The Link - A Community Assessment and Resource Center

The Link is a community assessment and resource center, serving Colorado’s 17th Judicial District with individualized processing, assessment, screening, and referrals for at-risk youth and juvenile offenders and their families. WHAT WE DO
The Link provides services to the communities of Adams and Broomfield Counties at no charge to families. The screening process gives juveniles and their families a more complete picture of the challenges and opportunities they experience, and this description of their circumstances can support their unique family structure in court proceedings and/or will provide the most appropriate referrals to community providers and resources. The purpose of each assessment is to identify the presenting issues, providing service referrals to address concerns. The Link may address matters such as human trafficking and runaway youth, reports of abuse or neglect and welfare placement, “beyond the control of parent” behaviors, behavioral health including concerns related to substance use and mental health, family discord, domestic violence, municipal and low level criminal charges, as well as interrupted education/truancy and suspension. The Link works closely with local law enforcement but serves youth and families who may take advantage of our free screening and referral services by appointment, walk-in, or community referral to The Link. Seeking assistance at The Link will not generate a criminal record and youth served at The Link are not necessarily juvenile offenders. The Link staff are impartial and independent of any criminal investigation being conducted by law enforcement. The screening tools utilized are evidence based and may result in recommendations for full assessments (such as mental health evaluations or for substance use) but no treatment services or professional counseling is part of the initial screening. The Link exists to support youth through initial contact with law enforcement and those who are at-risk of becoming involved in the juvenile justice system. We connect families to services through individual attention and intentional referral to appropriate resources. OUR HISTORY
In early 1999, the then Adams County District Attorney's Office (now the 17th Judicial District) and the North Metro Youth Diversion Board recruited representatives of the Adams County community concerned with and involved in juvenile justice issues to serve on a new Juvenile Crime Enforcement Coalition (JCEC). These JCEC members were chosen from existing groups that focused on youth, as well as from the community at large. Both the District Attorney's Office and the North Metro Youth Diversion Board had previously explored and identified a need for a Juvenile Assessment Center (JAC). All parties agreed that a JAC based on a national model to provide a “single point of entry” for at risk youth coming into contact with law enforcement or involved in the juvenile justice and/or human service systems would benefit from intervention services based on a comprehensive assessment and a more coordinated service delivery. Using federal grant money that required a 10% cash match from municipal partners The Link was created and opened in October of 1999. Since that time the agency has grown from working primarily with law enforcement to offering screening and referrals to interventions for youth and their families who self-refer, as well providing a community space for services such as parenting groups and substance use education, follow up case coordination, and links to providers of services in the community such as support with eviction proceedings, school enrollment support, mental health assessment and treatment, substance use assessment and treatment, food and clothing resources, recreation and youth activities, etc.