Colorado Springs and Beyond: Community Resource List
Finding the support you’re looking for isn’t always easy - but why shouldn’t it be?
Check out the list below for addictions resources, mental health support groups, LGBTQAI+ resources, veterans resources and more.
Addiction Treatment and Support
Smart Recovery: Offers meetings in person and online, and online programs for individuals, families and friends, veterans and first responders, young adults, and LGBTQ+. They also offer online resources and an online community. Smart recovery focuses on research-based strategies and is secular (no religious affiliation).
Serenity Recovery Connection (Formerly Springs Recovery Connection): SRC offers support groups (in-person and virtual), individual recovery coaching, telephone recovery support, family support groups (CRAFT), and Grief Recovery After Substance Passing (GRASP) groups.
The Phoenix: A sober active community that offers gym space, yoga, guided meditation, trail walks, indoor climbing, bouldering, pickleball, CrossFit, and more.
Keeping Love Alive: Offers free Narcan, Fentanyl test strips, and training to local community businesses and organizations.
Embark: Their recovery community center and programs include: Group Substance-use Counseling (intake required, includes DUI and IOP groups), Job Training/Employment Support, Peer Coaching/Training, Housing & Basic Resources, Group Support/ Guided Trauma Support, Pop-Up All Recovery Meetings, Narcan Education/Fentanyl Strip Distribution, Recovery Bingo, Games & Fun, and Sober Happy Hours.
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Cocaine Anonymous (CA) : Each organization has a local chapter that offers a number of peer-lead meetings, both in person and online. *Note: These meetings tend to follow the 12-step program, which tends to be more spiritual in nature than other recovery groups/programs. Some secular people or those with adverse religious experiences may find this off-putting.
Support for Family and Friends of Someone With an Addiction
CRAFT Groups: This acronym stands for Community Reinforcement and Family Training, and is a free resource that supports the family members and friends of people struggling with addiction (aka a substance use disorder).
Mental Health Support Groups
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance: Offers several free support groups including: Adult Groups, LGBTQIA+ Group, Later Life Group, Teen and Emerging Adult Groups, Family and Friends Group, Wellness Group, and Women’s Group. Some are offered online, others meet in person.
NAMI Connection: “A peer-based, mutual support group program for any adult living with a mental illness. Connection groups provide a place for individuals who have in common the experience of living with mental illness, to share experiences and use them as learning opportunities. Groups are a safe space to confront the challenges that all people face, regardless of diagnosis.”
NAMI Family Support Groups: Offered in person (some available online) for family members of a loved one with a mental illness.
Youth Mental Health Resources
I Matter : “Colorado House Bill 21-1258 established I Matter in 2021 to provide access to mental health and substance use disorder services for youth, and to address needs that may have resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic. I Matter is open to youth 18 years of age or younger, or 21 years of age or younger if receiving special education service. In May 2023, the Colorado State Legislature renewed I Matter so it can provide free therapy for youth through June 30, 2024. I Matter is managed by the Colorado Behavioral Health Administration. I Matter provides up to six free therapy sessions for youth in Colorado and reimburses participating licensed therapists.”
Military and Veterans Resources
Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center: Mt. Carmel offers a ton of resources for service members, veterans, and their families including: Non-clinical case management (Financial Assistance with essential needs (rent, mortgage, utilities, etc.), financial coaching, mortgage education, transition and employment services, counseling services, trauma-informed yoga, tai chi boxing, art therapy, and retreats. Keep an eye on their monthly calendar and facebook page, they often host other events, including a food pantry.
El Paso County Veterans Services: El Paso County recognizes we have many veterans here, some of whom are struggling to get connected to VA resources/or struggling with government red tape tying up their claims. This office works as a liaison between the veteran (or other claimant) and the VA.
Home Front Military Network: Pairs service members, veterans, and their families with a case manager who helps them navigate and get connected to community support systems/partners. Helps military-connected folks get access to financial assistance or planning, and a number of other resources here in the community.
Next Chapter: Works with service members transitioning out of the military, providing assistance with exploring new career paths (employment workshops, job coaching, community partner resources), stability resources (food, housing, financial coaching, education programs, legal support, homeless veteran outreach), and counseling (through Mt. Carmel’s team).
Fort Carson On-post Resources: Army Community Service (ACS) offers a ton of on-post resources including: the Employment Readiness Program, Family Advocacy Program, Financial Readiness Program, Family Team Building, New Parent Support, Relocation Readiness Program, Mobilization & Deployment Readiness, Survivor Outreach Services, and more. If you’d like more information on these resources feel free to ask through the contact button!
Military Spouse-Specific Support
Military Spouse Career Coalition: The city of Colorado Springs hosts the coalition as “a collaborative effort of community leaders, employers, and like-minded partners to promote meaningful employment opportunities for Military Spouses.” They focus on helping spouses prepare for finding a job, and connecting them to community employment partner resources.
