VOA Alaska

05/28/2026

As Mental Health Awareness Month comes to a close, we want to share a huge "Thank You" to our friends at Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield! 💙

To kick off the month, Premera didn't just fund our new Mental Wellness Kits—their amazing staff actually rolled up their sleeves to help us build them! Together, we assembled 350 kits that are now being shared with youth and families in our community.

Each item in the kit was picked with a purpose:
🎨 Sketchbooks & Colored Pencils: To get thoughts out of the head and onto paper.
🖐️ Scented Dough & Sensory Strips: For calming tactile grounding and stress relief.
🌀 Fidget Spinners: To help channel restless energy and improve focus.
🧘 Coloring Cards & Lip Balm: Simple tools for mindfulness and self-care.

While May is ending, the need to stay aware and prioritize our mental well-being never stops. These kits are a tangible reminder that wellness is a year-round journey, and we are so grateful to the Premera team for helping us provide these resources to our community. 🤝🌈

05/25/2026

Today, we pause to honor and remember the brave individuals who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. 🇺🇸

VOA Alaska’s offices are closed today, Monday, May 25, in observance of Memorial Day. We will resume normal operations tomorrow morning.

If you or a loved one are experiencing a mental health crisis, please reach out for immediate support:
Careline Alaska: Call 877-266-4357
Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
National Su***de & Crisis Lifeline: Call or Text 988

We hope you have a safe and peaceful day of reflection.

05/21/2026

Tomorrow marks the very last day of the school year for our School-Based Clinicians, which means summer break is officially in full effect!

We couldn't let the school year wrap up without celebrating this incredible crew (pictured here in their full "Barrel of Monkeys" glory!). Hand-in-hand, they have spent the school year linking arms with students, teachers, and families across Anchorage—ensuring that no young person has to navigate their challenges alone.

We are so incredibly proud of the dedication, heart, and joy they bring into our local schools every single day.

While our School-Based Clinicians are wrapping up their school-year schedules, VOA Alaska’s support doesn't take a summer vacation. The transition into summer break can disrupt daily routines, structure, and peer connections for kids and teens.

Our doors remain wide open all summer long for counseling, family support, and community resources to ensure our youth continue to have More Good Days, Together.

Thank you to our amazing school-based team, and cheers to a safe, healthy, and happy summer!

05/07/2026

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, but this week is especially close to our hearts at VOA Alaska: it’s Children’s Mental Health Week.

This image of discovery and connection perfectly captures why we do what we do. Mental wellness for our youth isn't just about big conversations; it’s about the small moments—feeling safe to explore, having someone to walk beside you, and knowing that your community has your back.

At VOA Alaska, we know that when we support a child’s mental health, we are supporting the future of our entire state. From our school-based services to our community programs, our goal is to ensure every young person has, "More Good Days, Together."

This May, and especially this week, we invite you to:

Acknowledge: Talk to the young people in your life about their feelings.

Empower: Remind them that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

Connect: Support VOA Alaska’s mission to provide low-to-no-cost care for families across the state.

Mental health starts at the beginning. Let’s make sure our children have the tools they need to navigate life’s waters with confidence.

05/01/2026

Today marks the final day of Child Abuse Prevention Month, but for us at VOA Alaska, the mission doesn't have a closing date.

We are wrapping up the month with a powerful reminder: our youth are not just people we protect—they are the leaders, advocates, and hearts of this movement. When we invest in their mental health, provide safe spaces for their voices, and build strong community connections, we are fueling a future full of possibility.

💙 We want to extend our deepest gratitude to the Alaska Children’s Trust for providing our community with the vital resources and materials used throughout this month. Their partnership ensures that every Alaskan has the tools to help children thrive.

As the pinwheels stop spinning in our front yards, let’s make sure the support systems they represent keep moving year-round. 🏔️

Thank you, Anchorage, for "Going Blue" with us.

Whether it’s through our rapid-access mental health services or our community programs, VOA Alaska is proud to be part of your safety net today, tomorrow, and every day after.

📞 Call or Text: (907) 279-9640
🌐 Visit: voaak.org

04/24/2026

VOA KINSHIP CARE PROGRAM | Preventing child abuse takes all of us — strong communities and statewide partners working together.

Today’s SUPPORT spotlight is VOA Alaska Kinship Care Program: ()

The VOA Alaska Kinship Care Program is a one-of-a-kind, statewide program providing resources and support for Alaskans caring for their family members’ children.

