The Mental Health Center of Boulder and Broomfield Counties is an organization that provides mental health support to individuals and families that are in greatest need. This non-profit has served countless community members in the Boulder and Broomfield areas and its Youth program relies heavily on skilled and compassionate mentors to work with clients outside of the walls of the organization. It was Courtney Thomas who the Mental Health Center chose to raise up as an outstanding Youth Advocate to represent the organization during National Mentors Month.

For the past two years Courtney has mentored a teenage boy and most recently began mentoring a 15 year old girl. She was recruited when a representative of the Mental Health Center came to a psychology class and encouraged volunteerism. The Mental Health Center seeks youth advocates like Courtney to do everyday activities with these kids in order to help ascertain their needs in a less formal environment. "I see how they are doing in their actual lives. I am somebody that they can connect with better than their therapist." Courtney also explains that ages range from 5 years to 18 years and generally involve kids who have been put into foster or adoptive homes. For these kids, remaining involved with the Mental Health Center is a condition of their placement. "Some are forced to have therapists. I can meet with them in a better setting where they can be more comfortable." Among other activities, Courtney says she spends time shopping on Pearl Street and Flatirons with her girl mentee, and bowling is a favorite of the boy. On average she spends 6 - 10 hours a week with her kids.

At 22, Courtney is graduating from CU Boulder with a Psychology Degree in the spring. She hopes to go on to be a child psychologist. She says that she will stay with the program through next summer and, if accepted into the graduate program for Psychology at CU Denver in fall 2010, will consider contacting Denver Mental Health to continue mentoring youth. Though she will have to pass her kids onto another mentee if heading down to Denver but she says the past two years with the Mental Health Center have been rewarding.

"It's a lot of fun to be with [my kids] and it always surprises me because I have two pretty intense kids and even though a kid's profile can be horrible, they are just kids. They just want to be kids and do what kids do, and hang out with their friends and have fun and not listen to their parents [laughter]."

For information about volunteering with Mental Health Center Serving Boulder and Broomfield Counties or other agencies, call the Volunteer Connection at 303-444-4904.