About
The Custer County Kids Council (CCKC) is a collaborative effort among local nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and key individuals working together to facilitate and promote quality programs and services for all children and families prenatal through age 8 in Custer County. The Kids Council (CCKC) aspires to build community awareness of the needs of young children; foster cooperation and engagement among organizations; disseminate information and resources; provide professional development and coaching for organization staff; secure funding to facilitate collaborative projects; and advocate for needed change when necessary.
The CCKC was organized in 2017 to promote the goal of providing a local comprehensive early childhood system so all children and their families have equal access to quality programs and services that ensure every child in Custer County is healthy, valued, thriving, and ready to succeed in school and throughout life.
Custer County has a population density of 6 people per square mile with a total population of approximately 4,000 and an estimated 200-250 children at or below age 8. Because we are so remote, our needs differ from those in surrounding counties; thus, it was decided that having a local council was the only way we could ensure expanding and improving local services and meeting our greatest needs.
The CCKC is one of 34 early childhood councils in Colorado that are part of the Early Childhood Council Leadership Alliance.
“Together, Councils improve the quality of learning environments to prepare young children to enter Kindergarten; build the resources and skills of families; ensure that families have access to social, physical, and mental health services; and deliver resources to increase the effectiveness of early childhood professionals.”
Our CCKC Board Members
Angela McCaffery – Youth Director, West Custer County Library
Heather Zimmerman – Early Childhood Specialist; Solvista Mental Health, CCKC Steering Committee Member
Joelin Wasik –Director-Teacher, Custer County Preschool
Robert Gemin – Board Member, CCKC Chairman
Beth Green – Assistant Public Health Nurse; Custer County Public Health; CCKC Secretary
Sherry Wyatt- Immunization Nurse, Custer County Public Health
Laura Lockhart – Director, Custer County Department of Human Services
Michelle Caldwell – Parent Representative
Doreen Newcomb – C-1 District School Board
Mike McFall –Superintendent, C-1 School District
Joe Vergilio- Principal, C-1 School District
Amanda Reiff – Lighthouse Pregnancy Center Board; Mothers of Preschoolers
Angela Shehorn – Director; Children First, Pueblo
Annette Vergilio– Co-Chairperson, Excellence in Education
Anna Powell – Parent Representative/Altitude Community Fitness, CCKC Steering Committee Member
Heather Roberts – Director, Custer County Medical Center
Jody Berg – Children’s Services Director, Starpoint, CCKC Steering Committee Member
Lori Jenkins – Kindred Kids Child Advocacy Center
Casey Carpenter- School Nurse, CCKC Vice-Chairman
Kim Philia, LPC- Colorado Family Guidance
Supporters
Elliot Jackson- WCPA-Jones Theater/Wet Mountain Tribune
Kevin Day – Board of County Commissioners
Council Coordinator
Stacy Terrill
CCKC Bylaws
