Joint Initiatives

Emergency Preparedness for Early Childhood Professionals
2025-03-12 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Denver) | Online
The ChildCare Aware of America training aims to help childcare programs and providers better prepare for emergencies. Participants will receive resources and the training covers:
• Importance of emergency preparedness for childcare
• Actions required for different emergencies
• Supporting children’s needs
• Writing an emergency plan
Instructor: Geanina Brown, Foundations Workforce Manager

Career Navigator Virtual Office Hours
2025-03-17 11:30 - 14:30, 2025-04-07 11:30 - 14:30, 2025-04-21 11:30 - 14:30, 2025-05-05 11:30 - 14:30, 2025-05-19 11:30 - 14:30
FREE SUPPORT TO PURSUE OR ADVANCE YOUR CAREER!
Do you need guidance navigating the many paths toward a rewarding career in early childhood? Have you been in the field and would like to know the opportunities for advancing your career? Joint Initiatives offers free career navigation! It includes PDIS support, assistance with college enrollment or applying for the Advancing Early Childhood Educators program (below), answering CDA questions, portfolio support, + more!
NEW! Virtual Office Hours via Zoom!
1st and 3rd Mondays | 11:30 am–2:30 pm
¡Ofrecemos nuestros servicios en Español!
For the Career Navigation flyer in Spanish, click HERE.
Download our Navigator Flyer for details and the link to virtual office hours or visit our BuildMyECECareer.com to schedule a free time to chat.
SHARE THE OPPORTUNITY
If you know someone considering a career in early childhood education, BuildMyECECareer.com has complete details for getting started, including inspiring videos highlighting those in the field!
Advancing Early Childhood Educators FLYER 11.8.24

REACH Committee
2025-03-20 13:00 - 14:30, 2025-04-17 13:00 - 14:30, 2025-05-15 13:00 - 14:30, 2025-06-19 13:00 - 14:30, 2025-07-17 13:00 - 14:30, 2025-08-21 13:00 - 14:30 | JI Ascend Center, 1600 N. Union Blvd., Colorado Springs, CO, 80909, United States
As the oversight group for Pathways, the REACH Committee brings together individuals and organization representatives able to incorporate wraparound services and crisis response for youth and their families experiencing multiple challenges in the Pikes Peak region and the 4th Judicial District.
Meetings are in person at the Ascend Center.
For more information, contact Cassy Reyes.

FREE Playgroup for Parents + Caregivers
2025-04-23 09:30 - 11:00, 2025-08-13 09:30 - 11:00, 2025-08-27 09:30 - 11:00, 2025-09-10 09:30 - 11:00 | JI Ascend Center, 1600 N. Union Blvd., Colorado Springs, CO, 80909, United States
Join us for PLAYGROUP every other Wednesday from 9:30 – 11 am at JI’s Ascend Center location (1600 N. Union Blvd.)

August 13 and 27
September 10 and 24
October 8 and 22
November 5 and 19

Children (ages birth–5) and their parents, caregivers, grandparents, and/or favorite adults are invited for a playful morning of music, movement, art, and fun together!
This playgroup embraces children of all abilities. Older siblings are welcome, but the focus of the group will be on children five and under.
Adults must supervise their children.
To save time at the check-in table, REGISTRATION is REQUESTED.

Early Childhood Staff Recruitment + Retention
2025-05-03 09:00 - 12:00 | Online
While there is no easy answer to solve the early childhood workforce crisis, this session will support directors and administrators to think about the factors within their programs that support recruitment and retention. This session will provide meaningful insights and practical ideas into why turnover happens and how to reverse this trend within their programs and centers. It will also provide time to brainstorm together and learn how others are tackling the challenges of recruitment and retention.
Trainer: Maegan Lokteff, PhD
Early Childhood Council Leadership Alliance (ECCLA)

FREE Playgroup for Parents + Caregivers
2025-05-07 09:30 - 11:00 | Penrose Library, 20 N. Cascade Ave., 80903
Join us for PLAYGROUP every other Wednesday from 9:30 – 11 am!
April 23
May 7, 21
Children (ages birth–5) and their parents, caregivers, grandparents, and/or favorite adults are invited for a playful morning of music, movement, art, and fun together!
This playgroup embraces children of all abilities. Older siblings are welcome, but the focus of the group will be on children five and under.
Adults must supervise their children.
To save time at the check-in table, REGISTRATION is REQUESTED.

Nature Play at Home | Family, Friend + Neighbor Training
2025-05-28 09:30 - 11:00
The objective of this training is to encourage participants to engage in nature-based outdoor play and learning with young children on a daily basis to promote healthy physical, social-emotional and cognitive development. Participants will be introduced to simple, low-cost ways to support nature-based experiences in home-based care environments and will practice these approaches through hands-on demonstration activities. Participants will receive this training at no cost and will be provided with a materials grant to support the purchase of materials and supplies.
Training facilitated by ECHO (Early Childhood Health Outdoors)

Kids Count in Colorado Presentation
2025-06-25 09:30 - 11:30 | First Lutheran Church, 1515 N. Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs, CO, United States
Joint Initiatives is excited to share that the Colorado Children’s Campaign is coming back to El Paso County!

