Just like the interconnected root system of an aspen tree, the nonprofit organization, The Aspen Effect, aims to connect with youth and give them support and mentoring so they know they don’t have to stand alone. 

“The mission at The Aspen Effect is to help kids become more resilient by reimagining themselves in a positive way,” said Jerry Van Leuven, founder and executive director of the nonprofit organization. 

About six years ago, Van Leuven started a summer program for teenagers called Ranch Hand Leadership Academy. Through the program, the teens found ways to problem solve, resolve conflicts and learn how to support and motivate each other. 

Within a couple of years, Van Leuven noticed kids needed an alternative in their lives that they could draw strength from. He saw the apparent effect COVID-19 had on the mental health of youth. 

When it comes to the prevalence of children’s mental illness and access to care, the 2021 State of Mental Health in America Report for children and youth ranked Colorado 42nd in the country. 

According to Partners for Children’s Mental Health, suicide is a leading cause of death among youth ages 10 to 24 in Colorado. In addition, nearly 22% of youth who have mental illness with severe impairment are receiving care. 

Youth mental health became a great concern during the pandemic. 

During a pediatric mental health media roundtable event, CEO of Children’s Hospital Colorado Jena Hausmann declared a youth mental health “state of emergency” in 2021, leading to the appointment of Dr. Ron-Li Liaw, as the hospital’s inaugural Mental Health-in-Chief in addition to her serving as chair of the Pediatric Mental Health Institute. 

The Children’s Hospital Colorado website states  they are seeing rates of anxiety and depression among youth during the pandemic have doubled and 44% of American teens report feeling persistently sad or hopeless. 

In 2021, The Aspen Effect moved to Sky View Farms in Castle Rock and is run by Wendy Ingraham, who started Robin’s Nest Foundation. 

There, youth are accompanied by goats, pigs, horses, chickens and more. 

Along with a board of directors made up of eight members - one of which is a qualified therapist - the nonprofit has six fully developed programs in addition to the Ranch Hand Leadership Academy. 

Other programs include Healing Horse Connections, Riding with Resilience Lessons and Animal Lovers Volunteer Club, a one on one mentoring program. 

One of the most popular programs is the Mini Horse Leadership School where kids learn the power of empathy, leadership skills, how to manage expectations, develop a confident mindset and lead from the side.

From shy to assertive, the mini horses have different personalities which the kids learn how to work with. 

“They’ve got to kind of meet them where they’re at and we use that in the skill of developing empathy and leading with empathy,” said Van Leuven. 

The organization also has a teen advisory board with members who have been at the Douglas County Youth Congress and to the General Attorney’s office to speak about the Safe To Tell program. 

During the school year, a group of high school students come together and provide feedback on the programs at the organization and get involved with helping the younger kids. 

In light of the new parent policy change made by the Douglas County School Board, Van Leuven said the organization will continue to be an inclusive place for youth. 

Last month, the Douglas County School District made changes to the parent policy that could affect students wishing to use specific pronouns like her/she, him/he or they/them. Counselors are now required to notify parents when students ask to be identified by a different gender.

The organization has been intentional about involving different races, sects and backgrounds. 

Among the four core values of The Aspen Effect, is to accept others, oppose demeaning behaviors and promote respectful behavior. 

“We seek common humanity that draws us together, ‘we’ is our most important pronoun and we believe in human resilience,” said Van Leuven. 

To join a program, a parent or guardian can submit an application based on the program the child wants to be in. From there, Van Leuven, or the program director, will speak with the parent or guardian. 

With more than 30 adult mentors, each kid is paired with a mentor that best fits their needs. The mentors go through a background check and a certification process. 

The Aspen Effect helps mentor youth in Douglas County but is open to helping others. According to Van Leuven, they have mentored kids from Lone Tree teen court and the juvenile assessment center in Aurora. 

“Leadership for us is knowing how to navigate my life, knowing how to advocate for myself, knowing how to connect with other people in real ways,” said Leuven. 

Learn more about The Aspen Effect by visiting the website at https://theaspeneffect.org. 

In addition, The Aspen Effect will be hosting a fundraiser dinner at 6 p.m. on Sept. 9 at a remodeled barn in Castle Rock. Details can be found at https://events.handbid.com/lp/cars-and-cowboys-for-the-aspen-effect-2023/tickets.