Child abuse in our country is a silent epidemic. Colorado ranks among the top third of states in the nation with the highest rate of child abuse fatalities.  Each child we fail costs our community one million dollars, according to 2007 studies on adult outcomes for former foster youth (Pew Foundation, Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiatives, Chapin Hall Center for Children.) There are people, like Shari Shink, however, who tirelessly fight against this atrocity. 

Shari founded the Rocky Mountain Children’s Law Center (RMCLC) 27 years ago to provide high quality legal services for abused and neglected children in Colorado. Today, RMCLC has grown into a multi-faceted, life-saving machine that includes therapeutic programs and significant public policy reform in addition to legal representation. Shari, along with her dedicated staff and 150 pro bono lawyers, fights for kids every day.

 Since its inception, RMCLC has saved the lives of more than 8,000 children, provided resources for more than 27,000 crisis callers, recruited 800 volunteer attorneys to advocate for children, achieved dramatic system reform through over two dozen public policy initiatives, trained and empowered 3,000 foster parents to advocate for their foster children, and protected more than 3,300 child victims of domestic violence. 

“Abused kids can’t speak for themselves, so we speak for them.  We are advocating for decisions that will affect the rest of their lives, and essentially, we’re saving their lives.”

In 1985, four years after the organization was established, funding started to disappear. “Mile High United Way was the only funder that would stand up for us and keep supporting our efforts,” said Shink. “They gave us critical support that helped us get where we are today.”

Mile High United Way supports Rocky Mountain Children’s Law Center through our Youth Success initiative. The life-changing initiative empowers at-risk youth to overcome obstacles and graduate from high school. RMCLC receives specific United Way funding for their core service to the community:  legal representation of maltreated children.

The stories are incredibly emotional, especially when told by the endless advocate, Shari:
One little boy was removed from his mother’s care at the age of 7 and put in the foster care system until he was 14. He went through 18 different foster homes until he ended up in a group home. During his time in the group home, he assaulted the staff and ended up cutting himself quite a bit. He was acting out his anger about his situation. As a result, he faced the possibility of lock-up for two years in Youth Corrections. This is when I was appointed by the court to represent him.

This young person was so bright and had been kicked around so much, that I knew I had to reach deeper and take a different approach in representing him. Youth Corrections was not working. Through a series of meetings with him, I learned that he liked horses. I convinced the judge that instead of going back to Youth Corrections, he should go to a ranch that was willing to let him help every day from 9 to 5. He went to that ranch every day, worked, learned and rode horses for a summer. Long story short, the therapeutic approach was a success. He stopped cutting himself, stopped his violent behavior and became a dramatically different kid. He went back to living with his mom, graduated from high school and saved the State of Colorado a lot of money in youth corrections costs. This is the approach we take with every child that we serve. Every one of these kids has been through things that are so unspeakable, the least we can do is go that extra mile for them. 

Building Hope, Changing Lives, Strengthening Community 

Jefferson Center for Mental Health (Jefferson Center) was one of the first nonprofit agencies on the scene after the Columbine School Shootings in 1999.  As part of coordinated relief efforts, Jefferson Center provided crisis response services as well as trauma treatment to the community for five years following the tragedy.

“We were there in times of crisis and mobilized community support after the shootings,” said Jeanne Oliver, chief communications and development officer at Jefferson Center. “We didn’t just help at Columbine High School, but also helped kids in other schools who were afraid, acting out, and suffering from trauma.”

Jefferson Center for Mental Health remembers the time when they first opened their doors in 1958 –when 75 percent of those diagnosed with a mental illness were sent to hospitals, and those remaining were kept in their homes as embarrassing family secrets.  Now, 50 years later, Jefferson Center is the leading provider of mental health services in Jefferson, Gilpin and Clear Creek Counties for over 6,000 people each year.

“We envision a community in which there is no stigma, no lack of resources and no barriers to mental health care, where recovery from mental illnesses is not only possible, but probable,” said Dr. Elissa Stein, deputy chief operating officer.  “Individuals with mental health challenges must be accepted and supported — just as we accept and support those with physical health problems.”

Jefferson Center’s School Based Counseling Program is supported by Mile High United Way’s Youth Success initiative, which empowers at-risk youth to overcome obstacles and graduate from high school.

