{"id":41291,"date":"2026-03-10T12:22:58","date_gmt":"2026-03-10T18:22:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bgcmd.org\/?p=41291"},"modified":"2026-03-10T13:39:37","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T19:39:37","slug":"social-work-month-supporting-the-mental-health-and-well-being-of-metro-denver-kids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bgcmd.org\/es\/about\/news\/social-work-month-supporting-the-mental-health-and-well-being-of-metro-denver-kids\/","title":{"rendered":"Social Work Month: Supporting the Mental Health and Well\u2011Being of Metro Denver Kids"},"content":{"rendered":"

March is Social Work Month\u2014a time set aside since 1963 to recognize the people who quietly, consistently, and powerfully help hold communities together. This year\u2019s theme,\u00a0<\/span>\u201cSocial Workers:\u00a0Uplift. Defend. Transform.\u201d<\/span><\/i>,\u00a0feels especially close to home for us at Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Across our 25 Clubs,\u00a0<\/span>youth mental health\u00a0remains\u00a0one of our top priorities<\/span><\/a>. Kids today are navigating so much\u2014school lockdowns, social media pressures, and the ripple effects of a global pandemic, to name just a few. More than ever, they need trusted adults who can help them make sense of big emotions, work through tough moments, and feel grounded and supported.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s\u00a0where our mental health team comes in. Using a trauma\u2011informed approach, they help Club kids build\u00a0emotional skills, overcome challenges, and\u00a0<\/span>connect families with\u00a0additional\u00a0resources<\/span><\/a>\u00a0when life gets complicated. They truly\u00a0uplift, defend, and transform\u00a0every single day.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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One of the people leading that work is\u00a0<\/span>Arya January<\/span>, our lead social worker. Arya shows up for kids with remarkable empathy and clarity of purpose\u2014driven by her goal to be the caring adult she once needed herself.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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The Role of Social Workers at Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When you walk into one of our Clubs on a typical afternoon,\u00a0you\u2019ll\u00a0see kids shooting hoops, finishing homework, or diving into art projects\u2014but behind all that energy is another constant presence: the quiet, steady support of our mental health professionals.\u00a0They\u2019re\u00a0woven into the fabric of each Club, greeting kids by name, checking in when\u00a0someone\u2019s\u00a0having a tough day, and guiding small groups through conversations about feelings, friendships, and growing up.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

These moments might look simple\u2014a chat at a table, a quick conversation in the hallway\u2014but\u00a0they\u2019re\u00a0often the turning points when a young person feels truly seen.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This year brought an exciting new chapter.\u00a0<\/span>Our youth mental health team partnered with Grassroot Soccer<\/span><\/a>, a youth organization founded in Africa that uses soccer and\u00a0connections\u00a0to teach emotional well\u2011being. Being one of the first U.S. groups\u00a0they\u2019ve\u00a0collaborated with\u00a0felt like joining\u00a0a much bigger story\u2014one that stretches across continents.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Together, we shaped their curriculum to fit the unique rhythms of our Clubs. The result? Sessions filled with laughter, movement, and conversations that help kids feel safe naming their emotions and proud of who\u00a0they\u2019re\u00a0becoming. The partnership resonated with our\u00a0Club kids\u00a0in ways we hoped it would: it honored their diverse identities while giving them fresh tools to build resilience.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And while these structured programs are powerful, emotional growth\u00a0doesn\u2019t\u00a0stop when the session ends. Social\u2011emotional learning is part of everything we do. It shows up when a staff member helps resolve a disagreement on the field, when a shy kid decides to join\u00a0a new activity, or when someone discovers a\u00a0strength\u00a0they\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0know they had.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Meet\u00a0Arya January: A Champion for Club Kids<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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When you meet\u00a0Arya\u00a0January, you quickly understand why kids gravitate toward her. She has a way of showing up\u2014calm, steady, and fully present\u2014that makes young people feel seen. Long before joining Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver, Arya spent more than a decade\u00a0volunteering with a\u00a0summer\u00a0camp\u00a0for children in foster\u00a0care, an experience that showed her just how powerful one caring adult can be in a\u00a0kid\u2019s life. \u201cMeaningful relationships are at the heart of healing,\u201d she says, a belief that guides everything she does.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

