Resources for the Home
Local Resources to Meet Basic Needs:
Child Protection
- Jefferson County Department of Human Services
- For reporting child abuse/neglect concerns, call 303-271-HELP (4357)
Clothing Assistance
- Serving Kids 303-982-2210
- Serving kids provides a week's worth of new or near-new clothing for any student in jeffco schools who may need it.
Food
- Arvada Community Food Bank 303-424-6685
- New Apostolic Church Food Bank 5290 Vance Street Arvada, CO 80002
- Open on Wednesday from 9-11 a.m., please enter using the rear door
- "There are no boundaries - all are welcome."
Homeless Assistance
- Homeless Services Resource List
- This is a link to the jeffco homeless services webpage and has a list of resources from clothing, housing, food, and medical assistance. Please contact me with questions or if you need help navigating.
- You can also contact the homeless services intake line at 303-982-1144.
- The Action Center
- Catholic Charities Shelter Locations
Housing Assistance
- Colorado Housing Connects (1-844-926-6632) -bilingual helpline
- Affordable Housing Map of Jefferson County
- A list of additional housing resources is available HERE through Jefferson County Human Services
Relatives Raising Children
Utility Assistance
**This list is not comprehensive. For additional resources dial 211 on your phone 24/7 or click HERE to go to 211's website.
Mental Health Resources
General Information on Childhood Mental Illness
ADHD (Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder)
Anxiety Resources
- Anxiety and Depression Association of America
- Kids Health Network
- Association for Contextual Behavioral Sciences
- Anxiety and Anxiety Disorders in Children (Information for Parents)
- Anxiety Disorders in Children and Adolescents (Information for Parents and Caregivers)
- How parents can help children who are anxious: http://www.greatschools.org/special-education/health/889-children-who-are-anxious.gs
- Books:
- What to do when you worry too much?
Autism Resources
Bullying
- Stopbullying.gov
- Maintained by the federal government with current research on identifying bullying, its effects, and data driven prevention.
Depression
- National Institute of Mental Health (general information)
- Mayo Clinic (general information)
- Depression resources for kids and teens
Divorce
- Sesame Street Toolkit with video and tips for talking to your children: https://www.sesamestreet.org/toolkits/divorce
Grief
- Judi's House (Grief counseling for children and families) 720-941-0331
- "Our mission is to help children and families who are grieving the death of a loved one find hope and healing within themselves. At Judi's House, an environment of acceptance and understanding allows children and adults in peer support groups to share the experience of loss with others."
- Books:
- Cry, Heart, But Never Break by Glenn Ringtved
- When Dinosaurs Die: A Guide to Understanding Death by Laurie Krasny Brown
- A Terrible Thing Happened by Margaret Holmes
Mental Health Counseling Services
- Jefferson Center for Mental Health 303-425-0300 (24 hour hotline)
- Call if you or someone you know...
- has a mental health crisis
- are concerned about a mental health problem and you want to talk it through with someone
- would like to schedule an appointment at their clinic
- want information about resources in your community
- Call if you or someone you know...
- Kaiser Behavioral Health (303) 471-7700
- 8:30-4:30 Mon-Fri, closed for lunch from 11:30-12:30
- 3 Mental health Facility locations
- Services offered for children, teens, families and adults dealing with emotional and behavioral problems, such as:
- depression
- anxiety
- attention disorders (ADHD)
- Alcohol and other chemical dependency
- Families First Colorado
- Family support services...
- parent education
- support groups
- spanish support services
- For times when parenting gets tough: 1-800-children (10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily)
- **If you are interested in finding a mental health provider that works in a private practice setting, please ask me for more info. I have numerous referrals for therapists in the Denver metro area**
Nightmares
Self-Harm/Self-Injury Resources
- S.A.F.E Alternatives 800-366-8288
- Self-Injury Information
- 800-273-TALK (24 Hour Hotline)
Suicide/Risk Prevention
- safe2tell 1-877-542-SAFE (anonymous)
- Call if you have information about...
