Youth and families in the Roaring Fork Valley are confronting a growing wave of challenges, encompassing substance abuse and declining mental health, according to Ali Naaseh-Shahry, Deputy Development Director of YouthZone. The non-profit, dedicated to mitigating juvenile behavior in individuals aged 12-18 across the region from Aspen to Parachute, noted a concerning trend during a presentation to the Snowmass Village Town Council on January 16.
Rather than witnessing an increase in individual issues, YouthZone has observed a rise in comorbidity, where existing problems compound with others. Naaseh-Shahry expressed, “We used to get clients that would come to us, and they were relatively low-risk; they would maybe have one problem going on that they were dealing with, substance abuse, or they were dealing with trouble in school, or they were dealing with interfamilial disputes.”
This increase in complexity demands more robust support for students and, consequently, a need for additional trained staff members. Although the total number of cases may not be escalating, the severity and complexity of the challenges faced by the youth are on the rise. Naaseh-Shahry emphasized, “While the numbers are stable, the levels of support that they require are growing, and that requires a staff that is trained and willing to take on those challenges, which is challenging.”
YouthZone charges students referred to its services a nominal fee of $150 for a two-hour assessment. However, the non-profit provides substantial services to families, extending support worth thousands of dollars. To address these increasing needs, YouthZone actively seeks funding from various municipalities in the valley. In 2022, the organization received $5,000 from the Snowmass Town Council and raised $1.85 million from donors in the valley.
Despite the escalating problems faced by individuals, YouthZone reports a remarkable success rate, with 91% of students they work with not re-offending. The organization has been expanding its reach by establishing satellite offices in Aspen, Basalt, Carbondale, Glenwood Springs, Rifle, and Parachute, with the aim of reducing barriers to accessing its services.
While the primary focus of YouthZone remains on serving kids, a parent support program was launched in 2023 to offer parent consultations, education, and family mediation. Naaseh-Shahry explained, “A lot of times, if kids have substance abuse problems, their parents do as well; so to be able to provide (parents) the resources they need to be successful also ends up helping the kids out.”
In the pursuit of enhancing services and retaining staff, YouthZone continually seeks fundraising opportunities, recognizing the challenges posed by the cost of living, housing issues, and access to childcare in the region.
