sand award

Aspen Family Connection's Executive Director Katherine Sand is the recipient of the 2023 Helen Klanderud Award.

"As the Executive Director, she has worked tirelessly to build partnerships, programs, and systems that address the biggest challenges facing the families and children in our community.

"From building up the Interagency Operating Group into a collaborative forum that measures it’s impact, to coordinating food banks for those who found themselves out of work overnight during COVID, to bringing community partners together to implement better prevention of youth substance use, Katherine understands the needs of the community and works in partnership to find creative solutions that improve the lives of children and families in our community. We are so fortunate to have such a leader like this in our community- thoughtful, modest, and knows how to make meaningful impact," her nomination letter read.

In 2016, Pitkin County, Aspen School District and a number of local organizations and community members teamed up to create Aspen Family Connections, a one-stop family resource center.

Aspen Family Connections is entirely funded by donations from individuals, private foundations and by local government and State of Colorado grant programs.

AFC links families to a wide range of resources: academic and emotional support, financial assistance, extracurricular activities, summer camps and more. In addition, we offer a number of popular workshops throughout the year on parenting and current topics impacting kids that parents need to know about, like vaping, cyber-technology and screen-time.

The AFC provides resource videos, presentations and links to valuable information to help inform parents.

Resources, Support and Connection for the Parenting Jouney

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Aspen Family Connections hosts Noche Latina
Noche Latina

Aspen Family Connections hosted Noche Latina, an evening for Latino parents to learn and ask questions about Aspen School District.

There were many questions about school programs, schedules and services. Norma Leticia Canchola and Carolina Lozano De Taffarelli presented information including how to navigate ASD's new website, where to find school and community resources, and more.

Parents who missed the meeting or would like to talk about anything school related or have questions about programs and services can call the AFC at 970-300-2350.