Founded in 1987, Community Partnership for Child Development (CPCD), began with a simple but powerful purpose: to help young children in El Paso County get a strong start in life. Originally established as a spin-off from Catholic Charities to manage the Head Start program, CPCD was funded to serve 300 children.  

From those humble beginnings, CPCD has grown into a vital community institution. Over the decades, the organization expanded its services to meet the changing needs of families. In the early 1990s, CPCD added the Colorado Preschool Program, and by the mid-1990s, it had launched Early Head Start, bringing quality early childhood education and family support to children from birth through age five and their caregivers.  

Today, CPCD operates more than 60 classrooms throughout five school districts and in partnership with community organizations, including unique classrooms on Fort Carson. CPCD is the only Head Start organization in the nation with classrooms located on a military installation. CPCD’s programs now serve thousands of children and families each year, offering not just early education, but also health, nutrition, family advocacy, and developmental support that help children thrive and families succeed.  

For over nearly four decades, CPCD has remained steadfast in its mission: to prepare children for success in school and in life by providing comprehensive, high-quality early childhood services in partnership with families and the community.