Caring For Colorado Grant Program: Youth Health and Well-Being

Caring For Colorado Grant Program: Youth Health and Well-Being is sponsored by Caring for Colorado Foundation. This program aims to improve health equity for young people aged 9 to 25 facing economic and social challenges. It supports initiatives that foster belonging, supportive relationships, and access to essential services.

The program prioritizes flexibility and community engagement, encouraging applications from organizations that serve at least 75% low-income youth or 90% from priority populations.

Youth Health and Well-Being | Caring For Colorado Youth Health and Well-Being Advancing health and well-being for young people ages 9 to 25 in Colorado who experience health inequities due to economic injustice, racism, and discrimination through strategic investments designed to support young people, strengthen families, and build youth-centered communities. Adolescence is a time of remarkable opportunity.

Between the onset of puberty and the mid-20s, young people discover, learn from, and adapt to the world around them. They forge a sense of who they are and who they aspire to be. They learn to make decisions, manage their emotions, create deeper interpersonal connections, and develop meaningful goals that shape their adult lives.

Because the adolescent brain is incredibly sensitive to environmental influences, experiences during this period are particularly formative and can have significant and lasting effects. This makes adolescence a key window for learning and discovery and offers a unique opportunity to mitigate the effects of earlier adversity.

When the programs, people, and systems that serve adolescents and their families are aligned to meet the developmental needs of this period, young people can fulfill the promise and potential of who they are and what they are meant to contribute to our world.

Guided by local youth and community voices, and informed by the science of adolescent development, we believe that young people will experience greater health and well-being if they: Develop a strong sense of belonging, identity, purpose, and agency Experience secure and supportive relationships with parents and caregivers Have equitable access to services, spaces, and systems that are youth-centered, culturally responsive, and trauma-informed Youth Health and Well-Being Priority Populations We work to improve health outcomes for people experiencing the greatest inequities in health, well-being, and opportunity.

Recognizing that economic injustice, racism, and discrimination are major drivers of health inequity, for our Youth Health and Well-Being funding priority, we prioritize: Young people and families living with low incomes , defined as living below 260% of the federal poverty level, 80% Area Median Income, or TANF eligible.

Communities of color , including individuals from various racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds not identified as white. Young people who identify as 2SLGBTQAI+ . Young people who are experiencing the child welfare system .

Young people being raised by grandparents or other kinship caregivers . Young people who are experiencing housing insecurity . Young people who are experiencing the juvenile justice system .

Young people who are pregnant or parenting . Young people who are experiencing interpersonal or family violence or abuse . Newly arrived immigrants or refugees.

Young people who are experiencing family separation and/or instability due to parent involvement in the justice or immigration system. Young people living with visible or invisible disabilities , including physical or intellectual disabilities or mental health conditions that create barriers to education, healthcare, or employment.

To support young people in developing a strong sense of belonging, identity, purpose, and agency, we will fund organizations that create opportunities for young people, ages 9 to 25, to: Cultivate healthy, supportive relationships and social networks with peers, near-peers, and trusted adults.

Explore their values, interests, and goals Contribute in meaningful ways to others and their community Make good decisions and establish positive health behaviors (for example, manage stress in healthy ways, stay active, eat a nutritious diet, get an adequate amount of sleep, refrain from substance misuse, delay early sexual activity, and prevent STIs and unwanted pregnancy).

To support parents and caregivers in developing secure and supportive relationships with their adolescent child(ren), we will fund organizations that create opportunities for parents and caregivers of young people, ages 9 to 25, to: Strengthen family bonds and cultivate healthy parent/caregiver-adolescent relationships. Deepen knowledge of adolescent development and parenting strategies that support young people’s health and well-being.

Develop meaningful social connections with other parents, caregivers, and advocates.

Access concrete support, especially in times of need Building Youth-Centered Communities To support communities in creating equitable access to services, spaces, and systems that are youth-centered, culturally responsive, and trauma-informed, we will fund organizations that create opportunities for young people, ages 9 to 25, to: Receive youth-centered healthcare Be safe from interpersonal, family, and community violence.

Access inclusive, safe spaces designed to foster social connections and promote positive health outcomes. Successfully transition into adulthood Experience coordinated systems of care — especially for those with complex needs who seek services across multiple systems — that are informed by young people and their families The Part 1 Application is closed.

The next Youth Health and Well-Being Part 1 Application will open in September 2026. Grantmaking Guiding Principles Regions: Central Peaks, High Country, North, Northeast, and Pikes Peak Regions: Metro and San Luis Valley Learn more about Caring for Colorado’s past grants. Frequently Asked Questions