EXECUTIVES PARTNERING TO INVEST IN CHILDREN
CONTACT
711 Park Avenue West
Denver, CO 80205
303-319-3350
info@EPICimpact.org
EMPLOYER-BASED CHILD CARE DESIGN LAB
EPIC’s Design Lab is a first-of-its-kind workshop that guides a cohort of employers through the essential steps to plan and implement child care solutions for their employees.
Through tailored technical assistance, guided research, and key strategic partnerships, the EPIC team leverages its expertise with employers and experience in the field to present actionable pathways for employers.
THE EXPERIENCE
Through a series of cohort-based Lab sessions and individualized technical assistance opportunities over two to four months, leaders are equipped to address child care needs and positively impact their bottom line.
They leave with:
- An understanding of the local child care landscape.
- An implementation-ready child care solutions plan.
- Clarity on the bottom line impact for their business.
Sign up and we’ll notify of you when the next EPIC Design Lab workshop is scheduled.
DESIGN LAB HIGHLIGHTS
Over three cohorts, 30 employers have participated in the Design Lab experience. They represent a diverse set of worker, family, and business needs from a variety of regions.
DESIGN LAB 3.0
2024
The third iteration of the successful Design Lab model brought the opportunity to shift from a purely virtual experience across Colorado to include an in-person experience inclusive of visits to successful employer-based child care centers in Denver, enabling stronger connections among participants and opportunities to bring on-site child care to life! Following the conclusion of this third Design Lab, EPIC continues to receive requests for additional cohorts and is committed to iterating on this powerful model of supporting employers.
“The support of the EPIC team and the content of the Design Lab sessions allowed us to move forward on a project much faster than we would have on our own. We had access to great background information and support, and our inclusion in the Design Lab cohort gave our project credibility that led to wider community partnerships.”
The Powerhouse, Durango, CO
DESIGN LAB 2.0
2023
After an oversubscribed initial Design Lab cohort opportunity, EPIC again partnered with the Department of Early Childhood to conduct a second cohort, inclusive of participants from new counties across the state. Across the first two cohorts, EPIC touched 16 different counties across the state, many of which were rural or frontier regions in significant need of the supply that these child care solutions would ultimately contribute to growing.
“Our post cohort survey showed 100% of design lab 2.0 participants felt they had the tools to support the design, decision making, and launch, of an on-site or near-site child care center.”
Alethea Gomez,
Director of Programs and Initiatives
DESIGN LAB 1.0
2022
In Partnership with
The inaugural Design Lab was conceived in partnership with the Colorado Department of Early Childhood, to support employers throughout the state of Colorado in developing plans for on- or near-site child care solutions and building child care supply. This technical assistance support accompanied an opportunity to apply for $800,000 of capital funding to support new supply development.
“The Design Lab hosted by EPIC addressed all the major components of ‘starting your employer child care center 101’. It raised great questions, offered solution-based resources, and created a network of innovative businesses to drive this work.”
Participant
LISTEN TO SUCCESS STORIES
Ep. 3: Community Hospital Builds Its Own Child Care Facility in Grand Junction, Here’s How
A lack of accessible and affordable child care was identified as a community need in Mesa County. As a result, Community Hospital took action and recently broke ground on “Adventure Academy,” a new, onsite early child care and early education facility.
Ep. 4: Steamboat Ski Resorts to the Rescue in the Routt County Child Care Desert
In December, Steamboat Ski and Resort opened their new employer-based child care facility. Listen to our podcast below on how they “got over their skis” to tackle the problem of a lack of child care with collaboration from EPIC’s Design Lab.
Ep 12: Christine Benero on Mile High United Way’s Game Changing Project
Mile High United Way listened to the community’s needs and is building an Early Childhood Education Center with a focus on the infant and toddler age. Listen to our podcast below on how this is a “…journey that can be challenging, yet so worth it” with the use of EPIC’s Design Lab.
Please send all related questions to EmployerServices@EPICimpact.org