VOA Alaska Kinship Care program provides family services for fulltime caregivers of grandchildren, siblings, nieces and nephews, or other extended family members.

LEARN MORE: https://voaak.org/services/family/kinship/

Explore Child Abuse Prevention Month: PreventChildAbuse.alaska.gov.

04/23/2026

We are so proud of our Board Chair, Lee Post! 🥳

Lee was recently honored with the Leadership Anchorage Mentor Award by the Alaska Humanities Forum. Whether he is advocating for Alaska’s youth in our boardrooms or inspiring them through his art, Lee leads with genuine heart and dedication.

Check out the original post below to learn more about Lee’s incredible impact on our community.

Congratulations, Lee! We are lucky to have you leading the way at VOA Alaska. ✨

The winner of this year's Leadership Anchorage Mentor Award is Lee Post! ✨

Lee is an illustrator, art educator, graphic recorder, and youth advocate. A lifelong Alaskan raised in the Mat‑Su Valley, he has created art across Alaska, often supporting nonprofits, local government, and public health initiatives. His comics classes —offered in libraries and schools—provide a free, welcoming space for youth and adults to explore art and share their stories. Alongside his art practice, Lee spent decades working with at‑risk youth for the State of Alaska as a social worker and juvenile probation officer, ultimately becoming the chief juvenile probation officer for the Anchorage region.

Lee was in the Leadership Anchorage 14 cohort, and he has been a mentor to LA alumni Brennon Land (LA25) and Tory Shanklin (LA28). His mentor in LA was Julie Decker, Executive Director of the Anchorage Museum. Lee also chairs the board of VOA Alaska, which provides youth substance use and mental health treatment, including school‑based interventions, kinship care, and Alaska’s only residential juvenile substance abuse program.

"I admire how he builds purpose into his life… through connections to causes and people in our community," wrote his nominator. “Leadership isn’t always about holding the highest office, being the most public-facing, or supervising the largest team. Sometimes, it’s about living life with genuine enthusiasm, building meaningful relationships, and committing to help others grow. Lee embodies this.”

We are thrilled for Lee, and look forward to celebrating him on May 8!

04/21/2026

Happy Tuesday, Anchorage!

As we move through the final full week of Child Abuse Prevention Month, we’re focusing on the Power of One. It’s easy to feel like prevention is a "big" systemic issue, but at its heart, it’s about simple human connection. We see it every day at VOA Alaska:

💙 One adult who listens can change a child’s entire day.
💙 One friend who offers a hand can ease a parent’s stress.
💙 One phone call can be the bridge to a lifetime of wellness.

You don't have to be a superhero to be a protector—you just have to be present. The blue pinwheel our team is holding today represents the bright, healthy childhood every Alaskan kid deserves. We are proud to be a part of the safety net that makes those childhoods possible.

How can you be the "one" today? Sometimes it’s as simple as sharing a resource. If you know a young person or a family in need of support, we are here to help.

📞 Call: (907) 279-9640
🌐 Visit: voaak.org

04/17/2026

Sometimes, prevention looks like sticky hands and blue slime!

Sensory play and creative expression are more than just fun—they are vital for a child’s development and emotional well-being. At VOA Alaska, we believe every child deserves the space to be messy, curious, and fully themselves.

As we continue through Child Abuse Prevention Month, we are celebrating the small, joyful moments that build strong foundations for our kids. Whether it's through art, play, or community events, we are here to support the joy in every Alaskan childhood.

Want to keep the "blue" energy going?
Check out the latest family resources and toolkits from our friends at Alaska Children’s Trust:
🔗 alaskachildrenstrust.org

And remember, if you or a family you know needs a little extra support, our team is only a call or text away.

📞 (907) 279-9640
🌐 voaak.org

04/10/2026

It’s Go Blue Day, and we are ready to celebrate with our community. Check out the ad for tonight’s Go Blue Family Activity Fair—we can’t wait to see you there!

At VOA Alaska, we know that prevention doesn't end when the event is over. We are here year-round to provide a safety net for Alaska’s youth and families. From mental health support to substance use services, we empower our community to build resilience and hope.

Need support today? If you or a young person in your life needs help navigating mental health or wellness challenges, don’t wait. Connect with our team to learn more about our rapid-access services:

📞 Call/Text: (907) 279-9640
🌐 Visit: voaak.org

For more statewide prevention tools, visit Alaska Children’s Trust:
🔗 alaskachildrenstrust.org

Let’s turn out for our kids and keep the momentum going! See you at 5:00!