Here at YouthZone, we like to be straightforward. One look at our name and you’ll quickly determine what type of clients we usually serve: young people between the ages of 12 and 18. Last year, we worked with almost 500 court-involved and at-risk kids in Colorado’s 9^th Judicial District, providing comprehensive assessment and delivering a variety of services to support them through their challenges. Every assessment that we provide is two-generational, which means youth and parents work together to identify their strengths and risks, discuss the incident that led them to YouthZone, and develop a comprehensive contract to address the issue. The children, with the support of a Youth Advocate, spend the next three to six months working to complete their contracts, which can include substance use education, restorative justice, life skills, counseling and more.

In most circumstances, parents are able to take a step back and let their children grow independently during their time at YouthZone. Many of our services are administered in group and individual settings with the oversight of a Youth Advocate, and some are even self-guided. This allows youth to take the reins and accept responsibility for their own choices. It also lets parents rest assured that their children are making growth alongside our trained experts.

However, some parents need a little extra support and require a more involved approach. Just over 5% of our clients are adults who receive services via our Parent Support Program. These services start with a one-time parent consultation, in which our staff can learn more about the family’s dynamics and suggest community resources that may make their parenting journey easier. If they need ongoing support, they can receive three to six months of parent education while their children are working with a Youth Advocate. In these sessions, they can learn and practice effective strategies that will help them succeed as parents.

In addition to these services, we’re proud to announce that we will also be providing Community Reinforcement and Family Training groups for parents beginning in April. CRAFT is a free 12-week peer support program for parents whose youth are dealing with substance use. The groups will be facilitated by our four CRAFT-trained staff members and will give parents an opportunity to develop positive coping mechanisms, practice clear communication strategies, and share their lived experiences with one another. Research shows that 70% of people who participate in CRAFT are successful in reducing harmful substance use in the family and encouraging youth to seek some sort of treatment. We’re excited to be able to offer this opportunity to families in our area.

CRAFT sessions will be held at our Rifle YouthZone office every Thursday from 6-7 p.m., beginning April 10. We respectfully ask that you commit to the full 12-week cycle if you’re interested, as the best results are seen when groups remain consistent. To sign up, please contact our Parent Education Coordinator Sarai Quintana at squintana@youthzone.com or 970-212-1968.

If you’re passionate about the work we do in our community, but don’t think CRAFT is the right fit for you or your family, we encourage you to learn more about our services by visiting http://www.YouthZone.com/services. If you’d like to support our work by making a financial contribution, we have a few options available. You can make a general operations donation by visiting http://www.YouthZone.com/give, just like the more than 200 community members who did so last year.

If you own a local business, we encourage you to sponsor our Second Annual Spring Gala, taking place on Friday, May 2 from 6-9 p.m. at Hotel Colorado in Glenwood Springs. More information can be found at http://www.YouthZone.com/gala. Whether you’re a client, donor, or community partner, we’re proud to have you on our team, and look forward to fostering Hopeful Youth, Strong Families, and Safe Communities alongside you. 

YouthZone Deputy Development Director Ali Naaseh-Shahry is a Colorado native who holds degrees in international public policy from the University of Colorado (BA) and University College London (MSc). He moved to western Colorado in 2015 to teach six-and-under ski school at the Aspen Skiing Company. Ali has taught a wide variety of academic and experiential subjects to people of all ages. Most recently, he worked as a special education teacher with the Roaring Fork School District, where he used data-driven decision making to improve his delivery of specialized instruction. Ali enjoys lift-access powder skiing, raft-access fly fishing, and spending time with his cats.