Partners has served area youth and families through supportive programming and services Since 1978. Over the years the organization has expanded its programs and service area to support more youth and community members through three program areas: prevention education, community partnerships, and youth mentoring.

Prevention Education helps youth, parents, and caregivers develop skills to address risk factors that lead youth to poor decision-making and substance misuse. Partners collaborates with schools, municipal courts, social groups, and other nonprofits to make the classes available in a variety of settings.

Partners’ Strategic Partnerships allow the organization to expand its efforts and collaborate with other community organizations to find solutions for issues affecting Larimer County youth.

In 2022, the Youth Mentoring program, which is partially funded by the BHS Impact Fund Grant Program, served 830 youth, ages 7 to 17 years old, each year through community-based and school-based mentoring programs where youth are dealing with personal, academic, or social issues.

Through mentorship, youth gain supportive relationships that help them develop interpersonal skills, confidence, and improved attitudes about substance use.

Partners originally established the Mentoring Program as an intervention strategy for youth entering the juvenile justice system. The program has since expanded to include a prevention-based approach for kids who are facing risk factors that could lead to involvement in the juvenile justice system. Additionally, Partners works with local school districts to provide more support through the school environment by meeting young people where they are.

One of the goals of the Partners’ Mentorship Program is to offset risk factors with protective factors and support youth well-being and provide healthy coping strategies in order to minimize long-term mental/behavioral health impacts.

Research shows that positive youth development activities, which are at the core of Partners programs, lead to youth who feel a greater sense of belonging and resilience. Evidence suggests that youth with mentors are more likely to report engaging in positive behavior and display positive outcomes across social, emotional, behavioral, and academic areas of youth development. According to Youth.Gov, supportive, healthy relationships formed between mentors and mentees contribute to a host of benefits for mentees that include;

• Increased high school graduation rates
• Lower high school dropout rates
• Healthier relationships and lifestyle choices
• Better attitude about school
• Higher college enrollment rates and higher educational aspirations
• Enhanced self-esteem and self-confidence
• Improved behavior, both at home and at school
• Stronger relationships with parents, teachers, and peers
• Improved interpersonal skills
• Decreased likelihood of initiating drug and alcohol use

Partners has many stories that illustrate the positive impact of mentorships. One of the high school mentees came from a poverty background and struggled with academics, mental health, and had a hard time interacting with peers due to social anxiety. The mentee had an instant connection with her mentor and they started building a relationship. Her mentor intentionally worked with her to develop coping skills for social anxiety and basic life skills. After working together, the mentor reported significant personal growth for the mentee and how she learned to navigate social anxiety and engage with others.

Another mentee who had experienced traumatic family upheaval was paired with a mentor who was committed to being someone who showed up consistently in their life to help create a sense of stability. When asked about their relationship, the mentee said that the mentor taught them a lot about self-care and finding ways to manage their emotions and stress. When asked about how the mentorship was working for them, the mentee said, “All of it. I can’t think of one that I don’t like. It is great to have someone I can talk to who understands me."

“The value of investing in the youth of our communities cannot be overstated. The benefit of volunteer time and financial support is so significant to our participants and also to our wider community. Consistent positive adult support is absolutely essential for youth-–especially at this time when being a young person is so uncertain and stressful. Partners is proud to provide this support to local youth as they move into a healthy and successful adulthood,” said Heather Vesgaard, Executive Director of Partners.

To learn more about programs offered through Partners please visit https://poweredbypartners.org/