She discovered the Mental Health Professional role\u00a0at Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver\u00a0and\u00a0immediately\u00a0felt at home. \u201cIt sounded like a dream come true,\u201d she recalls. Now, as a Lead Social Worker,\u00a0Arya\u00a0supports Club members and staff across multiple sites\u00a0and oversees\u00a0the\u00a0Revitalize, Engage, Navigate, Empathize, Win (RENEW) program\u00a0offered at\u00a0Westminster Public Schools.\u00a0She also\u00a0received the\u00a0<\/span>Premio de Honor a la Pr\u00e1ctica Informada sobre Trauma<\/span><\/a>\u00a0de\u00a0<\/span>Clubes de ni\u00f1os y ni\u00f1as de Am\u00e9rica<\/span><\/a>\u00a0in 2023. Serving as a trauma specialist is work that\u00a0keeps her\u00a0busy but\u00a0deeply fulfilled.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

One story she carries with her is about a former Club member.\u00a0When Arya first met her,\u00a0she\u00a0struggled with intense anger that often led to physical altercations. \u201cAlmost every\u00a0day,\u00a0something\u00a0would\u00a0happen,\u201d Arya shared. But last summer, everything shifted. During\u00a0softball\u00a0season,\u00a0the Club\u00a0member\u00a0found a new outlet.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt was like a light flipped in her head,\u201d Arya says. Instead of reacting in the moment,\u00a0she\u00a0learned to pause\u2014saving her anger for the game, where she could release it in a healthier way. Through their check-ins,\u00a0the Club member\u00a0discovered that taking a moment to breathe and think helped her choose different outcomes. The change stuck. Today,\u00a0the Club member\u00a0is thriving\u2014not just in sports, but in school and her relationships.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Stories\u00a0like\u00a0hers\u00a0fuel Arya\u2019s work. Her philosophy is simple:<\/span>
\n\u201cOne caring, consistent relationship can change the trajectory of a young person\u2019s life.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And each day at the Clubs, she tries to be exactly that\u2014 \u201cthe adult I needed when I was younger.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

How the Community Can Support Social Workers and Club Kids<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you ask any social worker at our Clubs what truly makes a difference for kids, the answer\u00a0almost always\u00a0comes back to relationships. The American Psychological Association puts it\u00a0simply\u2014strong\u00a0connections with caring adults are one of the most powerful protectors for a young person\u2019s mental health. As psychologist Lisa Damour says, \u201cA relationship with a great adult is like the fluoride in the water of adolescent mental health care.\u201d It strengthens everything.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And right now, those relationships matter more than ever. Kids are facing bigger mental and emotional challenges.\u00a0Parents are working hard. Schedules are full. Life is complicated. And in those critical hours when\u00a0they\u2019re\u00a0not\u00a0in school\u2014when kids are exploring, questioning, and figuring out who they are\u2014they need adults who can guide, support, and cheer them on.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

At Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver, members find mentors, stability, and a sense of belonging. They find people like Arya\u2014social workers who show up, day after day, ready to help kids grow into themselves.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But this work\u00a0doesn\u2019t\u00a0happen alone. It takes a community that believes in kids and the people who support them.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you want to play a part, there are so many ways to step in\u2014whether by\u00a0<\/span>learning more about the work social workers do<\/span><\/a>,\u00a0<\/span>sharing our mission with others<\/span><\/a>, or helping ensure every\u00a0kid\u00a0has access to a safe, welcoming place\u00a0when\u00a0they\u2019re\u00a0not in school.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

March is Social Work Month\u2014a time set aside since 1963 to recognize the people who quietly, consistently, and powerfully help hold communities together. This year\u2019s theme,\u00a0\u201cSocial Workers:\u00a0Uplift. Defend. Transform.\u201d,\u00a0feels especially close to home for us at Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver.\u00a0 Across our 25 Clubs,\u00a0youth mental health\u00a0remains\u00a0one of our top priorities. Kids today […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":31,"featured_media":41295,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cdn.phototourl.com\/uploads\/2026-03-10-572dbde8-a3c3-4e58-9d9a-70b0c1cef061.png","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-41291","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bgcmd.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41291","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bgcmd.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bgcmd.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bgcmd.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/31"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bgcmd.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41291"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.bgcmd.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41291\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41304,"href":"https:\/\/www.bgcmd.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41291\/revisions\/41304"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bgcmd.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/41295"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bgcmd.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41291"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bgcmd.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41291"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bgcmd.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41291"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}