Youth population growing in Valley but resources are stretched thin

At their regular meeting on September 10, the Custer Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) heard a presentation on data from Kids Count Colorado 2025, a yearly compilation of statistics on children’s health, well-being, and educational progress.

Stacy Terrill, director of the Custer County Kids Council (CCKC), was responsible for bringing the report before the BOCC as one part of the educational campaign around the lodging tax increase, which, if passed in November, would help fund childcare access in the county. Terrill introduced presenter Maya Gould, Vice-President of the Colorado Children’s Campaign, a nonpartisan advocacy group that puts out the Kids Count Colorado report. “We put all the research together from all over the state,” Gould explained, “running through high-level trends statewide, and then going through to the county level.” The study focuses on four main areas: economic security, health, early childhood (EC) care and education, and K-12 education.

Among the findings on economic security that Gould presented, comparing Custer County to the state, were as follows: In Colorado, one out of nine children were living in poverty as of 2023, the latest year for which data is available (the poverty line is considered an income of $30,000 or under for a family of four), while in Custer County, the rate is one out of four children. Nearly 30% of families statewide are experiencing some measure of financial hardship, while the number of children experiencing homelessness has “increased dramatically,” according to Gould. Gould also noted that Custer County is one of only 15 Colorado counties that experienced child population growth since 2019.

Gould reported that in 2024, Colorado ranked in the bottom half of states for children’s health. When asked why, Gould replied that “a lot of it has to do with infant and mother care – lots of babies being born with low birth weights,” including in Custer County, where 15.3% of children born had low birth weights. Additionally, 40% of mothers and babies are not getting prenatal care, “which is a challenge we are facing [statewide],” Gould said: “Access is the biggest problem – there’s a lot of trouble getting to care. Practices are closing across the state.”

Terrill noted that she was using CCKC money for a visiting nurse practitioner for families, and said that she wanted to bring more early childhood health services into Custer County. Public Health Director Sara Bertelsen, who was also in attendance, concurred.

When it came to EC care, Gould said that “most people are caring for kids at home or with FFN (family, friends, neighbors). There are only 52 childcare slots in Custer County.” Terrill provided context: “We don’t have 52 full-day coverage slots…and there is no childcare on Fridays when school is closed.” Gould provided additional context, noting that Colorado is one of the most expensive states for childcare: “It was rated the fourth-least affordable state in 2023.”

BOCC Chairman Bill Canda wanted to know whether there is a divide between rural and urban populations when it comes to childcare access. “Costs are lower in rural communities, but need is as high or higher [than in urban areas]”, Gould replied: “Are families getting what they need for childcare? It’s harder in rural communities.” Colorado’s free universal prekindergarten program, however, has been a boon to families, Gould said: “Families saved about $6,500 per year with free preschool.”

On the subject of school readiness and achievement, the good news is that Colorado has expanded the number of children being screened for developmental delays. The bad news, Gould said, is that CMAS (Colorado standardized testing) shows that “more than half of students in grades 3-8 are not meeting expectations in language or math skills.” Data for Custer County shows that graduation rates are higher than the state average (95.2% versus 85.2%); however, the percentage rate of students not meeting grade-level CMAS scores was also higher than state averages. “It looks like a disconnect between deficiency in skills levels and graduation rates,” observed Barry Keene. “The School District is very aware of the disconnect; they are working on it,” Terrill said.

The BOCC moved on to consideration of a “pre-development” grant application to the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA), in order to help get a workforce housing project on 12 county-owned lots to shovel-ready status. Keene, who sits on the county’s Workforce Housing Committee (WHC), explained the need: “You can’t even apply for the big development grants before you do these other things, such as engineering drawing, environmental impact studies, soil analysis, etc. The pre-development grant will cover those expenses. We have to send a Letter of Intent (LOI) by September 15. No money is being spent here; this is just a LOI. As soon as this letter gets sent, we can apply. The grant is due October 1. We are asking for $50,000, the maximum amount allowable. There is only $500,000 in the fund, so probably be lots of competition, but we have a pretty good shot.”

After some further questions from the Board, Canda moved to approve sending the LOI, authorizing Commissioner Lucas Epp to sign it. Paul Vogelsong seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

Terrill approached the BOCC about another DOLA grant opportunity, a mini-grant available for local government childcare planning. “This would not fund the whole project for Custer County,” Terrill explained, “but would go towards covering the costs” of hiring a third-party consultant to do a local childcare study. Terrill said she was asking for $20,000 from DOLA, and that there is a required 25% local match, which would be coming from the community foundation and CCKC funds. Vogelsong made the motion to approve going ahead with the grant application. The motion passed unanimously.

In other business, the BOCC ratified airport insurance renewals, $12,000 in PILT Title III funds for Search and Rescue training, appointed Matthew Bear to the Fair Board, and approved sending a letter on the county’s position regarding unfunded state mandates to the Governor and legislative leaders.

– Elliot Jackson