Life Skills and Family Services
Practical skills for independence, stability and success
Greater Denver CARES provides culturally grounded life skills and family support services for youth, young adults and families. We partner with child welfare agencies, youth services, schools and community organizations to help young people build the everyday skills they need to thrive at home, in school, at work and in their communities.
Our services are led by staff with more than 20 years of experience in youth development and child welfare, and are rooted in the same healing-centered approach as our Rising wellness circles.
Life Skills Training
Hands-on, individualized coaching and small-group sessions that build confidence and independence, including:
- Communication and healthy relationships: expressing needs, active listening, setting boundaries and resolving conflict
- Decision-making and problem-solving: weighing choices, planning ahead and handling challenges
- Emotional wellness and coping: managing stress, anger and grief, and knowing when and how to ask for help
- Goal setting and time management: creating routines, staying organized and following through
- Self-care, health and hygiene: personal care, nutrition, sleep and managing appointments
- Home management: meal planning, basic cooking, grocery shopping and keeping a safe, organized home
- Housing readiness: searching for housing, understanding a lease and being a responsible tenant
- Education and career readiness: school success, résumé writing, job searching, interviewing and workplace expectations
- Navigating community resources: transportation, health care, important documents and local support services
- Parenting support for young parents: child development, routines and positive discipline
Financial Literacy
Practical money skills that set young people and families on a path to financial stability:
- Budgeting and tracking spending
- Opening and managing a bank account
- Saving and setting financial goals
- Understanding credit, debt and avoiding scams
- Reading a paycheck and understanding taxes
- Planning for big purchases, housing costs and emergencies
Who we serve
- Youth and young adults, including those in or transitioning from foster care
- Young people involved with or leaving youth services and detention
- Teen and young parents
- Families working toward stability and reunification
How services are delivered
- One-on-one coaching and small-group sessions
- In the community, at school, in agency settings or in the home
- Individualized goals with regular progress updates for referring partners
- Culturally responsive, trauma-informed and strengths-based
Make a referral
Caseworkers, agencies, schools and community partners can refer youth and families to our services. Contact us to make a referral →