Life

Body: Health Resources

The Denver Public Library Health and Medicine Site Resources and links on just about every health topic from staying healthy to getting help in Denver.

Above the Influence Pressure to drink, do drugs or do anything that goes against who you are in order to fit in – that's negative influence.

TeensHealth, Your Body From head to toe, from greasy hair to athlete’s foot. En español.

FamilyDoctor.org Articles about everything from athlete's foot to quitting smoking, just for teens.

iEmily.com Just for teen girls.

National Eating Disorders Association Information for women, men, guys, and girls.

Sexuality health resources

Your Future

= Available from any Denver Public Library or from home with a Denver Public Library Card.

High School

Colorado School Choice Learn about school choice in Colorado. Find and compare schools using student achievement and demographic data.

Technical Schools Guide Thousands of technical colleges, classes and degree programs.

College

College in Colorado Explore your education opportunities.

Campus Tours Take a virtual tour of colleges and universities across the country!

CollegeBoard Plan for college, take the tests, get into college, and pay for it!

Peterson’s College search, test prep, graduate programs…

The Princeton Review Info on schools, financial aid, applications, test preparation and more.

US News College Rankings Find the best school for you!

Study Abroad Find programs by country or subject of study.

Guide to Online Schools Connects you with colleges and universities. Check out their scholarship resources and free online courses.

College Directories in the Library

College Admissions Essay Preperation Help:

Resources from Learning Express Library Click on "College Preparation" from the options on the left.

Resources from General Reference Center

College Application Essay Books in the Library

Testing

Learning Express Library Practice tests for GED, GRE, SAT, ACT, civil service exams and citizenship, ESL courses for Spanish-speakers, Advanced Placement practice exams, Job and Career Help Center and practice for TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language).

ACT Everything you need to know about the test!

SAT Prep Help Prepare for the SAT.

INeedAPencil.com Free SAT prep.

ACT Study Guides in the Library

SAT Study Guides in the Library

PSAT Study Guides in the Library

CLEP Study Guides in the Library

Advanced Placement Study Guides in the Library

ASVAB Study Guides in the Library

Financial Aid and Scholarships

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA on the Web) Apply for aid, check the deadlines, check your status, and find answers to your questions about aid in English and Spanish.

Smart Student Guide to Financial Aid Scholarships, loans, military aid, government financial aid, and more.

United Negro College Fund Read about and download program and scholarship applications. Find your local office. Check out member institutions.

School Grants Information about school grants and how to apply.

FinAid! All about financial aid. Scholarships, loans, savings, military aid, and other types of financial aid.

College Assist Help with financial aid planning.

Financial Aid Books in the Library

GED

Colorado GED Information Find preparation programs and testing centers.

GED Prep Info Tips for students.

GED Study Guides in the Library

Apprenticeship Programs

Apprenticeship is a system of learning that combines on-the-job training supervised by a skilled crafts person with related classroom instruction.

The Emily Griffith Technical College partners with 18 Joint Apprenticeship Training Centers and other registered apprenticeship partners to provide high-quality training by industry professionals. Locations include: Metro Denver, Colorado Springs, Pueblo and the Western Slope.

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Apprenticeships More information about apprenticeships.

Armed Services

ROTC is an elective curriculum you take along with your required college classes. Along with great leadership training, ROTC can pay for your college tuition, too. You will have a normal college student experience like everyone else on campus, but when you graduate, you will have the opportunity to serve as a leader in either the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps.

Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB)

Learning Express Library Practice tests for ASVAB, CFAT, Flight Aptitude and more.

Jobs/Career

Learning Express Library Practice tests for GED, GRE, SAT, ACT, civil service exams and citizenship, ESL courses for Spanish-speakers, Advanced Placement practice exams, Job and Career Help Center and practice for TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language).

Vocations, Careers & Technical Education Articles Magazines and journals focused on vocations, careers and technical education.
App available for iPhone Android App Help

Mayor's Office of Workforce Development The Division of Youth Services works with Denver youth between the ages of 14 and 24.

Job Corps A no-cost education and career technical training program administered by the U.S. Department of Labor that helps young people ages 16 through 24 improve the quality of their lives through career technical and academic training. Located on the western slope in Collbran, CO. Job Corps has no cost to its students or their families. Throughout your training, you will receive a basic living allowance. As your training progresses, your living allowance will increase.  For more information check the website or contact the admissions counselors at 924 West Colfax Ave. #103, Denver, CO 80204, or call 303-623-0420.

