“Because of my interest in psychology I knew that it would be wonderful to work at an organization that understands that psychology plays an important role in health issues, abuse, and trauma.”

Creating a stronger and healthier family dynamic takes work- it takes intentionally setting aside time to spend with your kids, doing things that they enjoy, and providing space for them to open up to you. With just a month left before children and youth across Alaska start going back to school, we encourage you to find some of that space in the outdoors!

For centuries, people have used a compass for navigation and orientation, allowing them to confidently move toward their desired destination. For over 30 years, the Alaska Children’s Trust (ACT) has been steadfast in our mission to prevent child abuse and neglect. But how we would achieve that mission was never clear. We were missing our compass.

Alaska Children’s Trust is disappointed and saddened to see less and less investment in our most precious resources – children and youth - while Alaska continually increases our investment in costly and non-impactful services like corrections.

This month, Indigenous people across our continent are in mourning. Wounds from the past have resurfaced due to over 900 children’s graves being uncovered at residential schools in Canada. We at Alaska Children’s Trust firmly stand with Alaska Native people, and all Indigenous peoples, as they go through the pain and start the long healing process that will follow this and future discoveries – discoveries that were already known by Native communities but are finally receiving widespread press and criticism in the news.

This is an excerpted impact story from our Annual Report. Joining together with like-minded organizations across Alaska “not only gave us a good gauge of where we were at in our trauma-informed efforts, but it also provided a space for us to share ideas,” says Cayla Pook of Youth Advocates of Sitka.

This is an excerpted impact story from our Annual Report. “It starts here, it starts now.” Those were the words of a parent finishing Iñupiaq culture-based parenting classes. The classes are hosted by the Maniilaq Association and focus on reintegrating traditional Illitqusait values and family roles into parenting through a program funded, in part, by Alaska Children’s Trust.

This is an excerpted impact story from our Annual Report. Cora and Brianna are two children alike in many ways: both 3-year-old, smiley, responsive toddlers starting to grasp potty training and other key developmental milestones, both immensely loved – but with different situations in life.

Price per barrel of oil. Size of the PFD. Number of natural resource development projects. Our metrics of Alaska’s well-being as a state revolve around economic outcomes – not how our children and families are doing. We need to expand the framework in which we measure our well-being as a state.

The Fatherhood is Sacred program focuses on redefining fatherhood and bringing traditional roles back for Sitka’s fathers, grandfathers, and uncles. The Fatherhood is Sacred program is a nationwide effort to develop a deeper understanding of the importance of responsible fathers through Native American and Alaska Native values. The curriculum speaks to “an immediate need to bring men back to strengthen families— they are the greatest untapped resource”.

BREAKING: On Monday, May 10, the FDA cleared the Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine for children ages 12-15.

Anna McGovern is an employee at Alaska Children’s Trust who gave birth to her second son, Brooks, this winter. Anna graciously took time to sit down and discuss her experience giving birth in the midst of a pandemic as well as actionable tools for friends and family as they support new moms and pregnant moms in Alaska.

This Mother's Day, Alaska Children's Trust is taking time to celebrate all of the Women Who Shape Us- the moms, aunties, wives, sisters, teachers, coaches who have had a lasting impact on our hearts and minds. Here are some of the stories we collected from supporters, staff, and friends about the women who helped shape them.

History & Hope is making change in Alaska. This revolutionary training teaches the audience about Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and gives participants the tools to help conquer and move past them.

Children hold the greatest potential of ensuring the strongest future for Alaska and as stewards of children, adults have a shared obligation to foster and protect them. This means ensuring families gain the knowledge, skills, supports and resources they need to create a safe, stable, and nurturing environment for children.

Meet the three new members of the ACT board: Joel, Montean, and R.C.

“A year ago, Asian Americans across the United States were calling for allies, for fear that a surge of hate would follow the continuous flippantly racist remarks being made in the media about COVID-19. We all saw this coming”

This school year has looked different across our state, with some schools open, some fully virtual, and others a bit of both. No matter how your child is learning, it is likely that you, as a parent, have been left with unanswered questions about how to navigate this new terrain.

Alaska Children’s Trust and nearly 20 partners joined together for this virtual mayoral forum where candidates discussed their perspectives and plans on topics that affect Anchorage’s children and families, including high-quality education, family economic security, gender pay equity, and more.