Children & Youth

Many of these programs are available statewide. We can help you connect with a local provider.

• Parents as Teachers is a program where the home visitor helps parents increase their confidence in teaching and guiding their child. Visits go until age 5.
• HIPPY (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters) is a free home-based program that helps prepare 3- to 5- year olds for school.
• Bright by Three is a free service that will send you helpful texts about your child’s development, local events, and helpful tips.
• Circle of Security: Parenting is a group program that helps parents reflect on and improve their emotional connection with their young child.
• The Incredible Years is a group program that helps parents and caregivers learn and practice effective and caring discipline strategies for 2-8 year olds.
• SafeCare Colorado is an in-home program for families of 0-5 year olds that helps to increase home safety, manage child health, and manage challenging child behaviors.
• Healthy Steps is a program that places an early childhood specialist in a pediatrician’s office to offer additional support. If you are interested, we can help link you to a clinic that has this program.
• Circle of Parents is a peer-to-peer support group for parents to discuss the challenges and joys of raising children. They have special groups for certain populations.

If you are worried about your child’s development or behavior, or if your family has experienced stress that is difficult to manage, we can connect you to resources and services to help. Some programs are offered in clinics, and others are offered in the home. Some specific examples include:

• Early Intervention is a program for children 0-3 with developmental delays. Professionals visit the home to provide services to address your child’s delays and related concerns. You may be asked to complete an assessment with your child to determine if s/he qualifies and what services would be a good fit.

• Child First is a program that helps families who are struggling with mental health or significant stress. A two-person team with a mental health provider and a family support person visit the home to support family relationships and recovery from stress.

• Trust-Based Relational Intervention is a program for caregivers of children with challenging behaviors, especially when the child has experienced trauma. We can help link you with a local provider.

Larimer and Weld County

• To find childcare in Larimer County, Larimer Child Care Connect and ECCLC can help. In Weld County, CEEN is a network of free or low-cost childcare centers.

• Be Ready Larimer County is a program that helps families of young children prepare for kindergarten and access local resources.

• Larimer County Health Care Program for children with special health needs offers care coordination and support to families.

• Lutheran Family Services offers parenting classes, in-home programs, and general family support.

• Oasis Pediatric Therapy offers occupational, physical, and speech therapy to children in Larimer, Morgan, and Weld Counties. Services are covered by Medicaid and can be offered in the home, via telehealth, or in a clinic.
• RespiteCare and Mosaic offer a variety of support services to families of individuals with disabilities.

Seeing your child or teen struggle with mental health concerns, health issues, or substance abuse can be very challenging. We are available to connect you to services to help you and your family, including:

• Home-based family therapy: Some mental health and family therapy programs can be provided in your home or in the community. This can be effective for addressing challenges in their context, as well as reducing transportation barriers.

• Clinic-based therapy services: We can also help connect your youth to mental health services provided in an office or clinic setting. This can include individual therapy, family therapy, and group therapy.

• Virtual therapy services: Many providers can offer telehealth to families who prefer or need this option. Also, Colorado’s I Matter program helps youth access up to six free mental health sessions, regardless of payor source.

• Specialty care: We are happy to help you navigate the health care system and find health care providers or programs that meet your child’s unique needs.
• Trust-Based Relational Intervention is a program for caregivers of children with challenging behaviors, especially when the child has experienced trauma. We can help link you with a local provider.

If your youth is experiencing serious mental health or substance abuse challenges, we are available to offer intensive care coordination. We can work with your family closely to identify services and navigate care. We will also collaborate with the team of healthcare providers to ensure that services are integrated and supportive of your child. We can help connect your family to mental health or substance use disorder programs.

• In the event of an emergency, call 911. For behavioral health emergencies, Colorado Crisis Services. Call 988 or text “TALK” to 38255. Walk in crisis centers are also available in some areas.
• In some areas, Mobile Crisis Response is available through Colorado Crisis Services. The mobile crisis response team comes to the location to offer support. This replaces law enforcement and usually does not involve them.
• If you are not sure where to start in supporting your youth, it may be helpful to get an assessment done. Some assessments are intensive and require a pre-authorization, so we can help with finding the right fit to meet your child’s needs and making a referral:
• Screenings and assessments can be conducted by a care coordinator or mental health provider to learn about your youth’s strengths and challenges and guide their care.
• Enhanced Standardized Assessment, which is an intensive process to determine if a youth qualifies for residential or inpatient treatment.
• A neuropsychological evaluation may be a good fit to learn more about your child’s cognitive functioning, which can impact care.
• A trauma assessment is helpful when a child’s challenges are likely rooted in toxic stress; it assesses the child’s functioning and make recommendations for trauma-informed care.
• COACT and other providers in Colorado offer High Fidelity Wraparound, which is an intensive team-based approach to support families as they navigate significant behavioral health concerns and multiple services. Wraparound is offered in the home or community.
• Residential and inpatient facilities (such as QRTP and PRTF) can support youth who are unable to remain safe in their homes due to suicidal/homicidal ideation, substance abuse, or other significant behavioral health concerns. These are intended to be short-term interventions that stabilize the youth’s mental health. If your child is admitted to a residential or inpatient facility, one of NHP’s care coordinators will work closely with you, the facility, and other providers to support this process. We will help with a plan to get your child home and ensure that adequate support services are in place once they are there.
• Colorado System of Care (CO-SOC). Starting July 2025, Colorado will have a special program for youth who are leaving residential facilities and returning home. Families will be offered high-intensity care coordination and behavioral health services designed to stabilize the youth, support the family, and prevent further challenges. In the years to come, this program will be opened up to all children and youth struggling with severe behavioral health concerns.

Larimer and Weld County

• The Matthews House and Jacob Center in Fort Collins have a variety of family and child support services, including groups and individual services.

• Alliance for Suicide Prevention of Larimer County provides prevention programs in schools, holds regular youth support and advocacy groups, conducts targeted suicide prevention outreach to LGBTIA+ youth, has a Teen Center, and hosts an annual Teen Self-Care Fair.  

• RespiteCare and Mosaic offer a variety of support services to families of individuals with disabilities.  

Greeley’s crisis walk-in center (928 12th St.) has a Crisis Resolution Team available that offers intensive, short-term in-home support services to address serious behavioral health concerns.  

Larimer and Weld County

• Weld Food Bank
• Larimer County Food Bank
• Weld County DHS and Larimer County DHS can help with child care, child support, food and nutrition, financial assistance, health and wellness, family support programs, and child safety concerns.
• United Way Larimer County and United Way Weld County: resources, child care funding, family support, and more.
• Health District of Northern Larimer County can help with health insurance and finding a provider – both for physical and mental health. Their Connections program for adults and CAYAC program for youth can provide short-term behavioral health assessments and support. 
• Larimer County housing support services for those struggling with homelessness or needing an affordable home: Housing Catalyst (Fort Collins Housing Authority), Loveland Housing Authority, Neighbor to Neighbor, Homeward Alliance, and Fort Collins Rescue Mission. 
• Housing support services in Weld County include: Greeley-Weld Housing Authority, Samaritan House Greeley, 
• If you are not feeling safe in your home due to violence or abuse, there are resources to help. Larimer County: Alternatives to Violence in Loveland and Crossroads in Fort Collins. Weld County: A Woman’s Place.
• Safe Kids Northern Colorado offers car seat safety checks. For Larimer County residents, they can also receive a free safety class and a free car seat. 
• La Familia/The Family Center in Fort Collins offers Spanish language family support services, leadership development, and early childhood education.
• Serve 6.8 Resource Centers in Northern Colorado offer food, clothing, and financial assistance.