Our History

The mission of Denver Kids, Inc. (DKI) “ is to help students in Denver Public Schools, facing the personal challenges of higher risk environments, successfully complete high school and become useful, productive members of the community.” DKI, provides a variety of programs to children considered at-risk and includes the following areas: one-to-one counseling; mentoring opportunities with a mentor assigned to a child; work and life skills programs designed to foster a work ethic and provide job opportunities; support and guidance for teen parents; awareness of college opportunities; and finally, offers parents a chance to become more involved in their child(ren)’s educational progress.

Founded as Denver Boys, Inc. in 1946, this organization was sponsored in large part by the Rotary Club of Denver as a response to the aftermath of World War II and the growing prevalence of single-parent households. Oftentimes, teenage boys dropped out of school to help support their families when their father did return home from the war. In order to combat this growing trend, Denver Boys, Inc. enabled youth to gain employment while completing their high school educations. By the 1970’s, it became increasingly apparent that female students also were in need of mentoring, counseling, and educational opportunities; hence Denver Girls, Inc. was formed. In 1993, both organizations merged to become DKI, and the consolidation of the two organizations was considered to be cost-effective and practical due to the many similarities in services, mission, and resources.

Each at-risk child participating in Denver Kids is afforded the opportunity to receive academic counseling in tandem with other forms of assistance unlike any other program provided by either Denver Public Schools or other private or public agencies. These at-risk children are identified as lacking the necessary basic support resources leading to educational and personal success. Referred by teachers, administrators, school nurses, or social workers, such students are vulnerable to dropping out of school, teen pregnancy, behavior problems, and academic failure. Students referred to DKI are not involved in any other mentoring program such as Big Brothers/Big Sisters, I Have a Dream Foundation, or Partners.

o Counseling

The DKI counseling program provides one-to-one support and guidance to nearly 800 students, grades K-12, all of whom attend Denver Public Schools. Students are referred to DKI by school personnel who recognize that these students are at risk of dropping out, becoming teen parents and gang involvement to name just a few negative outcomes. Students served by DKI have one or more of the following demographic attributes: low to very-low income; come from single parent households; one parent may be incarcerated; may have physically or mentally challenged parents; may be living with a guardian other than a parent; and, finally, the majority have a parent who did not graduate from high school. Research indicates that these factors correlate to higher drop-out rates, greater likelihood for teen parenting, increased probability that such students shall enter the juvenile/adult penal system, and finally are more likely not to attend college or some sort of post-secondary education. When school personnel and/or other service providers realize that the student’s problems extend beyond the resources of the schools they refer such students to DKI for assistance.

DKI counselors work one-on-one with parents, teachers, students, and mentors to assess participants’ academic, emotional and social needs to ensure their success. DKI works with students from kindergarten through high school. Given that summer vacation often poses additional problems for at-risk youth who often have no other resource for learning activities, DKI programs, including counseling, continue during the summer months.

Each DKI counselor works on a long-term basis with a caseload of 55 students and sees each student on a weekly to semi-monthly basis, serving as a stabilizing influence in the student’s life. The counselor works in tandem with school personnel proactively toward the student’s success. Each student will continue to be accommodated and assisted by the same counselors in DKI no matter how many times he or she transfers schools within the Denver Public School system. The counselors also work with the parent(s)/guardian of the child, encouraging parents to become more involved in their child’s life. For example, the counselor encourages the parent to play a more pivotal role in the child’s education and works to establish and strengthen a parent’s confidence and skills regarding parenting.

o Mentoring

DKI recruits and trains adult mentors to serve as Friends (mentors) to our students. We sponsor activities, special events, and educational programs throughout the year for mentors and students. Each DKI mentor commits to the program for one year and agrees to see the student twice a month. DKI screens, recruits, and trains mentors to serve as another stabilizing force in the students’ lives. In this way, DKI students have another advocate working to ensure that his or her academic, social, and emotional needs are being met in a positive manner and contributing to the student’s success. DKI also provides ongoing training and educational forums for its mentors so that they are better equipped to address the myriad of problems facing many of students. More specifically, DKI hosts guest speakers on such topics as participation in gangs, prevention of drug abuse, and adolescent mental health issues.