Colorado’s Two Generation Approach to Improving Family Services
The Takeaways
The Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) is taking a two-generation, or 2Gen, approach to all services it offers to help families escape the cycle of poverty.
A 2Gen approach takes a holistic approach to working with a family by addressing health, education, housing, and employment needs.
CDHS uses a 2Gen approach to take advantage of a positive feedback loop, by providing both children and adults resources that enhance opportunities and meet the needs of children and their parents or caregivers.
Image description: Figure 1: The 2Gen framework depicts 4 mechanical gears in various colors including blue, orange, and green to demonstrate how each of the aspects of the framework work together. In top left it says “social capital networks, friends, and neighbors,” in top right it says “early childhood education,” below this it says “postsecondary & employment pathways,” in bottom left it says “health & well-being mental, physical, and emotional health coverage and access to care,” and bottom right corner says “economic assets asset building housing and public supports.”
“A fully realized 2Gen approach will mean that families, government, businesses, and service providers are working together to achieve a holistic, strength-based approach to empowering families to strive for healthy, successful lives.”
The Case Study
The Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) is taking a two-generation, or 2Gen, approach to all of the services it offers to help families escape the cycle of poverty. Through its 2Gen efforts, CDHS works to serve families as a whole rather than focusing solely on children or caregivers, helping to increase the likelihood for families to meet their full potential and achieve economic stability and security.
A 2Gen approach takes a holistic approach to working with a family by addressing health, education, housing, and employment needs. A child’s development and attainment levels are directly impacted by their parents’ or caregivers’ levels of education, income, and physical and mental wellbeing. A fragmented approach to helping families where children and adults are served independently can lead to situations where the child or adult can be left behind. Conversely, helping children succeed can lead to improvements in their caregivers’ lives, and improving caregivers’ levels of attainment for health, education, and income can positively benefit a child. CDHS uses a 2Gen approach to take advantage of this positive feedback loop, by providing both children and adults resources that enhance opportunities and meet the needs of children and their parents or caregivers.
The Colorado 2Gen Action Guide lays out some criteria for what success with 2Gen looks like for families:
Having their basic needs reliably met so they can focus on improving their lives.
Achieving economic security and a path out of poverty through meaningful work.
Preparing for educational success, from pre-K to postsecondary learning.
Building family support and social/community networks.
Cultivating child development from age 0-18.
Achieving safety, health, and well-being.
Successful families make successful and thriving communities, and CDHS’ 2Gen approach is helping provide resources to families as a whole to improve their health, educational, and economic outlooks.
Want more information?
Read the Colorado 2Gen Action Guide.
Visit the CO Dept of Human Services website for a list of additional resources.