Americorps Membership is open to U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents age 17 and older. Members serve full or part time over a 10- to 12-month period. Upon successful completion of their service, members receive an AmeriCorps Education Award of up to $4,725 to pay for college or graduate school or to pay back qualified student loans. During their service, members receive health coverage, training, and student loan deferment. About half the members also receive a modest annual living allowance.

Girls Incorporated: I Can Be:  Resources for careers and education.

Job and Career Resources for Teenagers from Quintessential Careers. Also try their Helpful Job-Searching Hints and Summer Job resources.

MyFirstPaycheck.com Employment help and jobs for teens!

YouthRules! The resources on this website will help you understand what hours you can work, what jobs you can work and more.

Teens4Hire.org A free membership-based site for young adults (14 and older) actively looking for work.

JobStar Lots of info to help plan your career.

America’s Career InfoNet Wages and employment trends, occupational requirements, state by state labor market conditions, employer contacts nationwide.

Mapping Your Future Tips for planning a career and selecting and paying for school.

My Own Biz Tips on starting your own business from the Brooklyn Public Library.

Occupational Outlook Handbook Describes what workers do, working conditions, training and education needed, earnings, and expected job prospects.

Girl Geeks The source for women in computing.

Career Books in the Library

Career E-Books

Spirituality Resources

Adherents.com A growing collection statistics and religious geography citations for over 4,200 religions, churches, denominations, religious bodies, faith groups, tribes, cultures and movements.

Belief System Selector Take this survey and find out about yourself and different religions.

Beliefnet A multi-faith e-community, hopes to help people meet their own religious, spiritual and moral needs by providing information, inspiration, community, stimulation and products.

Buddha.net Buddhist education and information network.

Catholic News Agency A Catholic news provider that strives to provide free, up-to-the-minute news affecting the Catholic Church.

IgniteYourFaith.com A ministry of Christianity Today, Ignite Your Faith provides honest answers to the tough questions teens ask, and encourages them to be fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ by living out their faith in every part of their daily life.

Interlude: An Internet Retreat “A place to renew the spirit” featuring meditations, prayers, and poetry.

Internet Sacred Text Archive An archive of electronic texts about religion, mythology, legends and folklore, and occult and esoteric topics.

MyJewishLearning.com Offers articles and resources on all aspects of Judaism and Jewish life. The site is useful for everyone, from the casual reader looking for interesting insights, to non-Jews searching for a better understanding of Jewish culture, to experienced learners wishing to delve deeper into specific topic areas.

TheLockers.net A place for Jewish teens to speak freely.

Young Muslims Find out more about Islam.

Secular Web A comprehensive website devoted to the defense of metaphysical naturalism, the view that our natural world is all that there is, a closed system in no need of an explanation and sufficient unto itself.

Relationship Resources

Break the Cycle A nonprofit organization whose mission is to end domestic violence by working proactively with youth.

Bully Bust A student-led community effort to reduce bullying in schools. More Bullying Resources

Foster Club The national network of young people in foster care. The website provides support, information and dialogue. More Adoption and Foster Care Resources

Girls Health: Relationships Created to help girls (ages 10-16) learn about health, growing up, and issues they may face.

I'm From Driftwood True stories by gay people from all over. More GLBTQ Resources

Love Doesn't Have to Hurt Dating violence information from the American Psychological Association.

LoveIsRespect.org The online home of the National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline. A community where you can find support and information to understand dating abuse.

Sex: Take Time to Make the Right Decision Tips on making the right decision for you from FamilyDoctor.org. More Sexuality Resources.

Teen Relationships Resources, chat room, statistics and links on relationships.

Teenline - Teens Helping Teens If you have a problem or just want to talk with another teen who understands, then this is the right place for you!

Teenwire Planned Parenthood's site on sexuality, health and relationships.

Safety

Internet Safety

Read DPL’s Internet Use Statement

SafeTeens.com Everything about Internet safety: risks of using the Internet, reducing spam, protecting your privacy, avoiding porn, etc.

GetNetWise Learn about online safety, how to prevent unwanted email and spam, protecting your computer from hackers and viruses, and keeping your personal information private.

