoke about emerging research supporting the benefits of a two-gen approach, and the return on investment of early childhood education. 09:30:33 AM Ms. Cohen explained the integrated approach to helping families, and stated that families are able to reach major economic milestones three to four times more quickly if they recieve more than one service. She said that when all of these services work together, it supports the whole family on the path towards success. She discussed services in the realm of early childhood education, social capital, postsecondary and employment pathways, economic assets, and health and well-being. Ms. Cohen answered questions from the commitee about funding sources for the two-gen approach, including county Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funding, nonprofit organizations, private foundations, and early childhood and home visiting federal funding. She spoke about the importance of bringing community leaders together to access the community funding already in existance. 09:35:16 AM Ms. Cohen explained that the two-gen approach is focused on the needs and goals of each individual family. She said that in 60 percent of families her department is working with, at least one parent is working toward obtaining a General Education Diploma (GED), and in about 20 percent of families, at least one parent is working towards a short-term post-secondary certificate. She spoke about the two-gen programs at the DHS, including early childhood programs such as Colorardo Shines, economic supports like the transitional food program, employment programs including the Strenghtening Working Families Initiative, and health and well-being programs such as SafeCare Colorado. She answered questions about the connection between the two-gen approach and Family, Friend, and Neighbor care networks. She told the committee that DHS is releasing a Request for Proposals this fall for a grant to community and business members to come up with ways to support and innovate around two-gen work in Colorado. 09:43:40 AM Ms. Cohen discussed several current state-level programs and activities pertaining to the two-gen approach. 09:47:20 AM Mr. Hemming began his presentation. He spoke about the mission of Warren Village, which is to provide affordable housing, child and parent advocacy, and family support services. He told the commission that Warren Village has a learning center on-site to provide child care and learning services for 13 hours a day so that residents can work and/or go to school. Mr. Hemming answered questions about how the program is funded. He spoke about the need to meet people where they are at any given time, and the importance of providing individualized programs based on the needs of each parent and child. 09:57:48 AM Mr. Hemming responded to questions concerning how to ensure the families in the program are working towards degrees or training programs that are applicable in today's workforce, and how to continue to help these families after they leave Warren Village. 10:02:25 AM Mr. Vialpando-Nunez began his presentation. He provided several highlights of the Strenghtening Working Families Initiative (SWFI) grant that CCA received to implement direct wrap-around services to help students and families get degrees that lead to high-paying jobs. Mr. Vialpando-Nunez mentioned the initiatives CCA is implementing to foster a two-gen approach by creating partnerships with childcare centers, employers, and other community organizations. He spoke about the SWFI Child Care Learning Community, a group that meets quarterly to come up with a long-term sustainable model for the two-gen approach.