Lamar Selected to Receive “It’s About Kids” Grant

Nine “It’s About Kids” Communities Across Colorado Awarded $16,000 in Grants to Increase Understanding and Support for Access to Health for Kids. 

The Colorado Children’s Campaign, through support from The Colorado Trust, today announced $16,000 in grants to nine Colorado communities to improve statewide understanding of children’s health care issues and increase support for improved health access for kids through the It’s About Kids (IAK) network.  The grants will support health care access work in the Roaring Fork Valley and Prowers, Pueblo, Chaffee, La Plata, Summit, Fremont, Custer and Mesa Counties.  

“The It’s About Kids network plays a critical role in improving the health, education and well-being of kids across Colorado,” said Chris Watney, President and CEO of the Colorado Children’s Campaign.  “Children should be able to get the care they need to stay healthy and see a doctor when they need it.  With local citizens and communities speaking up and working together on this issue, we can move Colorado closer to that common-sense goal.”  

The It’s About Kids (IAK) network is the Children’s Campaign’s volunteer, statewide, grassroots advocacy network.  IAK helps advance the mission of the Children’s Campaign by spreading the word about the unique needs of the children in their individual communities, sharing information to help shape and support the Children’s Campaign’s legislative priorities and building relationships with local lawmakers and the media.  

The grants announced today were awarded as part of a larger effort, led by The Colorado Trust, to increase Coloradans’ understanding of health care issues, and build support for improved health coverage and a more effective, cost-efficient health care system. 

“The local volunteers in the It’s About Kids network speak up for the health and well-being of Colorado kids and bring the needs of local communities to the attention of decision makers,” said Watney.  “These community leaders make a real difference in kids’ lives, and we are excited to be able to support them.” 

The grants announced today include: 

Prowers County IAK Network – To survey local leaders and policymakers on community needs and priorities related to children, families and health access and to host a forum with the Children’s Campaign to address issues identified in the survey and expand the regional IAK network.

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The Colorado Children’s Campaign is a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy organization committed for over 25 years to creating hope and opportunity for all of Colorado’s more than 1.2 million kids.  As the state’s most trusted source for data and research on child well-being and backed by an extensive, statewide network of dedicated child advocates, the Children’s Campaign champions policies and programs that help lift children out of poverty, improve child health, early childhood learning and development, and K-12 education, and provide all of Colorado’s children the opportunity to reach their full potential.  For more information, please visit www.coloradokids.org.  The Colorado Trust is a grantmaking foundation dedicated to achieving access to health for all Coloradans.