Invest in Kids

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Impact Statement

For over 10 years, it has been the mission of Invest in Kids to partner with communities to improve the health and well-being of young children in Colorado
– particularly those of low-income families – through research-based programs proven to be effective.
What makes Invest in Kids different is our unique approach to finding, delivering and measuring the effectiveness of the programs we provide.
* First, we identify programs with proven track records or methodologies for success.
* Second, we introduce these programs to communities to see where and how they can net the greatest impact.
* Third, we implement the programs through agency partners, in collaboration with community leaders and other key constituents.
* Lastly, we ensure each program’s ongoing success through strict adherence to guidelines and measurement of results.

Needs Statement

1) Support for The Incredible Years, a program whose demand far outstrips our ability to deliver the program:
- For one dollar per school day, or approximately $180.00 per school year, we can deliver The Incredible Years program to one vulnerable child. This proven intervention promotes mental health, social and emotional well-being, and increases academic achievement of vulnerable young children.
2) General Operating Funding
3) Event sponsors for our annual fundraising event, Jane-A-Thon (March 5-6, 2010). This event is a pledge-based ski-a-thon during which participants ski as many runs as they can at Mary Jane Ski Area at Winter Park. The participants for this event range from college students to established C-level professionals and their families. Many children also participate. Contact Hilary Watt Sontag, Development Director, at 303-839-1808 x106 for more information.
4) Event sponsors for our annual fundraising gala (May 22, 2010). Contact Hilary Watt Sontag, Development Director, at 303-839-1808 x106 for more information.

Background Statement

Across our state, in every community, there are children who never get the chance to reach their potential. Without help, many of these children will receive inadequate prenatal care, lack preparation for school, or will experience abuse and neglect – all threatening their health and well-being and that of their families, and ultimately, our communities.

The Need - Poverty in Colorado:
• From 2000-2006, Colorado had the highest increase of children living in poverty of any state in the U.S.
• From 2000-2008, the number of Colorado children living in poverty increased by 72%.
• In 2008, 15%, or 179,000, of all Colorado children were living below the poverty line.

The Effects of Poverty on Young Children
Children living in poverty:
• Are one-third more likely to experience learning disabilities and developmental delays;
• Score significantly lower on IQ tests, with the greatest disparities occurring at earlier ages;
• Are 1.5 times more likely to miss 10 or more days of school due to illness or injury;
• Are twice as likely to repeat a grade or be suspended or expelled;
• Are twice as likely to drop out of school;
• Are ten times more likely to have experienced hunger in the past year;
• Are nearly seven times more likely to be the victims of abuse or neglect;
• Are nearly twice as likely to be unemployed as young adults;
• Are twice as likely to be the victims of a violent crime and to feel unsafe in their neighborhood; and
• Are three times more likely as teens to have an out of wedlock birth.

How Invest in Kids Counteracts the Effects of Poverty:
Invest in Kids implements programs with proven effectiveness - in other words, programs that have been documented to produce life changing outcomes through a minimum of twenty years of clinical, scientific research. Just some of our program outcomes include:
• 48% reduction in child abuse and neglect;
• 29% decrease of subsequent births among first-time, low-income mothers;
• Significant increases in school readiness and academic achievement among 3-5 year old children;
• Significant increases in the employment of first-time, low-income mothers at an average age of 19;
• 59% decrease in future arrest rates of program participants (program intervention ending at age 2, follow up at age 15);
• 91% success rate in reduction of child conduct problems both at school and in the home among 3-5 year old children;
• 92% success rate in improvement of program participants' (3-5 year old children) social skills associated with protection against later development of juvenile delinquency and other problem outcomes.

Invest in Kids was founded by a group of attorneys and other community leaders who were concerned about the increasing achievement gap between higher and lower income children and the increasing number of serious crimes committed by kids from a low-income background. This unique team of professional and socially-minded individuals helped create the foundation of standards and execution essential to our high level of effectiveness. Over the years, that commitment to success has not wavered.
Today, our board of directors still enjoys the active participation of seven founding members.