School Based Counseling has brought treatment to public schools in Jefferson, Gilpin and Clear Creek counties that would otherwise not be able to provide mental health services to their students.  When a child is experiencing an emotional or mental health issue, they are not able to learn or be successful - it impacts all areas of their lives.  Students are able to access free treatment in a comfortable school setting where they receive expert counseling one-on-one, in a group setting, or with their family.

“We’ve found that when counselors are on site in the school, both the children and their parents are more likely to seek services,” said Mindy Klowden, Jefferson Center’s development director.  “This also eliminates transportation, child care and other cost barriers to prevention and treatment.  Mile High United Way has been such a valuable partner with Jefferson Center since 1991 in making a difference for children and their families.”

The School Based Counseling Program currently serves 16 high-needs schools and reaches out to nearly 10,000 children and families every year - many of whom are struggling with some of life’s toughest issues.  Children receive access to anger management and problem solving techniques, how to identify and appropriately express feelings, self esteem and interpersonal relationship building, and more.  The majority of individuals served live at or below the Federal Poverty Line.

The School Based Counseling Program has led to students with better attendance, grades, and ultimately, higher graduation rates.  Currently, demand for school-based mental health services exceeds the resources.  Donate, volunteer or advocate for Mile High United Way’s Youth Success initiative and become part of the collective generosity of metro Denver. 

The Center for Hearing, Speech and Language (CHSL) is devoted to improving people’s lives by providing quality hearing, speech and language services.  In its 90 years of service to Colorado, CHSL has gone from a volunteer-run, lip-reading club to a full-service not-for-profit organization providing audiology services, support groups, in-school language screenings and speech, language and learning services to the community.

CHSL and Mile High United Way are long-time partners and currently collaborate in our life-changing School Readiness initiative which prepares children from low-income families to succeed when they enter school. 

Diagnosing and treating hearing and speech disabilities at a young age is incredibly important.  Check out these staggering facts according to Wrightslaw from Emotions to Advocacy:

•31 percent of adolescents with learning disabilities will be arrested within five years of leaving high school. 
•Up to 60 percent of adolescents who receive treatment for substance abuse disorders have learning disabilities. 
•62 percent of learning disabled students were unemployed one year after graduation. 
•74 percent of children who are unsuccessful readers in the third grade are still unsuccessful readers in the ninth grade. 
•Only 52 percent of students identified with learning disabilities will actually graduate with a high school diploma. Learning disabled students drop out of high school at more than twice the rate of their non-disabled peers. 
•At least 50 percent of juvenile delinquents have undiagnosed, untreated learning disabilities.

Hearing loss for young children is devastating: even a slight loss can affect their progression in school.  Unfortunately, vision, speech and hearing screenings are not available to all children through their childcare center or school.

CHSL’s KidScreen program provides vision, hearing, and speech screenings to children in low-income neighborhoods, preschools and private schools.  Pending results, children from low-income families then have access to CHSL professionals who can help them to see, hear and talk as clearly as possible.  The program has tested over 4,800 children so far. 

Life Saving Services
KidScreen has even proved to be life saving.  A few years ago, a CHSL employee was testing a group of children for potential hearing, vision or language disorders.  Energetic, four-year old Anna’s screening was alarming: she exhibited depth perception problems and showed signs of a left eye tremor.  Something wasn’t right and Anna’s mother was urged to see a physician immediately.  Anna was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. 

Now nearly 6 years old, after chemotherapy and various other treatments, Anna will enter kindergarten with a clean bill of health, ready to learn.    

“This is a caring, family atmosphere where all people can come and get the help they deserve – whether they can pay for it or not.  We care about everyone who walks through our doors as individuals, with individual needs.  How are you expected to hold down a job or learn in school if you have trouble hearing?  It becomes a vicious, life-long cycle if children are not treated at a young age,” said Jill Wayne, CHSL executive director and audiologist.

Click here to learn more about CHSL’s School Readiness programs. 

Click here to donate online to Mile High United Way’s School Readiness initiative. 

Colorado Coalition for the Homeless (CCH) works collaboratively toward the prevention of homelessness and the creation of lasting solutions for homeless and at-risk families, children, and individuals throughout Colorado. CCH advocates for and provides a continuum of housing and a variety of services to improve the health, well-being and stability of those it serves.

