Learn More about Vulnerable Children in Colorado

Young children grow and develop within the context of their families. But not all families are equipped to provide the support and positive environment that children need to develop to their fullest potentials. Because of this, we are committed to helping ensure that low-income children are prepared to enter kindergarten “ready to learn,” meaning they have been exposed to experiences that develop their sensory, language and cognitive skills. Children who enter kindergarten ready to learn are more likely to read proficiently by third grade, a leading indicator of future educational and economic success.

In an effort to provide more insight into Colorado’s early childhood landscape, Shift Research Lab released Colorado's Youngest: A Profile of the 0-5 Population, a demographic brief on children born in the last five years in Colorado, with a specific emphasis on metro Denver. The profile takes an in-depth look at vulnerable births and additional indicators that represent the development of young children. And, accompanying the brief is an interactive story map that allows users to view additional data and explore neighborhood level maps.

By providing community-level information, this demographic profile and story map can be used by elected officials, advocacy groups and direct service providers to better understand where vulnerable children are living, helping to ensure that supportive resources, like quality early care and education providers, are available in high-need communities.