Marissa Garcia, left, a Colorado Youth Mental Health Corps member, laughs with York International student Leah Ameca, 17, as they review a goal-setting worksheet in Garcia’s office on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at the school in Thornton, Colo. Garcia is part of a national program that trains 18- to 24-year-olds to provide mental health and resource support to middle and high school students. The corps members receive stipends for their service and can also get college credit or enroll in a behavioral health assistant credentialing program. Photo by Joe Mahoney/Special to The Colorado Trust
Colorado’s Youth Mental Health Corps Improves Student Attendance and Behavior
The peer-to-peer program, which began in 2024, places young adult navigators directly in schools to help youth address mental health problems.