Colorado Coalition for the Homeless also plays a vital role in Mayor Hickenlooper’s Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness.  The Plan, Denver’s Road Home, is a partnership between the City and County of Denver and Mile High United Way.  Since its inception in 2005, Denver’s Road Home is reporting amazing successes including an 11 percent decrease in overall homelessness, and a 36 percent decrease in chronic homelessness.  In addition, panhandling on the 16th Street Mall has dropped by 92 percent.  

Since its founding over 20 years ago, Colorado Coalition for the Homeless has empowered thousands of people in impossible situations to reclaim their lives. 

Bipolar disorder has colored Rhonada’s life for 25 years.  Her fiancé was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and his medications made him increasingly angry and violent.  Their arguments grew red hot, culminating in a domestic violence report.  In turn, he filed a restraining order, and she was evicted from her apartment.  Rhonada was homeless, her prescription supply was dry, and her manic state was “off the Richter Scale,” said Rhonada. 

A domestic violence safehouse referred Rhonada to the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless’ Stout Street Clinic, supported by Mile High United Way.  Stout Street Clinic’s mental health program provided Rhonada the medication, individual counseling and group therapy she needed to get back on her feet.  Today, Rhonada has gone from homeless to self-sufficient.  She takes pride in her community garden plot where she has planted 18 rows of vegetables.

James Ginsburg, Director of Substance Treatment Services/Housing First for the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, has been with the organization for nearly seven years.  He believes the system has failed people who are homeless, and points to the lack of affordable housing and rising health care costs as evidence.

“Ideally, we want to prevent homelessness from ever happening to someone, but, we are here to reach out and help these vulnerable people recover,” Ginsburg said.  “Whatever they are suffering from, whether it’s mental illness, substance abuse, a medical need, or housing issue, we are here to empower the homeless to create lasting solutions for their lives.”

To donate to Mile High United Way’s Adult Self Sufficiency initiative, click here or dial United Way’s 2-1-1 to give or get help.

By Kate Olsen

By age three, children achieve nearly 80 percent of their total brain growth, and before a child enters kindergarten, intelligence, behavioral patterns and ersonalities are largely formed.  Mile High Montessori creates a stimulating learning environment for young children so they are prepared to succeed when they enter school.

Serving 1,000 children every year, Mile High Montessori is Denver’s oldest and largest provider of comprehensive, subsidized early childhood care and education.  Most families serviced live in the city’s most financially distressed neighborhoods with 89 percent living at or below 185 percent of the Federal Poverty Level.

Mile High United Way and Mile High Montessori have been community partners for thirty-four years.  The two non-profit organizations currently collaborate in Mile High United Way’s School Readiness initiative: ensuring children from low-income families will be prepared to succeed when they enter kindergarten. 

As I toured the school with Anna Jo Haynes, president and CEO, I noticed something very distinctive about the early childhood center.  Children at Montessori don’t rush the door as we enter the classroom to see who the new faces are - they are truly engaged in their individual learning.  This is an important mark of a high quality early learning center.  In each classroom, children from a few months old to 5 years of age are engrossed in whatever their activity may be from painting and playing with blocks, to reading with their teachers or receiving a group music lesson.

There are also no tangible objects in the classrooms that restrict a child’s movement, like highchairs or playpens.  Children use their own body to manage how they learn and it is believed to enhance their independence.

“The Montessori method breeds children who are curious, critical thinkers and are able to make decisions for themselves at a very young age.  They are also able to control their own environment.  This is critical to their development as most kids here live below the poverty line and as a result may have chaotic lives outside Mile High Montessori.  We give them a safe, nurturing space where they can thrive,” said Haynes.

Another benefit is the 1:4 and 1:8 student-to-teacher ratios; each classroom is structured around individual learning.  Mile High Montessori believes it is important to instill in children at a young age that they are able to make their own choices, instead of a teacher telling them what to do.  As a result, children always choose their own activities.

The surprising result is an extremely peaceful environment.
 
Teachers do not raise their voices and scold the children if they do something wrong.  Instead, the teacher remains calm and works with the child so that they learn from their mistakes through positive reinforcement.  Teachers go home every night feeling satisfied, instead of exhausted, because they are not spending most of their day correcting children’s behavior.
 
“I know when they leave Mile High Montessori, these children are ready for life.  Some kids are here for 10 plus hours a day, so we become a big part of who they are.  The birth to five age gap is incredibly critical for a child’s development; we know what we are doing is making a difference every day,” concluded Haynes.

Click here to donate or volunteer for Mile High United Way’s School Readiness initiative.