At-risk Youth Programs

The Rotary Club of Ft Collins directs considerable resources and efforts to help at-risk youth become productive citizens in our community.  To that end, we have an At-risk Youth committee and are partnering with local agencies such as The Matthews House to provide our support to this important cause.  Amongst a wide variety of initiatives including providing financial support, members of our club have volunteered to work with at-risk youth as mentors and the club is pursuing opportunities to introduce Rotary’s 4Way Test to these youth.  Please visit this site regularly for updates on our efforts to help our community’s at-risk youth.

About The Matthews House

The Matthews House is a 501(c)3 organization and United Way Partner Agency that serves youth ages 16-21 as they make the transition to self-sufficient adulthood. Many of the youth they work with have been through the juvenile justice system or have been in the custody of the state and have not had the influence of a stable caring adult. They frequently do not have the necessary competencies to proactively manage their physical and mental health needs and their social and relational conditions. Once they turn 18, few governmental and community resources remain available to them, leaving them facing adulthood without the skills necessary for living independently, including retaining a job, solving problems, managing money and building solid relationships. Without such skills, many will re-enter the justice or human service systems as adults.

The Matthews House focuses on five main areas to help these youth on the road to self-sufficiency.  These areas are: 1) Safe and Affordable Housing, 2) Physical & Mental Health, 3) Employment, 4) Education, and 5) Independent Living & Social Skills. In addition to these skills and perhaps most importantly, each youth is surrounded with a community of support, including an adult mentor. 

The Matthews House strives to fill the current gap in services for at-risk youth transitioning to adulthood by providing the resources and support necessary to empower these youth to take control of their lives, shape positive futures for themselves and become successful contributors to their community.   For more information on The Matthews House, please visit www.thematthewshouse.org.