- Bullying, guns, animal cruelty, threats, sexual abuse, vandalism/graffiti, drugs, gangs, thefts, or suicide threats
- Call if you have information about...
- Second Wind Fund
- Offering education, awareness, and treatment to children and youth ages 19 and younger, who are at risk of suicide, with a licensed therapist in their local community.
- Jefferson Center for Mental Health
- Offering education, awareness, and treatment to youth and adults in Jefferson County.
- SAMHSA
- Current research and information on suicide research
- Websites designed for youth (please decide if these websites are appropriate for your youth before allowing them to view alone):
- JED : Expert information and resources to help teens and young adults navigate life’s challenges.
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Online chatline as well as information about how to help self and others.
Trauma
The picture to the right/below is a link to Colorado Crisis Services website that lists different resources for individuals dealing with a mental health crisis.
If you are in crisis or need help dealing with one, call this toll-free number 1-844-493-TALK (8255) or text TALK to 38255 to speak to a trained professional. You call 24-7 any day of the year.
Online chat support is also available between 4pm - 12am.
If it is a medical emergency, do not call the crisis line. Call 911.
Sesame Street has "toolboxes" with a variety of tips, videos, and activities to help you talk about a variety of topics with your children. Topics include a variety of difficult subjects such as grief, divorce, military, and much more. There are also a variety of "toolboxes" on topics that all children experience such as health habits, math, national parks, etc.
Resources families can use to support the social emotional learning of their student:
Self-Awareness:
The ability to accurately recognize one’s own emotions, thoughts, and values and how they influence behavior. The ability to accurately assess one’s strengths and limitations, with a well-grounded sense of confidence, optimism, and a “growth mindset.”
- Identifying emotions
- Accurate self-perception
- Recognizing strengths
- Self-confidence
- Self-efficacy
This is a great article that has suggestions for questions to ask and discussion to have with your youth to help them form self-awareness and a positive mindset
Self-Regulation:
The ability to successfully regulate one’s emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in different situations — effectively managing stress, controlling impulses, and motivating oneself. The ability to set and work toward personal and academic goals.
- Impulse control
- Stress management
- Self-discipline
- Self-motivation
- Goal-setting
- Organizational skills
Here is a great link to a list of coping skills that can be used at home:
"18 easy coping skills for children and teens. Great replacement behavior strategies to reduce stress."
This is a great craft that you can make with your child at home. They can use the "calm down jar" when they are upset to sooth them.
This website does a great job of detailing ways to help your child manage their anger and anxiety. The first image has resources for anger and the second for anxiety.
Social Awareness:
The ability to take the perspective of and empathize with others, including those from diverse backgrounds and cultures. The ability to understand social and ethical norms for behavior and to recognize family, school, and community resources and supports.
- Perspective-taking
- Empathy
- Appreciating diversity
- Respect for others
Click on the image to access an activity you can easily do at home with your kids to support their development of empathy by teaching them about name calling.
Relationship Skills:
The ability to establish and maintain healthy and rewarding relationships with diverse individuals and groups. The ability to communicate clearly, listen well, cooperate with others, resist inappropriate social pressure, negotiate conflict constructively, and seek and offer help when needed.
- Communication
- Social engagement
- Relationship-building
- Teamwork
Here are some games that you can play as a family or encourage them to play with other children to practice teamwork and communication skills
Bullying
This is a great resource from Drake Middle School's Counseling Website with tips that you can share with your student about how to handle rumors and gossip. Here is a link to Drake Counseling's site: https://sites.google.com/a/jeffcoschools.us/drake-middle-school-counseling/resources
Responsible Decision-Making:
The ability to make constructive choices about personal behavior and social interactions based on ethical standards, safety concerns, and social norms. The realistic evaluation of consequences of various actions, and a consideration of the well-being of oneself and others.
- Identifying problems
- Analyzing situations
- Solving problems
- Evaluating
- Reflecting
- Ethical responsibility