About
Our What
Education For a Lifetime (EFL) promotes conversations around relationships and mental health, with an emphasis on sexual activity and suicide prevention. While advocating for optimal whole-person health, EFL focuses on removing stigma around these topics.
Our Mission
For every student to have healthy, non-violent relationships, as well as access to help and hope to live purposefully.
We accomplish our mission through…
- Our programs for students: Pursue and Who Can Relate
- Our program for parents: Parent Talks
- Our trainings for educators and youth workers: Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
- Our mental health presentations
Our Where
We are located on the west side of Colorado Springs and have been partnering with our community for almost four decades. We are passionate about providing relevant, research-driven education and resources for students, parents/trusted adults, and faith communities.
Local High Schools and Middle Schools
You can find one of our staff speakers or volunteer speakers throughout almost every district in Colorado Springs. Currently, we teach our programs in Pueblo, Colorado Springs, Woodland Park, and Cripple Creek schools. If you would like to have Pursue High School, Pursue Middle School, or Who Can Relate in your school, please contact us for more information or to schedule us to teach in your school.
We also train teachers and school staff in Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). Please contact us for more information or to schedule a course.
Throughout Our Local and Neighboring Communities
We are instructors and speakers with several years of experience in the education, health, mental health, and suicide prevention arenas. All our staff have been certified in YMHFA and ACEs, and are Mandatory Reporters of Child Abuse and Neglect in Colorado. Some of us also have QPR, trafficking prevention, at-risk youth, nursing, and Teen Mental Health First Aid instructor (TMHFA) training.
We are currently instructing adults who work with youth/parents/adult advocates in YMHFA and ACEs. Please contact us for more information or to schedule a course.
We also are available for speaking engagements, conferences, and symposiums for Parent Talks or for mental health presentations. Please contact us for more information or to schedule a presentation.
Our Team
Allen Hunter
Director
Allen is a Colorado native, and now calls Colorado Springs his home. His focus is on community outreach and engagement. He loves to lead the next generation to find a deeper meaning to life. Allen has worked with youth and families for more than 25 years in nonprofits and schools. He holds a Master’s Degree in Youth, Family & Culture. He is also a Mandatory Reporter of Child Abuse and Neglect in Colorado. Allen is certified in Youth Mental Health First Aid, Adverse Childhood Experiences, and is a Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructor. Allen and his wife enjoy riding their tandem bicycle and they continue to grow their parenting skills with their three adult children.
Laiken Gifford
Assistant Director
Laiken was born and raised in Canon City, Colorado. She went to West Texas A&M to pursue her degree in Advertising and Public Relations. She is happy to now be back in her home state in Colorado Springs. Laiken has been an advocate for mental health throughout her life, and particularly after her dad passed away from suicide in 2011. She is certified in Youth Mental Health First Aid, and is a Mandatory Reporter of Child Abuse and Neglect in Colorado. She has a passion for young adults who may need a listening ear or a trusted adult in their life. Laiken is happily married. She enjoys traveling the world with her husband, playing board games, and snuggling her dog, Lucy, and her cat, Clyde. Laiken always wants to live her life by the quote, “Live life to the fullest, and make a difference along the way.”
Sienna Adams
Lead Speaker
Sienna has worked at Education For a Lifetime since January of 2021 as a Pursue and Who Can Relate speaker. She became vigorously involved in multiple suicide prevention programs and groups throughout El Paso County starting in 2016, after surviving a suicide cluster at her high school. She is glad to be part of the Education For a Lifetime team and continue her work with youth suicide prevention. Sienna is certified in Youth Mental Health First Aid, Adverse Childhood Experiences, QPR, and is a Sexual Risk Avoidance Specialist. She is a Teen Mental Health First Aid Instructor, a Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructor, and a Mandatory Reporter of Child Abuse and Neglect in Colorado. Sienna loves to experience new things and enjoys playing DND with her friends. Her constant goal is to change the world!
Taylor Verville
EFL Speaker
Taylor is a Colorado native, originally from beautiful Northern Colorado. She attended University of Washington, earning her degree in American & Ethnic Studies, and Community Psychology. She has spent most of her career working in community organizing and policy. Now, Taylor is passionate about guiding young people to the truth of who they are – needed, valued, and loved. When she is not working, you can find her hiking, creating music, or with friends and family.
