Connected Communities

Connected Communities: Strengthening Youth Mental Health and Family Connection

Facebook event / RSVP / information to share!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EHJ1tvcnt/

Connected Communities is a new initiative of The Collaborative for Family / Education (TCFFE) designed to improve youth mental health and belonging in rural El Paso and Teller Counties.

The program equips parents, caregivers, educators, employers, and faith leaders with simple, accessible tools to strengthen communication, emotional literacy, and resilience among young people.

This program is made possible through support from the Colorado Health Foundation; Ent Credit Union, Now Becoming Wings Credit Union;  and the Anna Keesling Ackerman Fund, and we are actively seeking additional funding partners to expand our reach across the Pikes Peak region.

We have partnered with Born This Way via the Be There Challenge.  From May 1, 2026 (Mental Health Awareness Month) through June 30, 2026 (Pride Month) you can learn more about connecting with peers.  Take the FREE two hour training - and we get a donation.  By earning your Be There Certificate, you’re better prepared to care for your own and others’ mental health. You’re part of Generation Be There. 

Launched on March 9, 2022, the Be There Certificate is a free online course, created by Jack.org in partnership with
Born This Way Foundation, that provides you with the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to safely support
anyone who may be struggling with their mental health.

6 interactive lessons

Evidence-informed and youth-centered

Self-paced, less than 2 hours to complete

Available in English, French, and Spanish

Videos and real life scenarios

Awarded a Digital Certificate of Completion

FREE, unlimited access

Take the class and copy / paste the link to share!

 certificate.bethere.org/theCollab  

More about our event...

September 12, 2026

Woodland Park Library, Woodland Park, Colorado 80863

1:30 - 3:30 

Community mixer / conversation focusing on the mental health impact of being a marginalized youth in a rural community.

Mental Health Colorado President and CEO, Vincent Atchity will speak on how a community impacts the mental wellness of it's members. 

http://www.mentalhealthcolorado.org

If you would like to be a speaker, planner, helper, or special guest with a story to tell - OR if you would like to receive communication / videos /  tips / resources / connect regarding this event - please email us at stacy@tcffe.org.  Indicate your wish for involvement and well get that going! Thank you!

Sponsors and Partnership links are below...go check them out.

Why This Work Matters

Rural families in our region face increasing challenges—youth anxiety, depression, social isolation, and limited access to mental health support. Many caring adults want to help but lack the resources or confidence to start these important conversations. 

Connected Communities bridges that gap by empowering adults to build emotionally supportive environments everywhere youth spend time - at home, school, work, and church.

Our long-term goal is to strengthen the protective factors that help young people thrive: belonging, trusted adult relationships, and family communication.

When It Comes to Mental Health, Communities Go Silent

When a child is diagnosed with cancer, a heart condition, or suffers a serious accident, the community knows how to respond. We rally. We organize meal trains, host pancake dinners, design t-shirts, and run 5Ks. We show up with casseroles, fundraisers, and endless support. But when a young person struggles with anxiety, depression, self-harm, or identity-based stress—the response is often silence. No meal trains. No “Team So-and-So” shirts. Just uncertainty and isolation. Connected Communities exists to change that story. By giving adults the language, confidence, and tools to talk about mental health, we can replace silence with support, and create a culture where no child—and no family—faces emotional pain alone.

What We Do

Connected Communities provides free, practical, and community-based support through:

• Weekly 15-Minute Video Trainings
  Bite-sized tools and insights for parents, educators, and community leaders on topics like active listening, youth anxiety, digital wellness, and positive discipline.
  
  

• Monthly Family Engagement Newsletters
  Reaching over 8,000 rural households and tens of thousands with our social media accounts, our newsletters deliver timely guidance, conversation starters, and local mental health resources.
  
  

• Community Workshops
  We hope to offer monthly events at libraries, schools, and faith organizations, open to all community members. Workshops explore topics such as:
  
  

  • How to Talk So Kids Will Listen (and Vice Versa)
    
    

  • Raising Emotionally Literate Kids
    
    

  • Creating Safe Spaces for LGBTQ+ Youth
    
    

  • Helping Teens Manage Digital Overload
    
    

  • The Role of Community Leaders in Youth Mental Health

Outreach and Collaboration
We are actively seeking partnerships with 30+ schools, churches, and local employers to promote family wellness and host trainings in their own settings.

Who We Serve

Connected Communities primarily serves:

• Youth ages 6–22 in Teller, Park, and rural El Paso Counties
  
  

• Families and caregivers seeking practical tools for connection
  
  

• Educators and youth-serving professionals
  
  

• Faith and community leaders
  
  

• Local employers supporting family-friendly workplaces
  
  

.

Our Impact Goals

By the end of the program year (October 2026), we aim to:

• Reach 9,000+ individuals through newsletters, videos, and workshops.
  
  

• Train 40+ educators and youth-serving adults through weekly micro-trainings.
  
  

• Increase caregiver confidence in discussing youth mental health.
  
  

• Build sustainable partnerships with 30+ community organizations.
  
  

• Normalize open, affirming conversations about mental health in family and faith settings.
  
  

Support This Work

Your donation or grant helps expand Connected Communities into more neighborhoods, schools, and faith communities—bringing essential mental health education and connection to rural families.

🔗 Donate or Partner With Us →   
 

Every donation adds up!  Thank you!  For larger donations, grants, or funding  - feel free to email or call us for a copy of our current budget and statements.  We are happy to provide whatever information you need - as a 501c3 organization that is mostly volunteer run (except during the summer camp season) we hold ourselves to a very high standard of financial responsibility.

Acknowledgments

This program is supported in part by the following organizations and foundations:

The Colorado Health Foundation is a statewide philanthropic organization that champions the overall health and well-being of every Coloradan by advocating for and investing in solutions and policies that drive health equity and racial justice. Every day, we collaborate with organizations and communities across the state to break down the many systemic inequities that stand in the way of health. Learn more at www.coloradohealth.org 

Ent Credit Union, Now Becoming Wings Credit Union  - For decades, Ent has contributed millions of dollars to support communities across Colorado. As a “community advocate” we have a vested interest in supporting the communities where our owner-members live, work and play. Ent Credit Union, Becoming Wings Credit Untion 

Anna Keesling Ackerman Fund - MISSION: Support nonprofit organizations serving the Pikes Peak region, with a specific focus on organizations working in arts and culture, civic and community initiatives, education, health, and human services.  The grant was made possible through the El Pomar Foundation. 

 
We are actively seeking additional community and foundation partners to grow this initiative in 2025–2026.

Other partnerships and collaborations: