Bright Futures Offers Developmental Programs – and a Baby Mozart CD – Thanks to Grant From Just For Kids

The Colorado Bright Beginnings program has come to the Western Slope, offering no-strings-attached interactive visits to parents and caretakers of children ages 0-36 months.

Administered by the Bright Futures Regional Early Childhood Council, a four-county coalition (San Miguel, Ouray, Montrose and Delta), the CCB program is designed to get families hooked on the reading habit immediately after birth.

Instruction begins with an in-home or community group visit from Bright Futures, which is dedicated to providing leadership, innovation, influence, and resources to ensure a high quality early childhood for all, by disseminating information on health, safety, childcare, community resources, health insurance and early brain development, and highlighting the importance of reading to children from birth.

“I’m so excited to give a Bright Beginning to all the families who visit the library,” says Elizabeth Tracy, youth services manager of Telluride’s Wilkinson Public Library and a Bright Beginnings volunteer.

According to Bright Futures Program Manager Jill Burchmore, the Bright Futures/CCB package helps parents to get off to a great start by giving them the necessary tools for successful parenting. 

“We are so excited about this program,” she says. “I wish there had been a program like this when my children were young!” 

A family’s Bright Futures relationship begins with CCB “Warm Welcome” bags, full of everything from a Mozart CD for babies to books, health care information, learning games and a parent handbook. 

Bright Futures is a resource and referral service for both licensed childcare professionals and parents, providing free training, education and pre-licensing courses for families in its four counties (and in Gunnison and Hinsdale counties as well). 


The CCB programs are offered to any interested families at no cost; residents of Ouray and San Miguel are served through Bright Futures, thanks to a grant from Just For Kids Foundation (for information, call 970/728-5613 or visit www.brightfuturesforchildren.org. Residents of Delta and Montrose counties should contact Strong Families, Safe Kids in Grand Junction (970/254-8240); in Gunnison and Hinsdale counties, call Gunnison Valley Bright Beginnings (970/641-7981). 

To volunteer, call the Bright Futures office at 970/728-5613.

CBB programs are offered to any interested families at no cost throughout the state of Colorado; Bright Futures offers CBB programs thanks to a grant from the Just For Kids Foundation. 

Colorado Bright Beginnings was founded in 1995 by Brad Butler, former chairman of Proctor and Gamble, and then-Colorado Governor Roy Romer. Today it has served over 85,000 families across the state and, through a network of 14 regional affiliates, it is able to reach families in Colorado’s 64 counties. Visit www.qualistar.org or call toll free at 877/728-5613 to find childcare in your area. For more information on Bright Futures, visit www.brightfuturesforchildren.org Bright Futures offers two one-day pre-licensing classes for preschool child caregivers in Ridgway, at Miss Brandy’s Early Learning Center, 767 Sherman St., on the consecutive Saturdays of March 28 and April 4. For more information, call 970/728-5613 or visit www.brightfuturesforchildren.org.