Stepping Stones of the Roaring Fork Valley

Background Statement

Stepping Stones’ first Young Adult drop-in center opened in 2014 for ages 14-21, meeting the critical need in Carbondale for a safe space that offered nightly meals, showers, and laundry facilities. Some youth came to Stepping Stones in times of crisis; others came seeking prosocial interaction with peers and mentors. The Young Adult Program has remained flexible to offer a diverse, safe, youth-led space and to connect young adults to resources they need to be successful.

We opened our Youth Program in June 2017 to engage younger participants, ages 10-14, seeking to prevent the acute issues our young adults experience. Our Youth Program focuses on mentoring, academic support, and diverse recreational opportunities.

In 2020, we expanded our partnership with our local school district, increased programming activities, and completed a full renovation and remodel of our facilities.

Today, both programs continue to grow in scope and capacity. Over the last few years, our programs and services have grown substantially, with 57% growth in youth served, and a 62% increase in drop-in visits over the past 2 years. Additionally, in response to youth needs, we have substantially increased our crisis response work, with robust case management and new on-site therapy offered. We have also increased our upper age limit to 24, with dedicated time for emerging adults to work on job applications, connect with long-term mentors, or receive rent or grocery assistance. Almost 10 years after we began, Stepping Stones remains rooted in our values of listening to our youth and our community, and responding with flexible, holistic services that empower youth to thrive.