Safe Surfing Tips for Teens From TeensHealth.org.

Teen Safety on the Information Highway From the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Personal Safety

Bully Bust A student-led community effort to reduce bullying in schools. More Bullying Resources

Personal Safety Tips From Kidpower Teenpower Fullpower International.

Street Smarts and Personal Safety Good advice from About.com.

Teens, Crime, and Community Tips on how to keep yourself and your community safe. Doing a report on violence or crime? This site also has facts, data, and statistics.

Topics in Crime Prevention for Teens Extensive library of information from the National Crime Prevention Council, home of McGruff. “Take a bite out of crime.”

Bullying

Bully Bust A student-led community effort to reduce bullying in schools.

Teens Against Bullying Created by and for teens, it’s a place for middle and high school students to find ways to address bullying, to take action, to be heard, and to join an important social cause.

Stomp Out Bullying A national anti-bullying and cyberbullying program for kids and teens.

The Make It Better Project GLBT youth should not have to suffer through bullying at school. We Can Make It Better Now!

The It Gets Better Project Many GLBT youth can't picture what their lives might be like as openly gay adults. This project shows the stories of gay adults and the good things the future may hold. Also on Facebook.

Prevent CyberBullying Provide resources for youth who have questions about or have been targeted by online harassment.

Stop Bullying Information on preventing bullying and getting help.

National Crime Prevention Council - Cyberbullying This site contains tips for kids and parents on how to deal with cyberbullying, including saving text messages and other correspondence from bullies.

Volunteering & Activism

Volunteering at the Library

Are you 12-18 years old? Have you ever thought about volunteering at the library?

As a library volunteer, you can help with the Summer of Reading program, help with gaming activities, or help shelve library materials. Or, if you have a great idea about what you'd like to do as a volunteer, let us know!

Read Asa's story: Why I Volunteer at the Denver Public Library.

The following locations accept volunteers, but keep in mind that volunteer positions are limited:

• Athmar Park Branch Library
• Bear Valley Branch Library
• Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library
• Byers Branch Library
• Central Library, Children's Department
• Decker Branch Library
• Eugene Field Branch Library
• Ford-Warren Branch Library
• Green Valley Ranch Branch Library
• Hadley Branch Library
• Hampden Branch Library
• Montbello Branch Library
• Park Hill Branch Library
• Pauline Robinson Branch Library
• Schlessman Family Branch Library
• Ross-University Hills Branch Library
• Virginia Village Branch Library
• Woodbury Branch Library

Interested?

Complete the Volunteer Application (PDF) and the Volunteer Services Agreement (PDF) and return it to your branch.

Questions?

For more information about volunteering, please contact Veletta Hopes in the Volunteer Office at 720-865-2043, vhopes@denverlibrary.org. TTY service for the deaf and hearing impaired, 720-865-1472.

Volunteering in the Community

Denver Parks and Recreation "Hands on Denver" Volunteer Program

Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado

Dumb Friend’s League

Denver Zoo Crew

Denver Museum of Nature and Science Youth Volunteer Program

Habitat for Humanity Youth Programs

Volunteers of America Colorado Branch

World Vision: Building a Better World for Children

Metro Volunteers

Volunteer Match

Mile High United Way

TUNICEF Tap Project

CoolWorks Volunteer Positions

Activism

Do Something Tools and resources for you to convert your ideas and energy into positive action.

The Hip-Hop Association Music for social change, tolerance, civic participation and social reform.

Kids, Know Your Rights! A Young Person’s Guide to Intellectual Freedom A four-page PDF brochure written by members of ALSC’s Intellectual Freedom Committee.

Rock the Vote Dedicated to protecting freedom of expression and helping youth realize and utilize their power to create political change in their communities.

Student Environmental Action Coalition (SEAC) The largest student environmental organization in the world.

MTV Act Take action on issues you care about.

The Truth A student-run project that aims to expose the underhanded advertising tactics cigarette companies use to get kids to smoke.

Mobilize Empowers and invests in Millennials to create and implement solutions to social problems.

Ashoka Youth Venture Dream it. Do it. Grow it.

Amnesty International A worldwide campaigning movement that works to promote internationally recognized human rights.

Taking It Global A network of people taking action for a more sustainable planet.

