Project Summary
1. Improving referral pathways for UPK: Two primary outcomes in Colorado UPK’s Theory of Change are that (a) families, providers, and the general public are aware and educated about UPK and (b) families have equitable access to enroll their child in a high-quality preschool of choice. The independent evaluation has only been able to answer questions related to these outcomes for families who have already applied to participate in UPK, but the evaluation has not yet been able to comprehensively gather information from families who are eligible but have not participated in UPK. Reaching families who have not yet engaged in a program is extremely hard in evaluation work. Therefore, this LINC project is uniquely positioned to examine access and enrollment to the program among eligible families with four-year-olds who have engaged other state and local systems, some who
have accessed UPK and some who haven’t.
2. Improving UPK access and enrollment for children with qualifying factors: Colorado’s UPK has set eligibility rules that commit partial funding for all 4-year-olds and additional hours of preschool coverage for children meeting qualifying factors, including demonstrated low-income, dual language learner, special education needs, child welfare involvement, and homeless/unhoused. This LINC project will bring together information from multiple state and local systems to understand whether children who meet these qualifying criteria are accessing UPK at all, and whether they are applying for, receiving, and using additional hours of preschool coverage. This information can inform referral pathways to improve UPK enrollment and financial coverage among families in greatest need.
3. Opportunity for referral from UPK to other state and local public systems: Colorado’s UPK is the largest state program serving families with preschool-age children and has a unique opportunity to refer families to other services for which they are eligible. It is possible that families have children who meet program qualifying factors that also make them eligible for programs that could improve their financial and housing stability like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Colorado Childcare Assistance Program (CCCAP), and homeless and housing services. This LINC project will be able to see how common this is from linkage of UPK verified qualification factors and involvement in these other programs. This information can inform a referral process from the UPK program to other assistance programs among UPK-involved families.
Data Partners
-
Colorado Department of Early Childhood
- Colorado Department of Human Services – Office of Children, Youth, and Families
- Colorado Department of Human Services – Division of Economic Security, Office of Economic and Workforce Support
- Colorado Department of Human Services – Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Metro Denver Homelessness Initiative
-
Balance of State Continuum of Care
-
Northern Colorado Continuum of Care
-
Pikes Peak Continuum of Care