DENVER CITY - Office of Children Affairs (Fellowship Program)

       My area of internship and fellowship is Office of Children Affairs in the City and County of Denver. It is a great privilege for me to be assigned in this office and learned a lot from wonderful and passionate people which is very beneficial to focus programs and policies in the Philippines which is related to Youths and children.

       The vision of the Office of Children's Affairs is to deliver a world class City where all children, youth, and their families have the opportunity to succeed.  The role of the Office of Children's Affairs is to support City agencies, the community and its service providers in achieving three major goals to ensure that:

      - All children have their basic needs met

      - All children are ready for kindergarten

      - All children and youth have the opportunity to succeed academically and professionally.

My internship supervisor

     The Office of Children's Affairs, formerly known as the Mayor's Office for Education and Children, was established in 1995 to advocate for children and youth in the City and County of Denver from birth to young adulthood. The role of the office is work with other city agencies and community partners to increase access, increase participation, and improve the quality of programs and services for all of Denver’s children and youth.  

Reception area

Alicia Boyd - 5 by 5 Program

   Alicia authored and coordinates the 5 by 5 program with their partners in Denver. The 5 By 5 Program, formerly known as The 5 By 5 Project, provides Denver Head Start and Early Head Start children and their families with year-round access and educational opportunities at 15 of Denver’s cultural venues at no cost.  The goals of The 5 By 5 Program are to strengthen families and support school readiness by providing Denver’s young children with at least 5 cultural experiences by the age of 5 to spark their imagination and learning.  

Joey Pace - Youth Development Affairs

Joey Pace - Youth Development Affairs

Joey is the head of Mayor's Youth Commission. He facilitates action plans, teen team summit, mental health first aid training, collaboration with the Denver Public Schools Student Board of Education, service projects, #Helphelp - Express Yourself Event, Safe City Youth Summit -#Helphelps - Suicide: What you can do about it, meeting wtih the Berlin Youth Commission and presenting at Denver Juvenile and Family Justice TASC Project Family Night.

My Office space 

As professional fellows of ACYPL in this office, I have an opportunity to test my interest in a particular area before permanent commitments are made. It develop skills in the application of theory to practical work situations and will provide s the opportunity to aptitude for a particular youth development.

Teachers and school facilitators during the Training for Denver Great Kids Head Start

During the Training for Denver Great Kids Head Start

This event is connected to Denver Great Kids Head Start. It is an award winning program that prepares children to enter kindergarten confidently with the social, physical, emotional, and cognitive skills and competencies necessary for continued school success.

During the Afterschool Arts Programming

Erin Brown - Dept. Supervisor speaking for After school Arts Programming

After school programming for youths ensure that Denver children and youth experience artistic and creative activities, the Office of Children's Affairs (OCA) is sponsoring the Program.The After School Arts Program believes appreciation of the arts is the hallmark of both a complete person and a healthy society. Its mission is to enable children to engage in artistic and cultural activities that otherwise would not be available to them.

Chris Auer - Children's Affairs

Chris is one of the Program coordinators in the Office of Children's Affairs who interacts with the  Denver Preschool Program - Provides tuition credits for all Denver families with preschool children in the last year of preschool before kindergarten and provides quality improvement grants for preschool providers.  According to him, children must be enrolled in a licensed preschool program that participates in the Denver Preschool Program quality improvement system.   

Rhonda Williams - Childre's Affairs

       Rhonda is one of the staffs who assists after-school meals program. Snacks and supper meals are served in twenty (20) recreation center sites.  The goal for the 7 month period between November 2012 and May 2013 is 33,600 meals.  The monthly average goal is 4,800 meals. Funding is provided through the Child Care and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) for children 18 and younger in low income areas.  Sites also provide activities such as homework assistance, sports, music and places where young people can relax in a safe environment.