National Military Family Association: Offers exclusive scholarship opportunities for military spouses. They report helping spouses with all degree programs, from GED’s to PhD’s, professional licensure and certifications, supervised clinical hours, business and entrepreneurial expenses, continuing education, and more.
Military One Source (Spouse Education and Career Opportunities): Offers the My Career Advancement Account Scholarship, which is a workforce development program that provides up to $4,000 in financial assistance to eligible military spouses for the pursuit or maintenance (including continuing education courses) of a license, certification, or associate's degree necessary to gain employment in an occupation or career field.
LGBTQIA+ Resources
OutCare: Unfortunately finding healthcare providers who are affirming, allies, or are part of the community themselves isn’t always easy. Thankfully, OutCare is working to make this information more available and selecting a provider who is a good fit easier. They offer a provider directory, community resources, a blog, and more.
PFLAG: Support groups for families, allies, and people who are LGBTQ+. PFLAG provides peer-to-peer support through in-person and virtual meetings, online outreach, and a variety of additional resources and programs. PFLAG also has online meetings for the following communities: Asian American & Pacific Islander, Black/African American, Comunidad Latino/Latino Community, and Military.
Inside Out Youth Services: In-person programming for young people 13-24 years old (life skills, arts and crafts, sex-ed and healthy relationships,) and support (counseling, support groups). They also host “Transparenting” which is a “support, resource, and advocacy group for parents and families of transgender and nonbinary children” (meets online).
Colorado Name Change Project: This online resource provides the necessary forms to change their name and/or their gender marker with the state. They also host online workshops with an attorney who can help answer questions and provide information for low-cost/pro bono attorney referrals and microgrants.
BIPOC Communities
Colorado Black Health Collaborative: A community-led organization dedicated to achieving health equity in Colorado’s Black community, by providing them with resources, holding civic engagement events, and their health and wellness education programs.
Centro de la Familia: Provides parent education, heath education, adult education (GED, college selection, job training), mental health referrals, and more.
Looking for a BIPOC therapist? - Feel free to reach out for a referral! Or check out one of these websites dedicated to helping people find a therapist of color: Innopsych, Black Men Heal (not currently serving CO, but an amazing organization to keep an eye on if you’re planning to move), or Inclusive Therapists (allows you to search by therapist’s identity).
Health and More
El Paso County Health: Care coordination provides information, resources, and referrals to connect people to: child care, food, transportation, medical equipment, health care, dental care, health insurance, medication, behavioral health, financial/employment, medication, health insurance, rent/utilities.
Colorado Community Health Alliance: If you have Colorado Medicaid and are looking for a provider (therapist or otherwise) - this provider directory can help!
Food Banks
Care and Share: Offers traditional food pantries (same location, some offer outdoor walk-ups or drive-ups), and mobile markets and food pantries (popup locations) all over the state.
2-1-1 Community Foodbank Map: Allows you to search for food banks by zip code and by various filters such as mobile food banks, baby food/formula, packed lunches/boxed dinners, and more.
Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center: Mt. Carmel partners with a number of local resources to over a mobile food pantry distribution. These usually occur every other Friday around 11:00 am, you can find exact dates posted on their Facebook page (check the images section). These events are open to everyone and go until supplies are depleted, so they can run out quickly at times - so I’d recommend getting there early.
Colorado Pet Pantry: Their mission is to feed hungry pets, allowing families to increase their ability to care for pets with the goal of keeping pets in their loving homes. They hold pet food pantries around the state several times a month.
Career Support
Colorado Employment First: If you receive SNAP benefits, you may have access to this state-run program that helps people with GED prep/testing, self-employment training, resume and interview skills, assistance with job searches, and more. This program is closely connected to the Workfare Program which connects clients and job site partners, giving clients the opportunity to obtain work experience and enhance their job skills.
Support for Families/Parents
Parents/Families of a Child with a Disability: Resource list developed by the state to help link parents with appropriate resources (help finding preschools, help with IEPs, Parents Encouraging Parents support group, and more).
Early Intervention Colorado: Colorado’s Early Intervention program provides support and services to children with developmental delays or disabilities and their families from birth until the child’s third birthday. Early Intervention Colorado can help families learn ways to support and promote their child’s development within their everyday routines and activities.
Colorado Child Care Assistance Program For Families: The Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP) helps families that are homeless, working, searching for work or in school find low-income child care assistance.
The Arc of Colorado Springs: The Arc does a lot for the community, but they are also amazing at helping parents with Educational Advocacy (ensuring that students with disabilities receive the services and accommodations they need, and that parents know their rights in the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process).
Disclaimer: This is by no means an exhaustive list, it’s accurate to my best knowledge, and I have no current connection to any of these resources. Last updated 09/26/24.
