First Impressions of Routt County

10/08/2026

WE WON IMPACT 100! 💛

Strong communities don't happen by accident. They're built on strong foundations, meaningful partnerships, and people who believe in investing in our future.
We are beyond grateful to the Yampa Valley Community Foundation and the incredible members of Impact 100 for believing in First Impressions and the importance of early childhood.

This investment will help us continue building the foundation that allows Routt County's youngest children, families, and educators to thrive.

A huge congratulations to CASA and SOAR! We are honored to stand alongside organizations doing such important work in our community.

Here's to strong foundations and brighter futures! 💛

10/08/2026

Child care plays an important role in Routt County, including whether families can stay, whether businesses can hire, and whether our community keeps thriving.
Join us for a community conversation about the child care crisis, part of Steamboat for All's Dear Steamboat event, on Thursday, October 8 from 5:30–7:00pm at 1306 Lincoln Ave.
We'll talk about the essential connection between child care, family stability, and a strong local economy, as well as the real challenges facing families here at home, and the work already underway to make quality child care more accessible and sustainable.
Come learn, ask questions, and be part of building a solution. We'd love to see you there.

Child care plays an important role in Routt County, including whether families can stay, whether businesses can hire, and whether our community keeps thriving.

Join us for a community conversation about the child care crisis, part of Steamboat for All's Dear Steamboat event, on Thursday, October 8 from 5:30–7:00pm at 1306 Lincoln Ave.

We'll talk about the essential connection between child care, family stability, and a strong local economy, as well as the real challenges facing families here at home, and the work already underway to make quality child care more accessible and sustainable.

Come learn, ask questions, and be part of building a solution. We'd love to see you there.

To learn more, visit: https://steamboatforall.org/event/routt-thrive-by-five-community-meeting/

10/02/2026

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month 💗

We're holding every family who has lost a baby close to our hearts this month. Our babies matter and they are remembered.

This kind of grief can feel so lonely, and too often it's carried in silence. If you're grieving, these Colorado groups offer support, many of them online:

Colorado Pregnancy & Newborn Loss Services
• Denver Share Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support
• Star Legacy Foundation, Colorado Chapter
• Walk With Me
• Postpartum Support International helpline: 1-800-944-4773

On October 15 at 7 p.m., families everywhere light a candle for their babies. We'll be lighting one too 🕯️

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month 🩵💗

This month, we come together to honor the precious lives of the babies who left us too soon and offer support to the families who carry their memories every day. For many of us, the grief is deep and unspoken. I understand this pain personally because this year, I lost my baby boy, Thomas Leo Nebel. 💔

Thomas was born on February 16th, 2024, but after contracting a bacterial infection in the hospital, his little body could not recover. He spent 9 days in the NICU, and although we tried everything we could, Thomas was reinfected, and we had to make the impossible decision to let him go. The love I have for him is infinite, and this month, I honor his memory. 🕊️

For those navigating this journey of loss, I want to share some resources that have brought me moments of solace:

📖 "Walk With Me: A Journey of Infant Loss, Grief & Hope" by Jamie Stewart 📖 "It's OK That You're Not OK" by Megan Devine 📝 "How to Carry What Can't Be Fixed: A Journal for Grief" – A guided journal for processing grief that has been a helpful companion.

I know this path can feel lonely, but you are not alone. I’m here to listen, to share, and to offer support. Let’s come together as a community to break the silence around pregnancy and infant loss, hold space for each other’s stories, and remember our babies.

At First Impressions of Routt County, we stand with families in our community who have experienced the unimaginable pain of losing a child, and we offer support, understanding, and connection. 💫

If you or someone you know has experienced loss, please remember to lean on your community. Sharing your story can help others feel less alone, and together we can find healing.

You are seen. You are loved. Your baby’s memory matters. 🩵

09/30/2026

We had more than 80 people at our first Powered by Care summit on Monday. Thank you so much for coming!

Dan Wuori talked about why the first years of a child's life matter so much, and our panel talked about how child care connects to jobs, businesses, and families here in Routt County. In our county there's about one infant care spot for every seven babies, so we have a lot of work to do together.

