Montelores Early Childhood Council

Amy Long | MECC Coordinator | 30 North Beech Street #D | PO Box 1510 | Cortez, CO 81321 | (970) 564-1195 ex 3864

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Imagination Library

Residents of Montezuma and Cortez counties can sign up children from birth to 4 for Imagination Library and receive a free book. Go to: imaginationlibrary.com

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Local Kids & Economy

FACTS ABOUT MECC’S CHILDREN

The 2015 Kids Count for Colorado’s kids is out and of interest to all Coloradans. Here are selected slides about the kids in Montezuma County.

Click Here to see a PDF of the full Power Point for Montezuma County

2015 Montezuma County Kids Count — Montezuma County ranked last of the 25 largest counties in Colorado in the Child Well-Being Index, dropping 1 level from the previous year. This slide summarizes the factors that make up the Child Well-Being Index.

2015 Montezuma County Kids Count — The number of children in Montezuma county declined at the same time that the overall number of children in the state grew.

2015 Montezuma County Kids Count — Children of color are increasing in number across the state and in our two counties. By 2021, children of color will be the majority among Colorado kids.

2015 Montezuma County Kids Count — Some good news overall for the kids in our state, although 190,00+ children live in families that are having a hard time making ends meet.

2015 Montezuma County Kids Count — Not such good news for the children on our counties, where the poverty rate is well above the state level. What does it mean to be poor? It means that a family of four lives on $23,850 a year. Yet what does it cost for a family of four to live in Montezuma county, including paying taxes, health care, transportation, food, child care, housing, and miscellaneous? It costs $55,956! And in Dolores county? It costs $52,956!

2015 Montezuma County Kids Count — Almost 2/3rds of children under 6 years-of-age live in poverty in Montezuma County.

2015 Montezuma County Kids Count — New in this year’s Kids Count presentation was information about toxic stress in early childhood, and the life long effects on the developing brain.

2015 Montezuma County Kids Count — Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) not only affect brain development and health, they affect success in school and life.

2015 Montezuma County Kids Count — Toxic stress actually changes the physical structure of the brain in areas that control regulation, learning skills, and social relating skills.

2015 Montezuma County Kids Count — 9% of Colorado kids have been exposed to two or more adverse childhood experiences by the age of 6.

2015 Montezuma County Kids Count — Between 2008-2014 more than 100,000 Colorado kids got health insurance, thanks to public programs. Having health insurance means that families can take better care of their kids by getting them seen by a health care provider when they’re sick. Kids who get health care when they need it miss less school.

2015 Montezuma County Kids Count — A majority of children in both Montezuma and Dolores counties rely on public programs for health care.

2015 Montezuma County Kids Count — Montezuma County kids aren’t doing well in reading. Remember, success in literacy and reading begins in the “cradle” and on the laps of parents! Read to your children every single day. You won’t regret it.

2015 Montezuma County Kids Count — And even worse in math.

2015 Montezuma County Kids Count — Here are the results for Dolores County.

2015 Montezuma County Kids Count — Many kids in Montezuma county drop out of high school or take more than 4 years to complete high school. The outlook is very poor for those without a high school degree to have success in life.

2015 Montezuma County Kids Count — Here are the graduation rates by district.

2015 Montezuma County Kids Count — A high school diploma makes success in employment much more likely. And the revised GED exam is much harder than the “old” one, and many more non-graduates are failing. In fact, Colorado is seeking to buy an easier exam so more students can attain a GED. It’s better for all if people graduate from high school!

2015 Montezuma County Kids Count — We hope you’re wondering, “What can I do?” Write a letter to the editor, get involved in local early childhood and K-12 programs, make your voice heard. One thing you can do is become a Family Leader by participating in the Family Leadership Training Institute. Free classes, with a meal and childcare, begin in January. Just type Family Leadership Training Institute into the search box of our website & you will be directed to more information.