Caring for Denver Foundation

As we embrace the holiday season, we’re celebrating the transformative power of storytelling to break stigma and bring us closer together. At our recent event with The Moth, courageous voices shared deeply personal stories that highlighted the strength in vulnerability. These moments of honesty and connection remind us how storytelling can release emotion, foster understanding, and build community. The stories shared remind us of the importance of addressing mental health and substance misuse through connection and understanding. As we reflect on this year, we’re deeply grateful for the voices that inspire change and contribute to a healthier Denver. This holiday season, take time to share your story or listen to someone else’s. Quality time and meaningful conversations can strengthen bonds and leave a lasting impact. Together, we can create a more compassionate, healthier Denver. Tag someone whose story has inspired you and share with us below! #TheMoth #CaringForDenver #Storytelling #Gratitude #MentalHealthMatters #HolidayConnections #EndTheStigma #StrongerTogether

?? Your voice matters! The Denver Department of Public Health and Environment is conducting the Thrive in the Mile High Survey as part of their five-year Community Health Assessment. This is your chance to share what’s most important to you about health and well-being in Denver. Your feedback will help guide public health efforts and shape a healthier future for you, your family, and our community. Take the survey today and help us build a stronger, healthier Denver! ?? https://buff.ly/4fXUngf #ThriveInTheMileHigh #CommunityHealthAssessment #DenverStrong #PublicHealth

?? NEW BLOG POST ALERT! ?? The first entry in our "Insights from the Field" series is here! ?? This debut post highlights the incredible work of our Community-Centered Solutions grantees, who are driving meaningful change in behavioral health care. ?? In this post, they share key lessons on: ? Expanding access to care ? Tailoring care to meet community needs ? Sustaining care over time Join us in reflecting on their progress, challenges, and impact as we work together to address mental health and substance misuse needs in Denver. Be a learner—read the full post now! ????? https://buff.ly/40UvnlG #InsightsFromTheField #MentalHealthMatters #DenverStrong #CommunityCenteredSolutions #GranteeSpotlight #BehavioralHealth

?? Grantee Spotlight! ?? Colorado Circles for Change (CCFC) is creating pathways for youth of color to build sacred connections with themselves, their families, and their communities—helping reduce violence and incarceration so they can reach their full potential. With Caring for Denver’s support, CCFC equips youth with tools to address chronic stress, foster positive mental health, and reduce substance misuse, depression, and anxiety through the transformational healing framework, La Cultura Cura. One powerful program is Girasol ??, a rites-of-passage experience for girls of color from the National Compadres Network. This program empowers girls, honors their girlhood, and guides them as they transition into young womanhood—offering positive, life-affirming spaces to thrive. ?? Watch this video to see the beautiful impact of Girasol: https://buff.ly/3CADY2U Angell Pérez #YouthEmpowerment #YouthMentalHealth #Girasol #LaCulturaCura #GranteeSpotlight

Grantee Shout Out! ?? We’re proud to support Spark the Change Colorado’s Mental Wellness Program, which promotes health equity by connecting skilled mental health volunteers with individuals who face barriers to care. Their services include pro bono counseling for individuals, couples, and families, as well as support groups, community partnerships, workforce development, and continuing education for mental health professionals. “At the core of our mission is to ensure everybody receives the care they need… our volunteers are amazing people who join our program to give back to the community from the goodness of their hearts. We empower our clients to actively participate in their mental health journey rather than simply prescribing it.” — Kelly Groen, Statewide Director of Spark the Change Colorado’s Mental Wellness Program. Through Caring for Denver’s support, Spark the Change Colorado is expanding access to care and strengthening Denver’s mental health workforce by removing barriers to care and reaching underserved communities. Learn more in this video! https://buff.ly/3Z25z5I #MentalHealth #CommunityCare #SparktheChange #HealthEquity

Last week, we met with Young Aspiring Americans for Social and Political Activism (YAASPA) for a youth-led Mental Wellness Dialogue. In this peer-led conversation, students openly discussed their mental health needs, challenges, and shared ideas on creating safe spaces. Community is at the heart of everything we do. Supporting youth mental health and substance misuse care is one of our key funding areas, and we’re always seeking ways to engage with young people to better understand their needs. These conversations are essential in helping us meet youth where they’re at, and we’re so grateful to YAASPA for creating this space. ?? We’re now accepting proposals for our Youth funding area to support innovative solutions in mental health, trauma, and substance misuse care. Learn more on our Seek a Grant page: https://buff.ly/3lfQrx8 https://buff.ly/3lfQrx8 #MentalHealth #YouthVoices #CommunityEngagement #DenverFundingOpportunity

We’re excited to launch "Insights from the Field", a new blog series sharing valuable learnings from our amazing grantees working in mental health and substance misuse. ?? This new format will foster timely conversations, showcase grantee expertise, and spotlight the impactful work happening right now! Whether you're an advocate, policymaker, or personally connected to these issues, this series will offer valuable insights and spark meaningful conversations. ?? Stay tuned for our first post next week, where we’ll share insights from our Community-Centered Solutions grantees! Curious about what to expect and why we chose this format? Click here to learn more: https://buff.ly/3UF1JNt ??? Rebecca Davis Ochtera, Haley Mackrow Sammen, Sydney Chaves, MPH, Hillie Teller

Join us for a livestream event to learn more and ask questions about our youth funding opportunity.

Our Youth funding opportunity is open for applications! ?? This funding aims to support services and programs that prioritize access, cultural relevance, and connections by: - Enhancing youth's ability to manage life stresses and pressures, - Addressing mental health and substance misuse early, and - Equipping families and allies with resources to better support youth in their healing. Applications for this funding opportunity are open until December 11. Visit our website for all the details, and join us Thursday, 11/7 at 1:00 pm MT for a Livestream Q&A. You'll have the opportunity to learn more about the priority area, chat with members of the Caring for Denver team, and ask questions. We hope to see you there! ?? Seek a grant: https://buff.ly/3lfQrx8 #DenverFunding #YouthFunding #MentalHealthMatters #SupportRecovery #SubstanceMisusePrevention #YouthHealing #ApplyNow

?? Tomorrow is Election Day, and we want to remind you of the incredible power of community voice! As a community-funded organization made possible by Denver voters, we've had the privilege of driving real change—thanks to YOU! ?? We trust our community to guide us, and our commitment to learning-driven partnerships fosters innovation that directly addresses community needs. ?? Check out our latest blog post, where we highlight organizations that have used our funding to expand mental health and substance misuse programs. Their growth and impact highlight the importance of innovative approaches to addressing these critical concerns. https://buff.ly/4fvFEsK Thank you, people of Denver, for making this work possible! Your voice counts—let’s keep building a healthier, healing community! ?? Colorado Perinatal Mental Health Project, Kristin Aaker, Patrece Hairston Peetz, PsyD, Darin Valdez, Colorado Artists In Recovery , Struggle Of Love Foundation, LaKeshia Hodge #CommunityImpact #MentalHealthMatters #YourVoiceCounts #BeAVoter