The Montezuma-Cortez school district, in collaboration with the Colorado State University Extension, has invited families with children ages 11 to 19 to participate in Health Without Barriers, a free summer wellness program created to help local families build healthy habits, strengthen their relationships with each other and develop the skills needed to manage stress.
The program will also include health and wellness education, hands-on cooking and nutrition classes, and opportunities for physical activity for teens and their siblings. Siblings, regardless of age, are welcome to attend with their teen siblings and parents. Free dinner will be provided for all participants during each session.
“The new habits that we are learning create empowerment,” program coordinator Elvia German-Palacios told The Journal in 2025. “They will also be discussing family support, which are expectations, how to create rules in their house, to praise their child, how to recognize when they’re doing a good job and how to say that.”
Sessions will be offered twice a week on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. Two locations will be available, with different dates, so attendees can choose based on their schedules.
The first session at the Cortez Middle School has already started, and will run through July 2. Upcoming sessions at the Montezuma County Annex will take place from July 8 through July 16.
Interested families can begin the registration process by completing the program interest form at bit.ly/HWB2026 or by contacting the program coordinator at (970) 286-1866 or hwb-sw@colostate.edu. Program staff will follow up with participants to schedule an orientation.
bduran@the-journal.com
