EVICS says town funding helped expand child care, mental health and family services in 2025

Estes Valley Investment in Childhood Success told the Estes Park Town Board that town base funding helped support a broader set of family services in 2025 as the nonprofit served 1,240 individuals, 496 households and 286 children — a 21% increase from 2024.

Executive Director Ruth Miller said the town's $30,000 base funding accounted for 3.5% of EVICS' 2025 revenue and helped the organization sustain services while leveraging outside grants. She said EVICS' work now extends beyond traditional child care support to include youth advocacy, bilingual mental health services, ESL classes, legal clinics, family advocacy and help with basic needs.

Miller said EVICS launched a "family, friend, and neighbor childcare cohort" in 2025, expanded bilingual mental health services in English and Spanish, added a family advocate focused on local youth and trained three peer support specialists to lead small support groups. She said about 65% of those served identified as Hispanic or Latino and that EVICS has tried to provide culturally responsive and bilingual services for families who face barriers accessing child care, mental health care and other resources.

Trustee Bill Brown asked where the increase in clients was occurring. Miller said growth came in several programs, including one-on-one family development coaching, child care assistance, the legal clinic and bimonthly visits in which the DMV comes to EVICS.

Board members praised the organization during the discussion. Mayor Gary Hall called EVICS "a wonderful organization" and said Estes Park is "in much better shape because of what you do." Brown said he especially appreciated EVICS' holistic approach to helping entire families, while Trustee Jamie Mieras said the group's long-term health benefits for the community are "very substantial."

Miller also highlighted outside recognition for the nonprofit, including being named the 2025 Shapley Nonprofit of the Year by the Estes Nonprofit Network.