Keeping Families Strong during COVID-19

Nearly two hundred professionals joined together this week for the second in a series of conversations on Keeping Families Strong during COVID-19.

As a result of everyone who contributed by sharing ideas and needs, we have compiled meeting summaries and notes linked below.

​FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE IN STRENGTHENING FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES

​Conversation on Keeping Families Strong during COVID-19
Tuesday, April 21st 
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Register in advance for this meeting and receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. 
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Join to share adaptations, responses and needs to strengthen families during these unprecedented times.

Subscribe to receive information this meeting and future outreach activities of the Colorado Partnership for Thriving Families.

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CONVERSATION ON KEEPING FAMILIES STRONG DURING COVID-19
​TUESDAY, APRIL 7TH - SUMMARY 

Across the state, people from many organizations and professions who do family strengthening work continue to adapt their responses to strengthen families during these unprecedented times. From this conversation four themes emerged:

Communities are innovating to ensure families have what they need. From drive-thru food pantries to tele-home visits to virtual dance clubs, folks across the field are employing creativity to provide concrete resources and social connections to children, parents, and families. To get inspired by your peers, explore our notes!

While we’ve made some progress, concrete supports remain urgent not only for families but also for service providers. With plans in place to increase distribution of diapers, formula, and wipes, we’re hopeful. However in addition to the needs of families we identified last call, participants shared that families who are experiencing loss also need resources to cover funeral costs. Finding housing and food resources for families who are experiencing homelessness is especially difficult. Additionally, food pantries, child care providers, and others continue to be in need of gloves, masks, and cleaning supplies.

Internet challenges persist. Rural and frontier communities continue to face additional barriers to services and social connections as many programs and social relationships switch to online.

We all have a role to play--professionally and personally--to build social connections in our communities. Whether it’s finding new ways to virtually check in with families we serve, connecting with our peers and workforce, or developing new initiatives to build social connections between parents, we all can continue to proactively foster and build relationships. 

Please use what's meaningful to you from this meeting summary and our notes.

On behalf of Illuminate Colorado and the Colorado Partnership for Thriving Families, we thank everyone for your commitment to this work! Let us know if you have any questions or if there is anything else we can do to support you in these uncertain times.

Virtual Listening Session as part of Gov. Polis’s prenatal to three policy priority development
​Friday, April 3rd - SUMMARY 

The Colorado Partnership for Thriving Families (CPTF) would like to thank everyone who participated in our Virtual Listening Session to inform Governor Polis’s prenatal to three policy priorities. Overall, we see a number of opportunities to strengthen child care access, increase health care access and affordability, bolster family economic security, ensure food access, and expand social connections.

​Please explore our compiled notes, which were submitted for consideration.