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Campus Connections

Campus Connections Therapeutic Youth Mentoring program is a high-impact service learning course (3 credits) at University of Wyoming and a program serving local youth. Campus Connections was developed in 2009 at Colorado State University in response to a community request for additional services for youth experiencing difficulties. CC is an innovative core service for youth exposed to adversities providing mentoring in a unique structure. This includes mentor mentee pairs being part of a mentor family with youth of similar ages, exposure to a college campus, academic support, dinner, pro-social activities, and integrated mental health services.  Youth are referred from the juvenile justice system, schools, human services, and many other providers who recognize the tremendous benefits of therapeutic mentoring for youth.

 

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Program Overview

Youth Referral Form

 

We accept referrals year-round and the program is at no cost to youth and their families. Campus Connections pairs undergraduate students with at-risk youth in one-on-one mentoring relationships, and these pairs are embedded in an on-campus community of other mentoring pairs in which youth gain friendships, academic support, and exposure to pro-social activities. Clinical psychology doctoral student therapists (supervised by licensed Psychology Dept faculty) provide integrated therapy services for youth and families through the UW Psychology Center https://www.uwyo.edu/psychology/center/). Colorado State University developed and licensed Campus Connections (https://www.chhs.colostate.edu/cc/) along with the Larimer County juvenile justice officials. The program has been successfully implemented at the University of Northern Colorado, Greely; University of Colorado, Colorado Springs; Colorado State University—Pueblo; and University of Auckland, New Zealand.

what makes uw campus connections unique from other mentoring programs?

 

 

 

 

Youth Involvement

Youth referrals are accepted year-round!

Campus Connections is a powerful campus-based therapeutic mentoring program for youth, ages 11-18. In our program, youth are paired in one-on-one mentoring relationships with undergraduate University of Wyoming students and together they participate in a structured and engaging weekly program. Youth mentees can meet with a therapist throughout the program to get additional support, work on accomplishing goals, and address other therapeutic needs. Youth are empowered to select their mentor, choose the activities they participate in, set goals for themselves, and seek support through clinicial psychology therapists. 

A goal of Campus Connections is to promote the resilience and life success of youth who have experienced adversity through strengthening social bonds, increasing academic engagement and performance, decreasing substance use and delinquency, and improving sense of self.

 

Campus Connections Schedule

Each time youth meet with mentors they will be familiarized to the college atmosphere and vast opportunities college provides with weekly walks around campus. Through art projects, cooking classes, sports, dance, yoga, and more, our goal is to equip youth with niches, hobbies, and skills which prepare them to give back to the community, while growing in personal confidence.

 

 

UW student involvement

Mentor Application

 

Campus Connections is currently accepting applications for the Spring 2025 semester!

Supporters

A huge thank you to our campus and community partners:

  • Albany County Department of Family Services

  • Albany County School District #1 

  • Etchepare Family Foundation

  • UW Psychology Department

  • UW Student Success and Graduation Hub

  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of Wyoming

  • Albany County District Attorney’s Office

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Campus Connections

University of Wyoming Psychology Center
1000E.UniversityAve.
Dept 3415
Biological Sciences Building, 307
Laramie,Wyoming 82071

Phone: 307-766-2149
Email: uwpc@uwyo.edu