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.
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?
Takes place on a university campus, providing mentees with firsthand experience and
a view of higher education as important and attainable.
Integrated mental health therapy services for youth (and guardians/families). Campus
Connections has the structure and therapeutic staff to address mentees’ mental health
and behavior issues that are beyond the scope of traditional mentorship programs.
Meaningful connections and support for the youth’s guardians/families.
Close collaboration with local community partners including referring agencies.
Graduate students and experienced mentors serve as mentor coaches, who provide support
and guidance to mentors and mentees.
Faculty members with expertise in trauma-informed youth mental health interventions
to create this unique and effective program.
Ongoing research provides feedback for program enhancements to maximize effectiveness
and furthers national mentoring initiatives.
Parent education, community resource referral, emergency intervention, and therapy
services surround mentees and their families in support.
Mentor-mentee pairs are organized into small groups called mentor families. Mentor
families are an integral part of the larger mentoring community each evening at Campus
Connections.
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 theresilience and life success of youth who have experienced adversitythrough 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.
Youth Arrive on Bus from School/3:15 pm
All ACSD#1 students are provided with bus transportation to UW Campus Connections.
Walk and Talk/3:30-4 p.m.
Walk and Talk is a half hour walk that takes place immediately after youth arrive.
Mentor families “tour the campus” on walks to different buildings on campus. This
is a time for our mentors to build strong relationships with their mentees as well
as for mentees to get outside and explore everything that a college campus has to
offer.
Supporting School Success/4-5 p.m.
Supporting School Success is an important part of Campus Connections because it is
one-on-one time that the youth get with their mentor to focus on school. During this
time mentees can work on anything from homework and time management skills to building
a resume or filling out college applications. In the past we have brought in military
recruiters, visited different departments on campus, as well as other career-building
activities. During this hour, mentees can also get support to fill out job applications,
write a resume, search for jobs, and talk to potential employers. Other specialized
academic and professional skill-building activities are sometimes offered during this
time as well.
Dinner/5-5:30 pm
Dinner is provided by local restaurants and on-campus dining. Mentor families eat
as a “family” and create a healthy dinner atmosphere for the youth.
Pro-Social Activities and Therapy/5:30-7 p.m.
Each week our mentors lead and participate in a different activity for the youth.
These activities are meant to be pro-social and encourage positive recreation and
interactions between everyone involved. Activities change week to week because the
mentors take turns facilitating activities for the youth, in the past activities have
included a variety of sports, cooking, arts and crafts, music, and dancing.
Campus Connections is currently accepting applications for the Spring 2025 semester!
Students are encouraged to submit applications by November 15, 2024 (application priority
due date), but we will continue to accept applications as space permits.
Campus Connections is a 3-credit upper division course (PSYC 4960), and a powerful
campus-based therapeutic mentoring program for youth ages 10-18. In our program, youth
are paired in one-on-one mentoring relationships with undergraduate University of
Wyoming students.
UW students from all majors are eligible to become mentors or mentor coaches. Most
undergraduate students begin their involvement serving as mentors and many return
for multiple semesters participating in the Campus Connection’s leadership track.
In addition to undergraduate students, graduate students in the clinical psychology
Ph.D. program provide therapy to mentees during the program.
Campus Connections mentors serve as positive role models to their mentees and many
develop strong bonds throughout the program. Student mentors are part of a dynamic
team designed to provide academic, social, and wellness support to youth mentees.
Students attend a weekly lab session from 2:00 pm – 8:00 p.m. Youth mentees participate
from 3:15 – 7:00 p.m., arriving an hour after and leaving an hour before mentors,
mentor coaches, and instructors, which allows time to prepare for and wrap up the
evening.
Each week mentors take a 30-minute walk on campus with their mentee, spend an hour
assisting their mentee with homework and study skills, have dinner together with other
pairs in mentor families, participate in a variety of pro-social activities that challenge
both the youth and the mentors to try new things. Mentors also have the opportunity
to lead activities such as sports, art, and music, etc.
Campus Connections also offers many unique opportunities and courses for students
to get involved with the program throughout their UW career.
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
Campus Connections
University of Wyoming Psychology Center 1000E.UniversityAve. Dept 3415 Biological Sciences Building, 307 Laramie,Wyoming 82071