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Our success begins with…Annie Butler Sep 26, 2007

Annie Butler says listening is a great first step to understanding young people.

Annie Butler is a gardener to troubled youth in Colorado.

“Our job is not to fix anyone. We’re here to plant seeds,” says Butler, who is the director of Metro State’s Center for High Risk Youth Studies. “…maybe that third or fourth time in drug and alcohol treatment is the time that works because we planted that seed.”

As an assistant professor in the College’s Human Services Department, Butler is also passionate about sowing the seeds of experiential learning for her students. Bringing current and relevant information from her experiences as a private practitioner to the classroom (with due care to maintain client confidentiality), helps to augment and reinforce the theoretical knowledge from textbooks.

“Here’s a theory, here’s some information and I’ve got a client [to whom the theory applies],” she explains.

Students in the Center for High Risk Youth Studies can major or minor in human services with an emphasis in high-risk youth. Also, working professionals seeking an area of expertise can complete 16 hours of classroom training and 600 hours of field experience terminating in a certificate. The emphasis on adolescent issues, Butler says, is a relatively unique aspect of Metro State’s program compared to many other human services-oriented bachelor’s and master’s programs nationally. She also notes that Colorado is one of only two states that has separate probation departments specifically geared to youth offenders.

“It’s pretty cool that we’ve got a focus on our kids,” said Butler. “They have different needs…they’re not mini adults and I think a lot of society treats them that way.”

Butler says she enjoys working with kids because they aren’t jaded or cynical like many adults are.

“I think there is a lot of hope working with kids,” Butler says. “…they’re more passionate…they’re more real, I guess. I really enjoy their energy.”

When not teaching a diverse range of courses primarily focused on addictions, high-risk youth and domestic violence, Butler, who is a certified addictions counselor, works with youth who are struggling with drug and alcohol addiction in the Littleton, Douglas County and Cherry Creek school districts.

Butler, who has a seven-year-old daughter, has some simple wisdom for adults trying to relate to and understand young people.

“Listen to kids. It’s huge.”

Over the years, Butler has also learned to listen to her mind, body and soul to understand when she needs to temporarily separate herself from her life’s work. She rollerblades, hikes, kayaks, spends time with her daughter, catches a movie, gets a monthly massage and enjoys the company of friends when she needs a little downtime. She also stresses the importance of eating healthy, drinking plenty of water and getting adequate shuteye to achieving positive life balance.

Getting the opportunity to teach something she loves is a great help to that balance, she adds.

“A lot of my students say they were high-risk youth and now they want to give back,” Butler says. “They’re so passionate about what they do. It’s an honor to be able to share that and to be a mentor in some capacity hopefully...it’s so energizing to do this.”

 © Copyright 2008 by Metropolitan State College of Denver.
 All rights reserved. Metropolitan State College of Denver Office of College Communications, 303-556-2957.