TechWise joined forces with other businesses in El Paso County to support the work of Community Partnership for Child Development (CPCD) through the Head Start, Early Head Start, and Colorado Preschool Programs. Over 10,000 young children wake up in poverty every day, right here in our own Community. Even more are challenged by a special need or fragile home situation. As part of CPCD’s Corporate Team 17, TechWise joins in the work of preparing children for success in school and life.
One portion of CPCD’s Programs includes the formation of the first ever Therapeutic Preschool in Colorado Springs. Early care and education providers are experiencing significant increases in the number of children with behavioral challenges in the preschool setting. Severe cases of behavioral problems point to risk for later school failure and the child may be a danger to themselves or others around them. Early intervention with expert staff, community therapists, and parent training can make the difference.
In the CPCD Therapeutic Classroom, eight children are supported with four highly trained staff members. The classroom is designed to decrease problem behavior, increase social skills and be a safe place to learn. Child and family therapy is carefully planned with the goal of transitioning the child back to the normal classroom setting. A therapist joins the child in the traditional classroom setting and works with the receiving staff to communicate effective strategies that support the child’s progress.
TechWise particularly supports CPCD’s work with area Military Families. Of the over 1900 children and families served by CPCD in 2010/2011, 439 children were from Military Families, many of whom experienced deployments over the past year. Four of the eight original children enrolled in the grand opening of the Therapeutic Preschool on the west side in January 2010 were actually children of Active Duty Military. This may be due to the deployments or parents returning with trauma from their experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan.
CPCD began immediate discussions with Fort Carson for classroom space on Post to replicate the therapeutic model and to be closest to families who need these services. In the Fall of 2011, the new classroom was dedicated to serving children in Military Families with programs provided in partnership with Aspen Pointe and the Evans Army Community Hospital Behavioral Health staff.
Community Partnership for Child Development knows that through early childhood education with family support and comprehensive services that address the whole child, we can make a difference. TechWise supports our Community to educate the child, strengthen the family, and build a Community full of possibilities and opportunity.
CPCD Community Breakfast
On 27 October 2011, CPCD presented their annual fundraising event at the DoubleTree Hotel in Colorado Springs. As a CPCD Sponsor, TechWise CEO Shawnee Huckstep and Director of Communications Daniela Bright attended the event. About 400 members of the Community were in attendance. While breakfast was served, CPCD Members, KKTV’s Shannon Brinias and Don Ward, and beneficiaries of CPCD Programs (children and parents) presented a comprehensive overview of why CPCD Programs are so important to the Children and our Community as a whole. At the end donations were collected, and Marty Kemmer-Contreras, CPCD Community Relations Manager, tells that the breakfast guests responded with $115,000 in support of CPCD Programs.
Marty Kemmer-Contreras contributed to this article
