Building the Next Generation in the Valley
The Tree House organization
is the premiere resource coordinator for youth in the
Grand Valley providing opportunities that nurture their
health, social, emotional and educational well being. We accept and appreciate each young person in a warm and welcoming environment nearly every day of the year. Our
buildings are wheel chair accessible as well as drug,
alcohol, violence and smoke free environments. We provide
services to the youth of Mesa County at no charge. Through the
programs of our branches, we meet the varying needs of
young people ages 11 to 22. Please read on and
see how we fulfill our mission at The
Bistro and Kids Kabana. Your time will be well
spent.
Our History
The Tree House was founded in 1999 by Terri Klements, mother of four, who after 22 years in hospital administration, felt that there needed to be an alternative for young people looking for safe and healthy activities after school, in the evenings and weekends. The Tree House continues today to be that alternative - one that is drug, alcohol and tobacco free while allowing youth the freedom to be themselves in a safe, empowering environment.
The first Tree House at 903 Main Street in Grand Junction, Colorado opened in September of 2000. The initial program was designed to offer a safe haven to any youth ages 11-22. Over time, the need for age-specific programs became evident. At the end of 2002 the Tree House moved to 1505 Chipeta Avenue, our current location. It was here that Kids Kabanas and the Bistro came to fruition. In 2003 we opened the Teen Bistro, the first of its kind, an actual working coffee shop for high school and college-age young people where they themselves design the programs and implement the activities serving youth.
In 2005, the Tree House formed a partnership with Hilltop Community Resources and the other local agencies to establish the second licensed Homeless Youth Shelter in Colorado. During our fourteen months of operation we successfully transitioned 197 young people off the streets and into the successful productive environments, including Job Corps, reunification with family, and independent living. On August 1, 2007, the Tree House Youth Shelter regretfully was closed. We continue to be open to future funding opportunities in the area.
We continue to chart new territory and form exciting partnerships with local organizations to provide proactive programming that addresses current needs of area youth. Our ongoing professional relationships include:
- Ariel Clinical Services
- Collbran Job Corps
- Girl Scouts of Colorado
- Grand Junction City Youth Council
- Grand Junction Parks & Recreation
- Mesa County Build-A-Generation
- Mesa County Partners
- Mesa County School District #51
- Mesa County Suicide Prevention Coalition
- Mesa County Youth Employment Council
- Mesa State College AmeriCorps
- Western Colorado Gardening Foundation
- Western Equality
- Young Life
- YouthWorks
THE TREE HOUSE
CENTER
1505 Chipeta Avenue
Grand Junction , CO 81501
970-241-8001 FAX: 970-241-8016
info@treehousegj.org
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