YesWorld.org Youth for Environmental Sanity.

Your Environment. Your Choice. Provides you with the information you need to make environmentally sound choices about the products and natural resources you use, the waste you create and the environment in which you live.

Teens Turning Green A student led movement devoted to education and advocacy around environmentally and socially responsible choices for individuals, schools, and communities.

The Sierra Student Coalition A broad network of high school and college-aged youth from across the country working to protect the environment.

Books

Fiction about getting active in the community!

Denver Resources for Teens

Thoughts of Suicide

Hopeline: 1-800-784-2433

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

Metro Crisis Line: 1-888-885-1222

Substance Abuse

Metro Crisis Line: 1-888-885-1222
Metro Denver's free, confidential, 24/7 telephone hotline for mental health or substance abuse crisis help, information, and referrals.

Colorado Quitnet Get help to quit smoking.

Alateen For teens whose lives have been affected by someone else’s drinking.
2460 W. 26th Ave. Ste. 138-C
Denver, CO 80211-5390
denver-al-anon@ecentral.com
303-321-8895
24-Hour Number: 303-321-8788

Victims of Violence and Abuse

Colorado Anti-Violence Program Dedicated to eliminating violence within and against the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) communities in Colorado, and providing the highest quality services to survivors.
P.O. Box 181085
Denver, CO
80218
Office phone: 303-839-5204
24 hour crisis line: 303-852-5094 or 1-888-557-4441
info@coavp.org

Branching Seedz of Resistance A youth led project of the Colorado Anti-Violence Program. They use youth led community organizing, art and media, outreach, education, direct action and action research to build safety and justice in youth communities.
If you are a LGBTQ young person or an adult ally and you are interested in getting involved contact Eleanor at eleanor@coavp.org or 303-839-5204.

Project PAVE A Denver-based nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering youth to end the cycle of relationship violence.
2051 York Street
Denver, CO 80205
303-322-2382
info@projectpave.org

RAAP Rape Assistance and Awareness Program.
24-hour English-speaking hotline 303-322-7273
Spanish-speaking hotline 303-329-0031

SungateKids On the front lines of the fight against child abuse.
P.O. Box 24225
Denver, CO 80224
303-368-1065
sungate@sungatekids.org

Help for the Homeless

Comitis Crisis Center Offers counseling and emergency housing to anyone in need.
PO Box 919
2178 Victor Street
Aurora, CO  80040
Help Line 303-343-9890
Office 303-341-9160

Family Tree Gemini An adolescent center providing, in a structured environment, emergency shelter, counseling, education, 24-hour referral line, aftercare and street outreach to homeless and runaway youth.
1629 Simms Street
Lakewood, CO 80215
303-235-0630

Urban Peak No place to stay? They help homeless youth ages 14 to 24.
Urban Peak Denver
1630 S. Acoma St.
Denver, CO 80223
303-974-2908

National Runaway Switchboard: 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929)

More Homeless Resources from Denver's Road Home

Sexual Health Answers

Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains Affordable, confidential reproductive health care for females AND males. Pregnancy prevention, prenatal care, STD testing and treatment, and more.
Capitol Hill Health Center
921 East 14th Ave
Denver, CO 80218-1903
303-832-5069

In Case You're Curious A free and anonymous service by the Denver Teen Pregnancy Prevention Partnership.  ICYC answers sexual health questions for teens with medically accurate, factual information. 

Connect

Boys and Girls Club of Metro Denver Dedicated to helping kids from tough neighborhoods in the Denver area stay out of trouble, stay in school, and succeed in life.
Program Support Center:
2017 West 9th Avenue
Denver, CO 80204
303-892-9200
info@bgcmd.org

The Center The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center of Colorado. The Center offers Rainbow Alley, a drop-in center designed to support GLBT youth and their allies ages 12-21.
Rainbow Alley:
1301 E. Colfax Ave.
Denver, CO 80218
303-733-PRIDE
info@glbtcolorado.org

Girls Incorporated of Metro Denver A national nonprofit youth organization dedicated to inspiring all girls to be strong, smart and bold.
1499 Julian St.
Denver, CO 80204
303-893-4363

Mile High Youth Corps Offers a variety of year-round and summer employment opportunities for youth.
1801 Federal Blvd.
Denver, CO 80204
303-433-1206
info@mhyc.net