Partner Profile:  Denver Indian Family Resource Center


WeeCycle was honored to be invited to the Denver Indian Family Resource Center

(DIFRC) Annual meeting to witness first hand the great strides they have made in

2012 to continue to assist the needs of Colorado Indian families. DIFRC provides

support and programs for Indian family preservation, reunification, child welfare,

advocacy, healthy living programs and behavioral health programs. DIFRC has

provided intensive child welfare services to thousands of children and reunited

hundreds of children in the foster care system, with their families again since its

beginning.

Over an amazing dinner of posole made by their healthy living class, we were

entertained by the youth group dancers. These children meet weekly to learn the

dances of their elders at DIFRC and slowly make their own costumes over several

years due to the great expense of their beauty and detail.

DIFRC programs meet the needs of Indian families to create strong family bonds,

live healthy lives by eating nutritionally and exercising. They also help in crisis;

helping families gain the parenting skills and receive the mental health services

they need to become strong parenting role models which can result in the families

being reunited with their children. The reality is that many children have never had

a positive parent role model in their life due to drug or alcohol abuse. DIFRC teaches

the much needed parenting skills that many Indian parents need.

Partner Agency Highlight: Florence Crittenton High School

Think back to your high school years. Perhaps you are reminded of your insecurities and the new challenges you would be facing.  Would you fit in with your new peers? Would you have the right brand name clothing, shoes and book bag? These are all fairly common high school fears.

Now imagine being pregnant. Your family is one of many that are below the poverty line. You are no longer included in your circle of friends because your life has taken a serious turn. Your teachers don’t understand why you have missed school or have been ill lately. Attending the Friday night football game and dance seem very trivial to you.

You need serious support, help and resources. You need a school that understands you, and the current and future needs of your baby. You need a school that supports your goal of becoming the well-educated mother who can provide for her child in the future.

On our recent tour of the Florence Crittenton High School in southwest Denver, a WeeCycle partner, we found just that school for Denver’s teen mothers. With a blend of high school teachers, mental health and nursing professionals, and daycare providers, Florence Crittenton helps teen mothers stay in school and graduate, give birth to healthy babies, learn how to be nurturing mothers, pursue post-secondary education and acquire marketable job skills. 

WeeCycle provides baby gear essential to a safe environment for a new baby. Teen mothers are shocked when they receive a car seat, crib, and stroller from us because they know how costly these items are. A stroller is essential for many young mothers taking the city bus to and from school, sometimes with three bus changes. Our goal is to make this stressful time in these young mothers lives a little bit easier. FC is yet another partner of WeeCycle that is making a real impact to those in need in the Denver metro area!