Alex had her daughter, Tiara, when she was 17. Like many new parents, she struggled to balance child care with all of her other responsibilities, but she also didn’t have a car, and she was too young to sign a lease. Things changed when she found Florence Crittenton Services of Colorado, a high school with child care onsite. Desta Taye-Channell is president and CEO of Florence Crittenton, and she says the model meets the needs of two generations at once. 

More organizations are catching on to the idea that onsite child care lowers barriers for low-income parents and allows the whole family to thrive.  

One such place is Warren Village, an affordable housing development with child care and early education on the ground floor. CEO Ethan Hemming discusses the impact of this model and shares success stories. Pamela Harris, president and CEO of Mile High Early Learning, discusses the challenges and triumphs of supporting Colorado’s most vulnerable kids.  

Resources from this episode:

• The cost of child care in Colorado
• Florence Crittenton Services
• Warren Village
• Warren Village's Thrive by Five campaign
• Mile High Early Learning
• Under One Roof: Combining Affordable Homes with Child Care Solutions
• Federal Spending and Colorado Children: Understanding the Impact
• Executives Partnering to Invest in Children (EPIC)

By accessing this podcast, I acknowledge that: views and opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) and that this podcast is for informational purposes only and not legal, financial or other advice. CHFA does not warrant or represent the accuracy, currency, or suitability of the information provided and reference to any specific product or entity does not necessarily constitute CHFA’s endorsement or recommendation of it. The podcast may not be reproduced or redistributed without CHFA’s prior written consent and may be subject to the respective terms and policies of CHFA and the podcast hosting provider(s). CHFA is an Equal Opportunity Lender. We encourage and support an affirmative advertising and marketing program in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin. For more information about CHFA, nondiscrimination, and other legal notices please visit chfainfo.com. 

Copyright ©2025 Colorado Housing and Finance Authority. All rights reserved.