Program Overview

Since 1946, Denver Kids, Inc. has provided educational counseling and mentoring to thousands of Denver Public School (DPS) students, grades K-12.  Each child is provided with the support and guidance that most effectively minimizes the risk factors that are impeding academic success.  The program strives to help each student achieve his or her potential by offering encouragement and addressing the factors that promote healthy social, physical, and mental development.

Denver Kids, Inc. is a preventive counseling and mentoring program that currently provides one-to-one guidance to approximately 1,000 students in DPS.  School personnel, who recognize that the students’ challenges extend beyond those that the schools' resources can address, refer students to Denver Kids, Inc.  Each full-time Denver Kids, Inc. educational counselor works with a caseload of 55 students.  They see students on a weekly to semi-monthly basis and are often the most stabilizing influence in the child’s life. 

Referrals of students are encouraged in the elementary years, as research has shown that long term consistent support of at-risk students is most effective.  On average, a Denver Kids, Inc. graduate is in the program for six and a half years. Once a student has entered the program, Denver Kids, Inc. is committed to supporting the child through high school graduation as long as he or she remains a student of DPS.

Denver Kids, Inc. is successful in helping students achieve academic success through constant reinforcement of positive behaviors, exposure to a myriad of opportunities, and encouragement of academic achievement and attendance.