CEO Letter
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It’s hard to believe March is almost over and our excitement is already building around the end of school and summer fun ahead! My son turned 12 years old this week and as he inches closer and closer to becoming a teenager, I’m often reminded of how important positive peers and adult role models are in his life. At Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County, we are creating safe, inclusive spaces and building strong relationships at a time when kids need them more than ever before. Our programs foster leadership, grow confidence, and champion positive interpersonal skills. This month we learned that our Behavioral Health Team will receive the Roxanne Spillett National Award for Trauma-Informed Practice & Youth Well-Being from Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Quite simply, this means that BGCLC offers some of the best behavioral health & social-emotional programs in the country. Not only that, our staff provide individual youth therapy and assist with family resource navigation when needed. We can’t wait to celebrate this important milestone at the BGCA Annual Conference and at our Spring Soiree in May! We will also be celebrating our Senior Youth of the Year at the Spring Soiree and you will not want to miss his speech. Wesley’s story epitomizes the mission of BGCLC and the heroes in his narrative are our Sage Homes Wellington Club staff. Our team is literally changing the lives of young people in our community, and I couldn’t be more proud to stand alongside them as their biggest fan. I am so impressed with the creativity, innovation, and commitment to excellence that our team shows every day. We are leading the way in program content, community collaboration, and data-driven results. I hope you will all join me in celebrating them and the amazing kids we serve on Friday, May 31 at the Hilton Fort Collins for our Spring Soirée. Together, we can give every youth the chance to Believe, Belong, and Bloom! With gratitude, Allison Hines Chief Executive Officer |
Happy Spring! |
BGCLC Behavioral Health Team Wins National Award in Trauma-Informed Youth Wellbeing |
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The Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County (BGCLC) Behavioral Health Team (BHT) has won the National Roxanne Spillett Award for Trauma-Informed Practice & Youth Well-Being. This award recognizes programs that integrate and are guided by the seven elements of a trauma-informed Club: 1) Awareness, 2) Safety, 3) Trust, 4) Equity, 5) Empowerment, Voice & Choice, 6) Mutual Collaboration, and 7) Connection & Growth.
According to Sarah McKeen, BGCLC Program Quality Director with a Masters in Social Work, being trauma-informed means approaching every situation with an empathetic lens. “It’s understanding that we don’t always know the experiences of every individual and how those experiences impact their behavior,” McKeen said.
Club members are more able to identify tools to manage emotion thanks to the work of the BHT. Members needing emergency mental health support have also been supported with appropriate level of care.
“I’ve learned a lot in the emotions programs and have learned lots of different ways to manage my emotions. One that I use a lot is the 5-4-3-2-1 that helps me calm down [referring to the 5-senses grounding technique],” a Lincoln Club member said.
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Program Highlight: March Madness Tournament
Our Annual March Madness 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament provides a high-quality sports experience that gives club members opportunities to have fun, build character, practice sportsmanship, and develop skills that will help them become responsible citizens who can have happy, healthy lives.
On Friday, March 22, Club members and visiting youth from all over the county participated in the annual March Madness basketball tournament. Congratulations to the visiting Loveland team on your win!
Spring Soirée: Believe. Belong. Bloom!
Friday, May 31, 2024
Hilton Fort Collins
Doors: 6:00 p.m.
Save the date for our largest fundraiser of the year as we celebrate our Youth of the Year, our Club members, and the great futures that bloom, grow, and flourish at Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County!
Join us for an evening of live music, drinks, heavy d’oeuvres, and a silent auction.
Sponsorships for this event are available! Contact our Development Manager, Caitlin Carter, at ccarter@bgclarimer.org for more information.
Registration opens April 1 here!
News and Announcements
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