Giving Thought: Are we fully developed at 18 years old?
Allison Alexander/Courtesy photo
Adulthood at 18 years of age?
Interestingly, science tells us that the part of the brain responsible for decision-making and risk assessment, the prefrontal cortex, is not fully developed in young adults until about 24 years of age. Yet, because being 18 years old in our society equals “adulthood,” many young adults age out of programs to support their development at 18 or with high school graduation, leaving young people without guidance when it is still critically needed.
One local non-profit, Stepping Stones, recognizes the vulnerability of young people from 18 to 24 years old and has built it into its mission. Based in Carbondale, the organization’s mission is “to cultivate strong mentoring relationships and community spaces for youth ages 10-24 to foster personal growth, compassion, and responsibility.”
Over time, their services have shifted to better support young people in our region.
“Stepping Stones’ first Young Adult drop-in center opened in 2014 for ages 14-21, meeting the critical need in Carbondale for a safe space that offered nightly meals, showers, and laundry facilities. Some youth came to Stepping Stones in times of crisis; others sought prosocial interaction with peers. We opened our Youth Program in June 2017 to engage younger youth, ages 10-14, seeking to prevent the acute issues our young adults experience. In 2020, we expanded our partnership with our local school district, increased programming activities, and completed a full renovation and remodel of our facilities. Today, both programs continue to grow in scope and capacity,” according to their website.
Embodying their values of welcoming, relationships, youth voice, equity, access, and interdependence has been critical to the organization’s evolution and offerings.
“Ten years ago, Stepping Stones was founded after listening to young people who wanted an accessible, youth-led space. Today, we are still listening: Living this foundational value with integrity means we are responsive to youth needs rather than prescriptive. As young people grow in independence, we walk alongside them, show up for them, and deliver on our promises to them through consistent, trusted relationships and through relentless engagement of resources on their behalf. Our diverse staff shares vital lived experience with our youth, demonstrating the power of mutuality and representation to build trust, promote empowerment, and embody integrity,” says Kyle Crawley, executive director of Stepping Stones.
Countless studies have shown that mentorship and relationships can significantly change a youth’s life trajectory. Youth connected to Stepping Stones are supported in mind, body, and spirit, creating a sense of belonging and bolstering their connection to the greater community. Stepping Stones offers consistency by offering support beyond the point of aging out of the secondary education system when many other programs stop offering services. At the same time, those they serve continue to grow and mature.
This year, they will provide free risk prevention and crisis intervention services to over 350 youth.
“Rooted in strong mentoring relationships, our holistic model offers youth 32+ weekly hours of drop-in programming, daily meals, on-site therapy, experiential activities, skill building, crisis response, and more. For a young person in the midst of a mental health crisis or for a queer youth looking for a welcoming space to make friends, Stepping Stones offers critical connections and a place to belong,” says Crawley.
Recognizing the limited resources available for Spanish-speaking individuals, Stepping Stones is also a bilingual environment, creating opportunities to access academic support, equitable community spaces, and counseling.
In addition to a board of directors, Stepping Stones also engages a Youth Advisory Board composed of youth from their community to help guide their work.
Youth who find their way into Stepping Stones have shared it was the first place they have felt safe or seen. The staff works directly with each youth to identify their goals and assess their needs. In 2022, they distributed $30,000+ worth of food and $19,581 in emergency family assistance to cover rent, medical bills, therapy, or scholarships. Additionally, youth participants completed self-295 self-identified goals in housing, employment, education, social-emotional skills, resiliency, health/wellness, substance use, the justice system, and family engagement.
Yes, at 18 years old, young begin to transition into full adulthood; yet supporting youth in meeting their goals and offering a place to belong helps foster a sense of self-efficacy is critical, particularly for young people who don’t have strong support systems in place within family and community. Having a safety net available when it is still needed can shift individual lives and the broader community by supporting their growth into engaged and active citizens with agency and confidence.
Allison Alexander is the director strategic partnerships and communication at Aspen Community Foundation. ACF with the support of its donors works with a number of non-profits in the Roaring Fork and Colorado River valleys. Throughout the year, we will work to highlight non-profits in the region.
Allison Alexander is the Director Strategic Partnerships and Communication at Aspen Community Foundation. ACF with the support of its donors works with a number of nonprofits in the Roaring Fork and Colorado River valleys. Throughout the year, we will work to highlight nonprofits in the region.
