By Jennifer Hawks Youth Advocate II When talking to youth in our valley, I am always interested to hear what they know about YouthZone. Nine times out of ten, they respond that it’s where you go when you get in...
Continue ReadingTeens benefit from caring adult relationships beyond family boundaries
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Continue ReadingSupporting nonprofits with year-end giving elevates our communities
Robin Tolan Development Director, YouthZone “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” – Winston Churchill When we donate to charity, it helps eliminate hardships that are a result of social problems. But...
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...
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....
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...
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