{"id":1318691,"date":"2020-03-11T22:43:54","date_gmt":"2020-03-12T04:43:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/?p=994469"},"modified":"2020-03-11T22:43:54","modified_gmt":"2020-03-12T04:43:54","slug":"youthzone-develops-partnership-to-provide-vocational-path-in-effort-to-keep-teens-on-track","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/local-news\/youthzone-develops-partnership-to-provide-vocational-path-in-effort-to-keep-teens-on-track\/","title":{"rendered":"YouthZone develops partnership to provide vocational path in effort to keep teens on track"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
The new YouthZone center is located in the old Glenwood Springs Library building at Ninth and Blake.<\/strong>
Chelsea Self \/ Post Independent<\/em><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

A new partnership in Garfield County aims to help teenagers who are trying to get their lives on track to stay the course by paving potential career paths. <\/p>\n

YouthZone, based in Glenwood Springs, has joined forces with the Colorado Workforce and its Department of Vocational Rehabilitation to give struggling teenagers a boost when it comes time to enter the job market.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe agreement provides an opportunity for kids to have connections after they leave YouthZone, so they know that they have resources in the community that will help them over the long-term,\u201d Samantha Freese, Youth Career Coordinator for Colorado Workforce, said.<\/p>\n

Airen Goodman is the Colorado Youth Detention Continuum (CYDC) program coordinator for YouthZone, working in conjunction with the 9th<\/sup> Judicial District.<\/p>\n

She and YouthZone\u2019s trained clinical staff will determine at intake which youth clients, ages 14 and up, may need the additional programming as they make their way through YouthZone\u2019s various prevention and intervention programs.<\/p>\n

Goodman\u2019s job is to work with youth who find themselves in the juvenile justice system to keep them out of detention and at home with their families. Through programs such as the independent life skills classes that she teaches, that\u2019s possible.<\/p>\n

A continuation of that, though, is to ensure they can be successful as they mature, which is where the new partnership came into being, Goodman said.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor the last three months or so we have been discussing how both of our programs can support each other,\u201d she said of the partnership with Colorado Workforce and the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR).<\/p>\n

\u201cBy working together, we can connect youth with different providers, where the goal is to offer that continued support, especially if they are struggling in their education studies.\u201d<\/p>\n

Libby Walters is the DVR\u2019s lead Transitioning Youth counselor for the region. She said that required education component as as extension of YouthZone\u2019s work is essential.<\/p>\n

She, Goodman and Freese developed a curriculum of five classroom opportunities that each participant is expected to need:<\/p>\n