Board Chair/President Statement

More and more scientific evidence supports the basic notion that a child’s future is built in the first few years of life. Invest in Kids' work is devoted to those first few years of life, and focuses exclusively on early childhood health and education programs. As board chair, I feel extraordinarily fortunate to work with an organization that has the commitment, expertise and determination to identify high-quality, research-based programs to reach low-income children and their families across Colorado, and to help implement those programs in such a way that their benefits will actually be achieved. To accomplish this goal, Invest in Kids partners with local Colorado communities to implement two tested programs, Nurse-Family Partnership and The Incredible Years, with a special commitment to working with community coalitions for long-term sustainability. Invest in Kids takes the extra time and makes the extra effort to talk with local communities so that these programs are implemented appropriately for many diverse communities, and so that these programs are fully integrated into the existing continuum of services. This hard work has paid off: Invest in Kids now partners with communities to implement these programs in 52 of Colorado's 64 counties. Invest in Kids also believes -- as do I, based on my own experiences as a dad -- that even the best teachers, parents and advocates need a supportive foundation. Invest in Kids works to provide that support as well. Every day, Invest in Kids demonstrates its respect and admiration for those on the front lines, and its commitment to improving the lives of children all over Colorado. It is truly an honor to work with such a great organization.
-John Walsh, Board Chair

The Incredible Years Parent Program:

Being a fulltime stepmom of two children ages 11 and 12, and a biological mother to a 5 and 1 1/2 year old kept one parent extremely busy. Along with claiming to have a lack of quality time to spend with her children, she felt a large amount of stress at home. This parent decided to enroll in a parent group because her stepchildren not only would not listen to her, but were openly defiant. On top of this, she felt accusations of favoritism were constantly arising. She joined the Incredible Years Parent group almost half way through the series at week six. In just six weeks, she was able to see amazing results.
After attending the Parent group, she is more organized at home and is a more proactive parent. She feels confident in her ability as a parent and is spending more time with her children. The communication situation in the home has also improved immensely--between her husband and all her children. By praising positive behaviors and applying the lessons learned at the Parent Group, her relationship with both her biological and stepchildren has improved. She is also seeing even more tangible results as her step daughter's school grades have risen. As a result of participating in The Incredible Years Parent Group, this overstressed mother has seen great outcomes and is much happier!

The Incredible Years Child/Teacher Program:

There was a little boy in my class who was high energy and had developmental delays. He was only able to follow one step directions with a lot of extra support. It was unclear how much of The Incredible Years lessons he understood, because any type of group circle time was a challenge for him. One day, Wally [an Incredible Years puppet] introduced the relaxation thermometer, a visual tool that The Incredible Years uses to help children relax. This child sat very still and appeared to be listening to every word Wally spoke. After Wally finished speaking, this boy raised his hand and waited to be called on. He said, “When I get really, really angry, I go to red! And then I take a deep breath, and another, and then go orange (he is pointing to the colors on the picture of the thermometer), and another breath and I go green. Then I breathe and get relaxed and I’m in blue! I’m happy!” Not only did he sit through and understand the entire lesson, but he was also able to do it. I cried. We had spent 6 months working with him on self-control and self-calming techniques and nothing seemed to help. Yet, on this amazing day, it was clear that the light bulb finally turned on for this struggling child! Truly a testimony for this program.

Nurse-Family Partnership:

Rhonda was sixteen when she began NFP at three and a half months pregnant. Raised primarily by her mother, who was in and out of treatment for drug and alcohol problems for over 15 years, Rhonda was living in a safe house when she found out she was pregnant. The father of Rhonda's child was sixteen and, when she found out she was pregnant, was also serving a 6-month sentence in a juvenile facility.
Throughout her pregnancy Rhonda kept all of her prenatal and WIC appointments despite the fact that she did not have transportation. The nurse home visitor made numerous referrals and since that time Rhonda has found an apartment in a homeward bound program which assists young families in stabilizing to the point that they can find living arrangements independent of the program. Rhonda was also able to locate resources to have her car repaired so that she would have safe and reliable transportation.
Rhonda delivered a healthy baby girl weighing 7lbs 8 ounces in January 2003 and she continues to breastfeed! Currently, Rhonda is enrolled in the TANF program and she and her child receive monetary assistance, food stamps and Medicaid. Rhonda begins classes this summer at the local community college and hopes to obtain a degree in psychology. She is also working part-time as an assistant to the Family Advocate Program in her county. NFP was Rhonda's link to local resources. It offered her the encouragement to put her life together after being homeless along with facing an unintended pregnancy.

Nurse-Family Partnership:

Suzy is a 21-year old Caucasian woman who was a substance abuser and as a consequence had lost the relationship with the father of her child. Pregnant and lost, she was enrolled in NFP early in her pregnancy. She is a severe asthmatic who lives in a small home with her smoking mother. With Suzy's nurse home visitor working closely with her and connecting her mother with a strong smoking cessation program, Suzy delivered a full term baby boy. She is now enrolled in the local Community College pursuing a degree in Nursing! She chose nursing after having some initial interest but her commitment to the field was solidified by her experience with this program and her wonderful bond with her nurse home visitor. Today, Suzy is drug-free, her asthma is well under control and her mother is down to smoking just a few cigarettes a day and never in their house. Her baby is four months old--breastfeeding, thriving, and developmentally ahead of other babies his age.