YouthLink

A nonprofit organization

What We Do:

YouthLink accepts referrals from law enforcement and school district partners. Every young person receives timely assessment, trauma-informed care coordination, and access to local resources tailored to their needs, strengths, culture, and family context.

YouthLink provides early, coordinated support for young people ages 10–17 who are showing concerning behavior or early signs of risk — before crisis escalates into suspension, court involvement, or emergency response.

What we do:

  • Prevent and divert youth from the child welfare and justice systems

  • Identify underlying issues contributing to behavior or conflict

  • Partner with youth and families to connect with individualized, culturally responsive supports

Our approach is simple — and powerful:

Early identification, not late reaction We respond before behaviors turn into consequences.

Youth-centered support, not system involvement We prioritize dignity, healing, and connection over punishment.

Shared responsibility, not isolated action Schools, law enforcement, families, and community partners work together — not alone.


Why It Matters:

When young people and families receive support earlier, communities become safer, healthier, and more resilient. Our goal is simple: keep youth out of, and prevent deeper involvement in, the juvenile justice and child welfare systems.

Youth Link is where early intervention meets real support — creating a clearer pathway to stability, connection, and success.


Why YouthLink Was Established:

Young people in our region are facing higher rates of risk, violence, and unmet needs than ever before… yet most support arrives only after a crisis.

Too often…

  • Law enforcement becomes the first point of intervention

  • Referral pathways are unclear or nonexistent

  • Service providers operate in silos

This leads to delayed intervention, duplicative response, and preventable escalation.


What Young People & Families Need

  • Early, family-centered support when behavior becomes concerning

  • Timely assessments and case management

  • Clear referral pathways across schools, police, and service agencies

  • Access to a safe place to be when home isn’t safe or stable


Mission

To empower families and support youth by providing intervention, assessment, and tailored resources that promote a safer and more supportive community.

Background Statement

Adams County continues to experience one of the highest concentrations of juvenile crime in the state, with rates more than double its share of Colorado’s youth population. While overall juvenile crime has declined statewide, Adams County reflects the troubling rise in serious juvenile violence, including sharp increases in aggravated assaults, robberies, and homicides involving youth. (Source: Colorado_SS Offense Data, Adams County SO, Juvenile (Under 18), Violent Crime.) These trends are placing increasing pressure on local systems, including law enforcement, detention facilities, and youth-serving agencies, with devastating consequences for families and neighborhoods. The current system is fragmented, reactive, and costly, leaving too many young people to fall through the cracks and too many families without real solutions. YouthLink was created to break this cycle with a bold, evidence-based approach focused on prevention, early intervention, and accountability.

Purpose: To break the cycle of youth violence in Adams County by providing early, coordinated support for at-risk young people and their families.

Organization Data

Summary

Organization name

YouthLink

Year Established

2024

Tax id (EIN)

99-3658273

Category

Youth Development

Organization Size

Medium Organization

Address

1000 JUDICIAL CENTER DRIVE
BRIGHTON, CO 80601

Service areas

Adams County, CO, US

other

303-709-8178