We'll keep having these conversations around the county this year. You can learn more and get involved at RouttThriveBy5.org

“The turnout said everything,” said Meaghan Franges, executive director of First Impressions of Routt County and leader of the Routt Thrive by Five initiative. “More than 80 people gave up a Monday morning because they understand that child care isn’t just a family issue, it’s the infrastructure our workforce, our businesses, and our future depend on. This conversation isn’t really about child care. It’s about what kind of community we want to be.”

Read the full press release about the inaugural "Powered by Care" Child Care & Workforce Summit: https://www.co.routt.co.us/m/newsflash/home/detail/844

09/30/2026

Child care plays an important role in Routt County, including whether families can stay, whether businesses can hire, and whether our community keeps thriving.

Join us for a community conversation about the child care crisis, part of Steamboat for All's Dear Steamboat event, on Thursday, October 8 from 5:30–7:00pm at 1306 Lincoln Ave.

We'll talk about the essential connection between child care, family stability, and a strong local economy, as well as the real challenges facing families here at home, and the work already underway to make quality child care more accessible and sustainable.

Come learn, ask questions, and be part of building a solution. We'd love to see you there.

To learn more, visit: https://steamboatforall.org/event/routt-thrive-by-five-community-meeting/

09/30/2026

Thank you to the Lions Club for helping make our developmental screenings happen this year!

These past two days we were at local child care centers checking kids' development, vision, hearing, and teeth. Catching things early makes a big difference for kids and families, and this support means a lot to us!

By Shannon Lukens for Steamboat Radio News. The Lions Club in Steamboat Springs presented a $5,500 check to First Impressions of Routt County on Tuesday. The money will be used to help pay for developmental screenings for

09/22/2026

The Lullaby Project, a project of Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute, pairs new and expecting parents and caregivers with professional artists to write and sing personal lullabies for their babies, supporting parental health, aiding childhood development, and strengthening the bond between parent and child.

Strings Music Festival is an official partner of Carnegie Hall and is launching the program in the Yampa Valley in Fall 2026 with the support of Newborn Network.

First Session: November 5-8, 2026
Interested in Participating? Add your name to the list

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdK-NmoIkDr4v5s7Rxmht6lUNW6sI5JJd6SF_2wlueIuuEHfQ/viewform

09/15/2026

Another one.

Holy Name Preschool, which has been serving Steamboat families since 1978, will suspend operations on October 9. Not for lack of children who need it, but because they couldn't recruit and keep the teachers required to stay open. A workforce breakdown.

This is exactly why we say the crisis isn't just about adding spots, it's about holding onto what we have. Routt County has lost 151 early childhood spots in just three years, with six centers closing, and we were already 269 spots short.

Affordability, wages, and workforce are all tied together, which is why we need a long-term, sustainable funding solution to steady the whole system at once.

We can't keep losing ground. Let's build something that lasts.

Read the full article here: https://ow.ly/Jlao50ZNBc2

09/08/2026

Grab a book and pull up a chair, we're starting a conversation.

Join us for the Thrive by Five Book Club featuring The Daycare Myth by Dan Wuori, the keynote speaker at our upcoming Powered by Care Summit.

Haven't read the book? Come anyway, this is an easy, open evening to connect with neighbors who care about the future of Routt County.

Tuesday, September 15 · 7:00–8:30 PM
Off the Beaten Path Bookstore

Then join us for the Powered by Care Summit on September 21, where Dan Wuori takes the stage as keynote speaker. Register here: https://ow.ly/Powe50ZKKtO

Everyone is welcome. Strong communities start with strong beginnings.

08/31/2026

The future of childcare in Routt County starts with a conversation — and you're invited.

Join us for Powered by Care: The Routt County Childcare & Workforce Summit on Monday, September 21, 10am–1pm at the Colorado Mountain College Auditorium in Steamboat Springs.

Childcare is the backbone of our workforce, our local businesses, and thriving communities. Come together with elected officials, business leaders, parents, and neighbors to explore why it matters and how we build lasting solutions — featuring a keynote by nationally recognized author Dan Wuori and a panel on local challenges and opportunities.

Be part of the conversation. RSVP today — https://ow.ly/e7WK50ZHhQW