By Keith Berglund Assistant Director YouthZone While there are exceptions, the predominant portrayal of family in today’s cinema, television, advertising and social media suggests parents should be able to support their children entirely within their own families. This is an unrealistic expectation, even in the healthiest of families. A growing body of evidence indicates […]
Continue ReadingProgram Evaluation shares success of YouthZone’s strength-based therapies
YouthZone services and programs have been increasingly successful with reducing behavior problems that can lead to legal trouble, according to a recent independent 3-year evaluation. Even though youth being arrested in Colorado now have more serious charges against them than ten years ago, YouthZone’s strength-based therapeutic interventions are proven effective for youth diversion from the […]
Continue ReadingYouthZone provides tools to teens to restrain substance use
By Bailey Allison Trauma and Substance Specialist As teens grow older, identity development leads a number of kids to want to explore drugs, including alcohol, as a normal part of their development. YouthZone sees a wide spectrum of substance use from the kids that walk through their doors. One high school student may be there […]
Continue ReadingYouthZone Spotlight: Katie Westcott, Youth Advocate II
Katie Westcott’s post college travel triggered a desire to work with kids, but in a structured environment where she felt she’d be able to do the most good. As a Youth Advocate II at YouthZone, Katie combines her expertise and experience with compassion. She works with youth as a mentor and coach so she can […]
Continue ReadingYouthZone’s Restorative Justice Coordinator receives state-level appointment
The Colorado Coalition for Restorative Justice Practices (CCRJP) appointed YouthZone’s Karen Barbee as their Education Representative at October’s quarterly meeting. Karen brings to this seat her experience as the Restorative Justice Coordinator at YouthZone, as well as 21 years of teaching in public schools, fulfilling the role of a Colorado State Appointed Mediator, and being […]
Continue ReadingRestorative justice offers youth growth and healing through tiered system
By Karen Barbee Restorative Justice Coordinator Restorative justice is a response to harm caused by a person’s action. To be an essential partner with youth and their families, YouthZone offers restorative justice as one of the services to restore hope and a view of what is possible. Albert Einstein said, “All that is valuable in […]
Continue ReadingLaura’s Story: Moving Past the Stigma of Trauma and Mental Illness
Most of the time, trauma and mental illness are not in the scope of everyone’s daily lives. People often don’t understand the impacts of either of these on people’s lives, nor do they think it can happen in their family. But at some point, the painful reality is that everyone will either experience these directly […]
Continue ReadingTies to YouthZone come back years later with Rifle fitness gym
By Paula Stepp Billy Williams had a rough start in life. He was passed back and forth between parents who were struggling with their own problems and addictions. It wasn’t until his grandmother brought him and his sister to Palm Springs that his childhood gained some stability, and then his aunt and uncle invited […]
Continue ReadingHealthy families lead to capable kids
By Lori Mueller YouthZone Executive Director Family-centered homes allow youth to build both self-esteem and respect for others. In our zeal to raise healthy, active kids, the family sometimes gets left behind. As parents motivated by love, we all have best intentions for raising our kids. We love our kids, we support them, provide for […]
Continue ReadingPhone addictions hurt teens’ human connections
By Syreena Hamby I believe the biggest struggle for teens today is telephones. Although they are very helpful in many situations, cell phones are ultimately destroying the very foundation of humanity. Everywhere I go, I see people just staring at the screen, not even slightly aware of what’s going on around them. I […]
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