Aurora Youth Options
Navigation of Community Resources, Mentoring, Tutoring, Substance Use Prevention and Youth Leadership.
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AYO set up a focus group for the National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association (NAAPIMHA). They ae working on calibrating an awareness campaign and curriculum, Friends Do Make A Difference, which is currently targeted to college students of Asian and Pacific Island decent to be used with a diverse population of High School students. To learn more about the campaign go to the NAAPIMHA website: http://naapimha.org/friends-do-make-a-difference/.
Congratulations to an AYO Mentor Program match! Israel, an AYO mentee was on the first place team at the Junior Achievement's Business Week. Ed Cleaver, his mentor, helped him prepare for the week.
Aurora Youth Options had the opportunity on May 11th to provide one of our families involved in the mentor program with some great new pairs of shoes thanks to a donation through Aurora Mental Health Center at one of our local Payless Shoe Stores! Thank you Payless from AYO and our families!
May 1, 2015 Aurora Mental Health held the 11th annual Spring Luncheon, Living Life to the Fullest. It was an amazing event honoring the stories of several AYO participants, enjoying lunch and all topped off with the comedy routines of The Second City.
Billie Jo Roach was recognized on April 14th as the Volunteer of the Year by the Colorado Child and Adolescent Mental Health Coalition. Billie Jo received this recognition based on her volunteer experience as a mentor with the AYO Mentor Program. She has been matched with her mentee for one year and during this time has employed several creative ways of building a relationship with and challenging her mentee.
AYO's volunteers have allowed us to serve 6,000 youth in the past six years offering each youth individualized support. Volunteers meet one-on-one with youth serving as mentors and tutors, as well as helping in the office with program development and connecting with our clients. On Wednesday April 1st, in honor of National Volunteer Recognition Month, we celebrated the accomplishments and impacts our volunteers have on the Aurora community. Thirty-five volunteers and friends were in attendance at Joe's Crab Shack to hear several volunteers share what they do for AYO and the successes th
Thanks to Payless' annual shopping day for Aurora Mental Health Center, 11 youth got some new footwear. AYO youth and their siblings were invited to select a shoe of their choice. Most selected sneakers and one little sister got some golden sandals. AYO supports middle and high school aged youth, helping them overcome life's challenges. The Payless' shopping day stretches family budgets and enriches their children's lives by this opportunity. Thank you, Payless, from AYO families!
PACT staff recently attended the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America’s (CADCA) 25th annual National Leadership Forum in National Harbor, MD. The conference challenged participates to be “Agents of Change” in their communities. Information provided by nationally known experts and policymakers focused on employing participants to use substance abuse prevention practices that are evidence-based and results-driven. PACT participants honed their substance abuse prevention skills attending some of the 70+ training sessions!
January was National Mentoring Month and Aurora Youth Options (AYO) held a mentoring drive in December and January to recruit mentors for Aurora youth. Members of the AYO Mentor Team presented to service clubs and other community organizations, visit community events, Buckley AFB and participate in the creation of public service announcements and the distribution of flyers to get out the word about the importance of mentoring. On January 29, AYO hosted 27 adults who were interested in learning more about how to change a life.
