Specialist Consultation

Northern Colorado Kids Thrive's Specialist Consultation Team strengthens supports for children, families, and early childhood educators across the community. We bring together specialized expertise to provide consultation, guidance, and capacity-building supports throughout a variety of early childhood settings. Through a collaborative, relationship-based approach, Specialist Consultants work alongside programs to promote healthy development, inclusive practices, and supportive learning environments at no cost to the provider.

"In the same way that we nurture children’s physical health — with healthy food, plenty of rest and exercise — it is also important
to take care of their mental health. We can do this by supporting the social-emotional development of babies and young
children [and their caregivers]."

Early Childhood Mental Health (ECMH) Consultation Services

Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (ECMHC) is a prevention-based service that pairs a mental health consultant with the adults who care for and educate young children. ECMHC supports adults in strengthening relationships, addressing challenges early, and fostering social and emotional well-being. The goal is to build the capacity of caregivers and educators to create positive, nurturing, and inclusive environments that support the mental well-being of children during their formative years. Services are delivered in the settings where children learn and grow, using a strengths-based, culturally responsive approach that benefits all children.

Working with an ECMHC can help in these ways:

Build the capacity of caregivers, teachers, and directors through targeted professional development and reflective practice
Identify social-emotional needs and partner with teams to set and achieve meaningful goals
Strengthen classroom environments by supporting positive behavior, relationships, and routines
Provide individualized consultation to support children’s social-emotional development
Offer workshops and learning opportunities for families and early childhood professionals
Conduct or support developmental and social-emotional screenings
Connect programs and families to appropriate community resources and referrals

Interested in ECMH Consultation?

Occupational Therapy (OT) consultation Services

In 2025, Northern Colorado Kids Thrive launched the Occupational Therapy Embedded in Early Childhood Settings pilot. This program provides consultative support and developmental guidance to early childhood providers, strengthening practices that promote healthy learning environments and support children’s development, participation, and everyday functioning. Unlike traditional models in which occupational therapy is delivered to individual children, the embedded approach serves entire site communities. It emphasizes inclusive practices, support within daily routines, and collaborative problem-solving—benefiting all children and the adults who care for them.

Working with an OT can help in these ways:

Delivers support directly within daily routines, making strategies practical, immediate, and sustainable
Builds provider confidence and skills through embedded consultation and real-time collaboration
Improves access for families by reducing barriers such as referrals, waitlists, and transportation
Promotes consistency across home and early learning environments
Supports early identification and intervention in natural, play-based settings
Enhances children’s participation, self-regulation, and independence in everyday activities
Strengthens inclusive practices that benefit all children, not just those with identified needs