The Community Partnership for Child Development has openings for qualifying children in its Head Start, Early Head Start and Colorado Preschool Program.

Started in 1987 under Catholic Charities of Central Colorado, CPCD today operates more than 65 classrooms in six El Paso County school districts and on Fort Carson. Last year, the nonprofit was able to serve about 2,000 of the more than 10,000 children under age 6 living in poverty in the county.

“There are so many statistics, but the one that always sticks with me is how much happens developmentally in this stage of life, age zero to five,” said CPCD communications manager Amie Bennight. “For children with hardships or who have suffered adverse effects, making this program available impacts them for the rest of their lives. It helps break the cycle of poverty.”

Research shows that while most children who enter the program are between 12 and 18 months behind their peers, 97 percent of graduates enter kindergarten prepared; down the line, they’re also less likely to repeat a grade and four times more likely to go to college.

In addition to educational programs, where certified teachers work to foster social and emotional development and expand cognitive skills, CPCD’s free services for children and families living in poverty or with special needs include access to community resources such as medical and dental care.

For more information, visit cpcdheadstart.org or call 635-1536.

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Contact Stephanie Earls: 636-0364