Between 2021 and 2022, the Colorado Department of Early Childhood received over $700 million in stimulus funding to strengthen Colorado’s early childhood sector. The Colorado Lab is coordinating the Early Childhood Evaluation Hub, contracting with multiple evaluation teams to conduct high-quality evaluations of more than a dozen prioritized stimulus-funded activities to ensure the goals of […]
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Essential Elements: Activate Findings
The goal of every Colorado Lab project is meaningful, timely action; we generate research evidence to inform practice and policy decisions. One of the most important elements to activating research findings is taking care to create, nurture, and maintain trusting relationships with and among partners (our first essential element). Throughout each project, we learn together […]
Early Childhood Evaluation Hub: Stabilization and Sustainability Activities and Spotlight on External Research Partner, Dr. Ann Wacker
Stabilization and Sustainability Activities One set of activities supported by stimulus funding aims to sustain and stabilize the early childhood sector. This includes grants that support: Spotlight on External Research Partner Dr. Ann Wacker The Colorado Lab selected the Butler Institute for Families at the University of Denver, under the direction of Ann Wacker, PhD, […]
Colorado Lab Training: Effective Leadership through Data
A new Colorado Lab training supports government and community-serving professionals to grow their understanding in the use of data for decision-making. The training, created by Drs. Courtney Everson and Lauren Gase, Senior Researchers/Project Directors with the Colorado Lab, was delivered most recently to the Rocky Mountain Early Childhood Conference and to the Whole Child Consultative […]
Essential Elements: Apply Rigor
At the Colorado Lab, we use data to support learning and sustained action among our partners. We view “rigor” as one part of what helps a study meet that goal, striving to do work that is simultaneously rigorous, relevant, and resonant. While the term “rigor” is widely used in research and evaluation, it is rarely […]
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Schools
The Colorado Evaluation and Action Lab (Colorado Lab) serves as the coordinating hub for Family First rigorous evaluation efforts on behalf of the Colorado Department of Human Services. In this role, we provide guidance and ensure strategic investments in evidence-building for promising programs, with the goal of informing selection and scaling of services that help […]
New Reports: Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Prosecutorial Process
A series of new reports, developed through the Colorado Prosecutorial Dashboards project, provide Colorado District Attorneys’ Offices with a more in-depth understanding of racial and ethnic differences in their prosecution processes. The new reports, which build on data publicly available through data dashboards, offer a deeper dive into key points of prosecutorial discretion to understand […]
New Project: Cash for Coloradans
“Cash for Coloradans” is a program to provide direct cash support to people participating in nonprofit career-readiness programs. Funded by the Urban Institute’s WorkRise initiative, the cash support will flow through designated nonprofit organizations that serve low income individuals and underrepresented groups, including people of color and people returning to the community following incarceration. “Modest […]
External Research Partner Spotlight: Roger Low
Roger Low launched the nonprofit Colorado Equitable Economic Mobility Initiative in 2021 to create a more equitable economic ecosystem. As Founder and CEO, Low brings more than a decade of experience working on workforce development, economic mobility, and poverty alleviation. His public sector services include advising U.S. Senator Michael Bennet and launching the first three […]
Fostering Opportunities Now a Proven Practice
Share on twitter Twitter Share on linkedin LinkedIn Governor Polis signs the Foster Youth Success Act. Left to right: Elysia Clemens, Deputy Director/COO, Colorado Evaluation and Action Lab; Minna Castillo Cohen, Director, Office of Children, Youth and Families, Colorado Department of Human Services; Representative Dafna Michaelson Jenet, Chair, House Public Health Care and Human Services […]