Minutes and Evolution

The 2023 Colorado legislative session began in early-January. Several Councils have already signed on to support legislative bills aimed at helping young children, families, and communities thrive. Check back throughout the legislative session to learn more about bills supported by VFS Prep and Councils.

SB23-189 Is Access to Reproductive and Preventive Health Services: which, among other things, reduces surprise billing – this is only one of the important impacts of this bill.
SB23-214 Family Planning Funding in the Long Bill: Increases funding for the Family Planning Program at the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment to serve more people at clinics across the state.
Two bills that directly impact our work are:
1. HB23-1091 The Child Care Contribution Tax Credit Renewal: was renewed for another 3 years. Child Care providers rely on the donations incentivized by CCTC (an estimated $60 mil yearly, statewide) to fund their programs, increase quality wages, improve access to care for families, expand capacity & provide professional training & career pathway support for staff.
2. HB23-1290 This bill is so that we are able Retain Revenue for Universal Preschool: Refers a question to the November 2023 voters about whether to retain excess revenue raised from Prop EE, a ballot measure Coloradans passed overwhelmingly in 2020. Prop EE raised taxes on tobacco and nicotine products to fund a free, voluntary UP Program. Retaining the additional rev. will allow CO to provide Universal preschool services and extend additional preschool programming to more children, especially those with qualifying factors who need it most.

Foundation History

Board of Directors Meeting and Minutes

Foundation History

2007- Nathaniel and Jacqueline Cradle CO-Founders visioned, that every child should have access to quality care; thereby, creating a 501 (c) 3 to support and design a new era of accountability within early education.
2009- Venture for Success Prep because the 1st early education site in NE-Denver to offer public health insurance applications (i.e., Medicaid and CHP+) to help families access providers with little or no cost. This initiative supported more than 35 families during this event.
2015- Venture for Success Prep's very own Jacqueline Cradle was appointed to the Governors (Governor Hickenlooper) Licensing Advisor Committee on Licensing of Child Care Facilities.
2018- Founders of the Venture for Success Prep created the "Pathways to Credentials Initiative," designed to support adults entering the field of early education. Helping our staff enter college could not be more easy, as our strategy deliberately creates class/work balance that strengthens the understanding of early development.
2018- Nathaniel Cradle joined the Colorado Sector Partnership Initiative to help identify gaps between policy and legislation, compensation, talent recruiting, retention and public perception.
2018- Jacqueline Cradle gained the credentials to offer a permanent solution for NE Denver's issue of "lack of resources." As a trainer, in Expanding Quality in Infant Toddler Care (EQIT) her primary goal is to increase the quality and availability of responsive care for infant and toddlers throughout (not just NE Denver), but the state of Colorado.
2019- Venture for Success Prep. formed a partnership with the Daniels Fund to create Northeast Denver's 1st adult resource center for Early Education. Due to the the inconvenient distance for many of our practitioners, our solution to bring resources has been a wild success! The goal is to bring more teachers to the field and increase quality standards across the board. Expanding Quality in Infant Toddler (EQIT) courses start in 2020!
2020- Jacqueline Cradle was voted to become the Board Chair for the Colorado Licensing Advisory Board. Here she will continue to focus on solutions and improvements for licensed early education centers and homes.
2020- Nathaniel Cradle was voted to become Colorado Association for the Education of Young Children's Board Chair. Here he will continue to commit to promoting high quality education and support to all children, teaching staff and families.
2022 VFS formed a partnership with the Cradle Community Resource Center (CCRC) to bring more adult learning opportunities to the community of early education. The CCRC has performed DEI work for both COAEYC and The Howard Gomez Group.
2023 VFS Prep host a one-day free event on embracing mental health and achieving optimal well-being. Dr. Ware will share insights on how to embrace mental health in the workplace, tips on identifying signs of stress and anxiety, and strategies for promoting optimal well-being among children and colleagues.Constant Hine, is a leading authority on bouncing back from stress and challenges in early education. Constant will provide practical advice on how to recognize and manage stress, build resilience, and maintain a positive outlook when faced with obstacles.This event promises to be an enriching experience for all early childhood educators who are passionate about creating supportive and healthy learning environments for children.
2023 Venture for Success Prep. earns the highest rating in Colorado and is now the largest 5 start facility in NE Denver.
2024 Land Acquisition complete and restructuring focus towards the next phase in evolution for the community. More to come.
2024 Venture for Success Preparatory (VFS Prep) elevated its employee benefits package by introducing a comprehensive 401(k) retirement plan, marking a significant milestone in our commitment to supporting our team’s financial wellness and future security. This addition reflects VFS Prep’s dedication to fostering a rewarding and sustainable work environment for all staff members.