Our community understands more than ever before that the social and emotional health of infants and young children is vital to proper development. To ensure behavioral health becomes part of the early care of children, several Colorado communities partnered with Community First Foundation and other funders to implement a program called LAUNCH Together.

Based on a successful national framework, LAUNCH Together is helping local communities incorporate behavioral health into services that already support young children. For example, pediatricians, childcare providers, school administrators, educators and others will be tasked with coordinating their services to ensure the needs of vulnerable young children don’t fall through the cracks. Community First Foundation is supporting this work in Jefferson County with an investment of $2.7 million in grants over five years.