Recap of the Keeping Families Strong Town Hall, Hosted by the Colorado Partnership for Thriving Families

On August 4th, Coloradans in the early childhood family-strengthening field came together for the Keeping Families Strong Town Hall, hosted by the Colorado Partnership for Thriving Families. As the backbone organization for the Partnership, Illuminate Colorado was proud to support the coalition’s leadership with this important conversation at a critical time for our field.

With shifts in federal and state funding impacting programs and services that families rely on, the goal of this Town Hall was simple yet essential: bring the family-strengthening field together to navigate these changes, surface emerging needs, and get creative about how to continue supporting Colorado families.

This town hall set the tone for what we hope becomes an ongoing and evolving space for connection and problem-solving. Together, we reflected on what we know–and what we don’t–about the current impacts on the family support landscape. Participants shared openly about what’s working well, what services they’ve been able to sustain, and what barriers they’re facing.

We explored questions like:

• • How are people finding ways to support families amid the change?
  • What services are you able to keep providing?
  • What does your workforce need right now?
  • What are you hearing that parents are struggling with most?

Understanding the Policy Context

One of the key drivers of change in our field is the Budget Reconciliation Package, formally titled the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). This legislation has significant implications for how family support services are funded and delivered across the state. If you’re looking to better understand how OBBBA is impacting families and providers, we encourage you to read our recent policy blog post.

Looking Ahead

By making space for honest, collaborative conversations like this, we can begin to map out where support is most needed and where innovation is already happening. And while the challenges are real, it’s clear that we’re all committed to working together to keep families strong.

We’re grateful to everyone who joined us, and we’re looking forward to continuing the conversation in future town halls. Whether you’re a direct service provider, policymaker, advocate, or community member, your voice is needed.

Let’s keep building this space because, when we come together, families are stronger for it.

The Colorado Partnership for Thriving Families is a collaboration dedicated to creating strong, thriving families across Colorado. We bring together experts, agencies, communities, and families with lived experiences to craft innovative solutions. By aligning priorities and resources, we’re building a comprehensive system in Colorado that empowers families and ensures a bright future for all our children. Learn more at COPartnershipForThrivingFamilies.org.

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