Who We Are.

The Early Childhood Council of La Plata County is a collaboration of 24 agencies and organizations dedicated to improving the lives of young children and their families.  Partners range from governmental agencies to non-profits…child care providers to parents.  Monthly Council meetings are held as a forum for sharing ideas, resources, and support.  The public is welcome to attend these meetings to learn more about early childhood in La Plata County.  Meetings are held on the 2nd Thursday of the month are posted on our Calendar of Events. Please contact Tamara at tamarav@ecclaplata.org if you are interested in attending a meeting.  Please contact Tamara at tamarav@ecclaplata.org if you are interested in attending a meeting. To become a member we ask that you read and fill out an Active Partner Membership Invitation. Click link below:  Active Partner Membership Form

Our Staff.

The Early Childhood Council staff is made up of a group of professionals who help coordinate the communication and activities associated with all of the agencies, organizations, training opportunities and programs that help support the mission of the Council. Please see our Staff Directory

Our Partners.

Early Childhood Council Partners

Children's Cornerstone: Children’s Cornerstone is an early learning center for ages 6 weeks through 5 years old. We believe that children learn best through child centered curriculum and intentional engagement of teachers. Our dedicated teachers provide many opportunities for each child to grow and learn by encouraging imagination, independence, curiosity, and creativity so that they will be better prepared for success in kindergarten and beyond. Our hours of operation are 7:30 am to 5:30 pm, 5 days a week, 12 months a year. For more information, contact Laura Melot, Director, 2899 Holly Avenue, Durango, CO 81301, 970-375-6337, ccornerstone@bresnan.net.

Commons Childcare/Adult Education Center: The Commons Childcare provides child care for the children of students attending classes at Durango Adult Education Center or Southwest Community College. Care is provided while the parent is in the building attending class. For more information, contact Patricia O'Kane Ey, Director, ey.patricia@gmail.com, 701 Camino Del Rio Suite #301, Durango CO 81301, 970-385-8916.

Durango School District 9-R: Durango School District 9-R offers preschool classes in each of its elementary schools during the school year for children with identified disabilities, those who qualify for the Colorado Preschool Program, and those paying tuition. The goals of the programs are to prepare children for success in kindergarten and to make their first school experience positive, fun, and stimulating. For more information, contact Lauri Kloepfer, Director of Curriculum and Instruction 759-5098, lkloepfer@durango.k12.co.us.

La Plata Family Centers Coalition: La Plata Family Centers Coalition provides resource and referral to families as well as parent education, early childhood education, family development and Medicaid/CHP+ enrollment for children. For more information, contact Rachel Cameron, 970-385-4747, rachel@lpfcc.org, 489 Florida Road,
Durango, CO 81301.

Lavenia McCoy Public Library: The Lavenia McCoy Public Library, located in Bayfield, offers some great programs for young children and their caregivers. In the Fall and Spring, we offer Jammin' Juniors in conjunction with the Bayfield Ignacio Family Center; this program is a fun, interactive lap sit with songs, finger plays and even a parachute! We also offer regular Story times in the Spring and Fall for Preschool aged children; this program includes stories, an activity and a craft. During the summer we have the Summer Reading Program for children ages 0-18; this program encourages reading but also includes several live performances by singers, storytellers, acrobats and magicians. LMPL also offers baby sign language classes for parents and caregivers with infants and toddlers. For more information, contact Elizabeth vonTauffkirchen, elizabeth@lmpl.org, Head of Children's Services, Lavenia McCoy Public Library, 395 Bayfield Center Drive, Bayfield, CO 81122, 970-884-2222 ext. 17.

San Juan Board of Cooperative Educational Services: BOCES, or Boards of Cooperative Educational Services, are public organizations that were created by the Colorado Legislature in 1965 to provide shared educational programs and services to school districts. San Juan BOCES was created in 1973.  In July 2010, Southwest BOCS merged with San Juan BOCES. San Juan BOCES now serves the following districts: Archuleta County (Pagosa Springs), Bayfield, Dolores, Dolores County (Dove Creek), Durango, Ignacio, Mancos, Montezuma-Cortez, and Silverton.  Our mission is to provide a cost-effective, collaborative core services framework for member school districts where student achievement is maximized. For more information, contact Sally West, 970.247.3261 x146, swest@sjboces.org.

San Juan Kids/Community Connections: Community Connections, Inc (CCI) is the Community Centered Board serving Montezuma, Dolores, La Plata, Archuleta and San Juan counties. CCI has two Early Intervention Colorado programs: San Juan Kids (serving La Plata, Archuleta and San Juan counties) and Southwest Kids (serving Montezuma and Dolores counties). These Early Intervention programs can help families support and promote a child’s development within family activities and community life. For more information, call 970-385-3498, sjkids@cci-colorado.org, 281 Sawyer Drive, Suite 200, Durango, CO 81303.

Southwest Office of Child Care Resource and Referral: The Southwest Office of Child Care Resource and Referral maintains a thorough, up-to-date database of all providers in the five county region (Archuleta, Dolores, La Plata, Montezuma and San Juan Counties). The Resource and Referral Coordinator (Shannon Bassett) is able to provide guidance by phone, email, through workshops, newsletters and in person, giving parents referrals to local child care providers and State licensing requirements. The Child Care Resource & Referral services are offered free of charge. If you are looking for child care resource and referral statewide in Colorado, please visit Qualistar.org. We provide the following services:

• Provider Services

• Consultation

• Childcare Information, Click HERE for a Data Request Form

• Assistance for individuals looking to become a Licensed Childcare Program

For more information, contact Shannon Bassett, Child Care Resource and Referral Coordinator, 970-247-5960 X25, shannonb@ecclaplata.org.

Temple Hoyne Buell Early Childhood Professional Training: The Early Childhood Professional Training project, funded by the Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation, serves early childhood care providers throughout Southwest Colorado in identifying licensing requirements that require college based training and in locating required courses.  Assistance is offered in the college application process, applying for financial aid and course selection to meet professional training goals that require college course work.  For applicants who do not qualify for any other source of financial support to enroll in college course work, scholarships are available.  The Project Administrator is Barbara Dodds and she can be reached at bdodds@durangoaec.org or by calling 259-2094.  Her office is at the Durango Adult Education Center, 3rd floor, The Commons Building, 701 Camino Del Rio, Durango, CO 81301.

Other ECC Partners

Axis Health Systems (formerly SW CO Mental Health Center)
Bayfield Early Education Programs
Division of Child Care-Licensing Specialist
Ft. Lewis College Teacher Education
La Plata County Department of Human Services
La Plata County (Commissioner)
Mercy Employee Child Care
Riverhouse Children's Center
San Juan Basin Health Department
Southern Ute Indian Montessori Academy
Southern Ute Montessori Head Start
Tri-County Head Start

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