Grant supports youth mental health, parent education in Longmont

A grant to Longmont’s youth center will help expand resources for families.

The Longmont Children, Youth and Families department received a $12,500 grant from the El Pomar Foundation for the Youth Center’s mental health programs. According to the award letter, Longmont was recommended for this grant in recognition of their “service to the people of Colorado.”

The grant will be used for the continued work on culturally attuned outreach in the areas identified with the most need in the city, according to Hilda Zamora Hursh, acting Children, Youth and Families manager.

She explained that the program brings education and reduces stigma around receiving youth mental health support in both English and Spanish. It also helps to address parenting challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 shutdown.

“We’re using that grant money to help bolster that program,” Zamora Hursh said.

The focus will be on the Lanyon and Kensington Park Census tracts, which have been identified as areas in Longmont needing extra resources. The money will go toward expanding classes and offerings in those areas.

“We’re increasing not necessarily the capacity of families, but the amount of support that we can provide,” Zamora Hursh said.

The program has served over 500 parents since it was established a decade ago. In 2022, 35 families with 61 children were helped.

This program is more unique than typical outreach because it uses the “Promotora” model to connect with communities in a culturally informed and evidence-based way. Zamora Hursh explained the facilitator for this program is part of the community and knows it well, helping to break down barriers and increase access.

“She knows where to reach people and that kind of goes beyond your traditional outreach,” Zamora Hursh said. “It’s through word of mouth, it’s meeting people at the markets, it’s seeing people you run into at a store — it’s going where people in the community are.”

The program’s next class will be in English starting May 3 at the Lashley Street Station with dinner and childcare provided. For more information, contact Claudia Orona at (303) 774-3766.