For many families, the end of the school year brings excitement, celebrations, and summer plans. But for others, it can also bring stress, uncertainty, and difficult questions about childcare, nutrition, and stability.
At VOA Colorado, our Early Childhood Education Programs help provide that stability year-round for families who need it most.
Through Head Start and Early Head Start, VOA Colorado offers free, high-quality, dual-language early education programs for pregnant mothers, infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Beyond the classroom, families also receive support through health resources, nutrition services, mental health support, and family advocacy.
For families like Mateo’s, those services can be life changing.
Mateo was just three years old when his family enrolled him in VOA Colorado’s Head Start program after experiencing significant financial hardship. Quiet and struggling with speech delays, Mateo’s parents worried about how he would adjust to a classroom setting and whether he would be prepared for kindergarten.
With the support of caring bilingual teachers and a welcoming learning environment, Mateo began to thrive. He started participating in group activities, building friendships, and developing confidence in himself and his abilities.
“At VOA Colorado, we meet each child and family exactly where they are,” said Sara Spanich, Director of Children’s Programs. “When we support the whole family, we help create a foundation for long-term success.”
Behind the scenes, Mateo’s parents also received support from their Family Service Worker, helping connect them to health resources, nutrition support, and parenting tools that strengthened the entire family.
Today, Mateo is preparing for kindergarten with confidence, and his parents say VOA Colorado made all the difference.
Stories like Mateo’s happen every day across VOA Colorado’s Early Childhood Education Programs. While on-site classroom services follow the school-year schedule, VOA Colorado’s Early Head Start program operates year-round, and family support staff continue working with families throughout the summer to help ensure children and parents remain connected to critical resources, guidance, and support.
To learn more about VOA Colorado’s Early Childhood Education Programs, volunteer opportunities, or family eligibility, call 720-627-8647.
