First, a huge thank you to everyone who made our second Annual Spring Gala a success! With over 220 guests filling the Hotel Colorado’s beautiful Devereux Ballroom, we raised nearly $120,000 through sponsorships, ticket sales, auctions, and our paddle-raise—all to support YouthZone’s vital work.
Last year, we served nearly 500 court-involved and at-risk youth in Colorado’s 9th Judicial District. Each youth undergoes a two-generational assessment, involving both youth and parents to identify strengths, address the incident that brought them to YouthZone, and create a contract to guide their growth. With support from a Youth Advocate, these youth work over three to six months to complete their contracts, which may include substance use education, life skills, restorative justice, counseling, and more.
Many services are offered in group or individual sessions and some are self-guided, allowing youth to take responsibility for their own growth. This empowers them while also giving parents peace of mind knowing trained staff are supporting their children’s journey.
But summer can be especially tough on parents as school-based resources disappear. That’s where our Parent Support Program steps in. While only about 5% of our clients are adults, we offer them a one-time consultation to understand family dynamics and recommend resources. If needed, we provide three to six months of parent education to help develop effective parenting strategies.
We also launched Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) groups in April. This free peer support group is for parents of youth struggling with substance use. Led by four CRAFT-trained staff, it helps parents develop coping tools, improve communication, and share experiences. Research shows 70% of families involved in CRAFT see reduced substance use and increased treatment-seeking behavior.
To make CRAFT more accessible, we’ve expanded options. Sessions are Thursdays from 6–7 p.m. at our Rifle office and now include a hybrid format for those in more remote areas like Rangely, Aspen—or even as far as Georgia! Plus, we’ve transitioned from a 12-week commitment to an open group model, so participants can join anytime. To sign up, contact Sarai Quintana at [email protected] or 970-212-1968.
If CRAFT isn’t the right fit, we still encourage you to explore our wide range of services at www.YouthZone.com/services. To support our mission financially, visit www.YouthZone.com/give. Whether you’re a client, donor, or partner, thank you for helping us build Hopeful Youth, Strong Families, and Safe Communities.