Join us on June 25th from 9:30 to 11:30 AM for a meaningful conversation about the challenges and opportunities facing children and families in our community. We’ll take a closer look at the latest data, what it means for El Paso County, and how we can work together to turn information into action.

This is a great opportunity to come together, learn, and connect around the children, families, and community we all care about.

View flyer HERE

We hope you’ll join us!

Director's Professional Learning Community
2025-06-25 13:00 - 14:00 | JI Ascend Center, 1600 N. Union Blvd., Colorado Springs, CO, 80909, United States
Join our PLC designed specifically for Early Childhood Directors!

Gain tools and knowledge to discuss and plan career ladder steps with staff.
Explore and review a specialized Early Childhood Career Ladder Toolkit.
Build a peer mentoring network to support implementation and foster sustainable recruitment and retention strategies.
Experience a collaborative space to mentor one another, overcome internal capacity limitations, and drive progress in workforce development through structured career pathways and pay scale supports.

Click JOIN NOW to begin creating a sustainable model for teacher recruitment and retention. Peer mentorship within a PLC is a powerful way to make this change happen.

Circle of Security Parenting Support Group (for Parents + Caregivers)
2025-06-25 18:00 - 2025-08-20 20:00, 2025-07-01 18:00 - 2025-08-26 20:00 | Online
Parents and caregivers are invited to a FREE 8-session class.
At times all parents feel lost or without a clue about what our child might need from us. Imagine what it might feel like if you were able to make sense of what your child was really asking from you. The Circle of Security Parenting™ program is based on decades of research about how secure parent-child relationships can be supported and strengthened.
Learning Objectives of the Program:

Understand your child’s emotional world by learning to read the emotional needs
Support your child’s ability to successfully manage emotions
Enhance the development of your child’s self esteem
Honor your innate wisdom and desire for your child to be secure

View flyer HERE.

Child Development Associate+ Info Session
2025-07-15 13:00 - 14:00 | Online
Come learn about the FREE CDA+, created by Pikes Peak State College, a ten-session program (80 hours) beginning this September that allows you earn seven college credits. Training is assignment- and participation-based, with no testing required for successful program completion. The program will translate to seven PLA college credits at PPSC.
Prerequisite: Have a current Child Development Associate® (CDA) Credential™. Your current CDA credential will be submitted for PLA college credits eliminating the need for continual CDA renewal.
Students completing the program will receive $800.00 in funding to help remove barriers.
View Flyer HERE.

Early Learning & Development Guidelines Series
2025-08-20 18:30 - 20:30, 2025-08-27 18:30 - 20:30, 2025-09-03 18:30 - 20:30, 2025-09-10 18:30 - 20:30 | JI Ascend Center, 1600 N. Union Blvd., Colorado Springs, CO, 80909, United States
JI is excited to offer a series of four professional development trainings focused on the ELDGs, which outline the developmental milestones and learning progression of children from birth to 8 years of age. These guidelines are essential tools for supporting young children’s growth and success across early learning environments.
While we encourage participants to attend the full series for a comprehensive understanding, you are welcome to select the sessions that are most relevant to your role and program needs.
Registration for each session of this series is separate.
Topics/Dates:
August 20 | What are the ELDGs and Why Are They Important?
Register HERE
August 27 | Using the ELDGs for Lesson Planning
Register HERE
September 3 | Using the ELDGs for Child Assessment
Register HERE
September 10 | Using the ELDGs to Inform Socio-Emotional Development Lesson Planning
Register HERE

Child Development Associate+
2025-09-04 08:30 - 16:30 | JI/Foundations
The CDA+, created by Pikes Peak State College (PPSC), is a ten-session program (80 hours) that allows you to earn seven PLA college credits. If you have a current CDA, check out this NO-COST program that includes $800 in funding for YOU. Successful completion will eliminate the need for CDA renewal! Check out the flyer for full details and the link to apply below.
PROGRAM DETAILS

Joint Initiatives for Youth + Families provides in-person training
on Thursdays – see sidebar at right.
Training is assignment- and participation-based, with no testing
required for successful program completion.
CDA credential will be submitted for PLA college credits.

Prerequisite: Have a current Child Development Associate®
(CDA) Credential™. Your current CDA credential will be submitted
for college credits, eliminating the need for continual CDA renewal.
🔗 CDA+ FLYER

HomeFront Help Cohort Training for Trusted Caregivers
2025-09-06 08:00 - 16:00 | JI Ascend Center, 1600 N. Union Blvd., Colorado Springs, CO, 80909, United States
Operation Child Care Project (OCC Project) is a nationwide nonprofit led by military spouses, dedicated to improving child care access for military families.
Our HomeFront Help program trains and supports trusted community members to provide safe, flexible care options—filling critical gaps in emergency, part-time, and ad hoc child care. Participants in the HomeFront Help training program receive:

Free CPR training
FBI fingerprinting
Background checks + More
$250 Stipend

There is a brief online training requirement prior to participating in the in-person cohort, but the training is free and participants are paid to take it. Those who complete the in-person cohort training also receive a $250 stipend, and there are ongoing incentive opportunities. Together, we’re building a community-based solution that meets families where they are.
