Alaska Children's Trust

06/14/2026

Happy Alaska Children's Day! The second Sunday in June is set aside to honor the children who are Alaska's greatest resource, and that means every child in your life.

Take a moment to picture one of them. Maybe it's the grandchild who runs to the door when you arrive. The niece who calls just to talk. The kid down the street who waves every morning. Your own child or a young person you have watched grow up. Now ask yourself one question: are things getting better for them than they were for you at their age?

For too many Alaska kids, the answer right now is no. Alaska just dropped to 47th in the nation for child well-being, down from 40th a year ago.

Behind that number are kids who are struggling in the classroom, going without health care and growing up in families stretched thin. Here is the hopeful part. Rankings like these come from choices, and choices can change. Children are 24% of Alaska's population. They are 100% of our future, and this November Alaskans will choose a new Governor, fill 50 of 60 seats in the state Legislature, elect a U.S. Senator and send a representative to Congress.

That is why our president and CEO, Trevor Storrs, wrote a new op-ed for Alaska Children's Day. He lays out where our kids stand, what is driving the slide and the one thing every Alaskan can do about it. Vote for Kids.
Read more here: https://www.alaskachildrenstrust.org/blog/childrens-day-2026

06/12/2026

Prevent Together: Alaska's First Statewide Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Plan Is Here! Alaska Children's Trust has launched Prevent Together: Alaska's Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Plan, the state's first statewide framework dedicated to preventing child sexual abuse (CSA).

One in 5 Alaskan children experiences sexual abuse before the age of 18. This plan is how we work together to change that. Developed with input from educators, public health experts, child welfare workers, law enforcement, advocacy organizations and Tribal and community partners, Prevent Together is a 10-year framework built around three priority areas:

Educate and Mobilize Alaskans promotes child protection as a shared adult responsibility and works to reduce the stigma that keeps conversations about CSA from happening.

Cultivate Safer Environments strengthens the physical and online spaces where children live, learn and play by addressing the conditions that put them at risk.

Act Early to Prevent Harm focuses on identifying early signs of problematic sexual behavior and intervening before harm goes further.

This plan belongs to all of us. It was shaped by the time and expertise of community partners across Alaska, and it honors the courage and lived experience of those who have been affected by child sexual abuse.

Read more about this prevention plan here: https://www.alaskachildrenstrust.org/csa-prevention

06/11/2026

"This is a further sign that our state is facing some real challenges when it comes to our children and families. To be ranked 47th in the nation should be a red flag, and we should be asking the questions, "Why are we 47th, and what does it mean to be 47th? We need to step back and really have the honest conversations around what do we need to ensure that our children and families are not just safe but thriving."

Alaska ranked 47th in the nation in a recent analysis of children's overall well-being, after dropping seven places since the last report.

06/09/2026

“We have been seeing year after year the overall trend of Alaska’s investment in children and families going down, and that is automatically going to result in less success or less thriving children and families."

Alaska dropped seven places to rank 47th in the nation in overall child well-being, according to a nationally recognized survey by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

06/08/2026

Alaska Just Dropped to 47th for Our Kids!

The 2026 KIDS COUNT® Data Book is now live. Produced by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, this annual report ranks all 50 states on child well-being across four key domains: economic well-being, education, health and family and community. For the first time, the Foundation also gives each state a score from 0 to 1,000 that tracks how children's lives are changing over time, not just how states compare to one another. Alaska ranks 47th in the nation for overall child well-being, down seven spots from 40th last year.

Key findings for Alaska:

• 13% of children live in poverty
• 78% of fourth graders aren't proficient in reading, 49th nationally
• 78% of eighth graders aren't proficient in math
• 22% of high school students are not graduating on time
• 9% of children lack health insurance
• 8% of children live in high-poverty neighborhoods

Read the full report here: https://www.alaskachildrenstrust.org/kids-count

06/05/2026

Summer break is in full swing in Alaska and that is the perfect time to download some of the free printable materials from our website. Besides keeping the kids occupied, they also provide great conversation starters on a number of important topics. Check it out and share!
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OUR WORKMaterials for Caregivers & EducatorsCaring for one another is one of the grounding values of Alaska Children's Trust. Check out our Care Packages full of activities or browse some of our other publications, including our online safety cards, Strengthening Families coloring book, Random Acts....

06/04/2026

Anchorage families there are free summer food options for children at schools across the city.

Summer is here & so are free meals for kids🍎

Children 18 & under can enjoy free breakfast and lunch at Summer Meal Program sites throughout Anchorage all summer long.

Find a location near you by checking out the schedule, and come share a meal with us!

See you this summer!

06/01/2026

In this illustrated adventure, Jessi and her friends Skeeto and Nuni set out to rescue her sister Marji from the schemes of a notorious villain. Along the way, Jessi learns that the love of family and friends is a stronger force than going it alone.

Storytelling has brought generations together and carried cultural values across time, and it's a central part of Positive Indigenous Parenting, a program ACT has been proud to help bring to families across Alaska over the past two years. Jessi Axl and the Evil Rubber Baron was created by the staff, students and parents of the Ya Ne Dah Ah School in Chickaloon, with support and artwork from Chickaloonies. A modern-day legend and a companion to the program, it brings Ahtna values to life for young readers: hard work, family relations, love for children, sharing and caring, respect for Elders, honoring ancestors and the strength found in unity.
Download for Free: https://www.alaskachildrenstrust.org/materials

05/30/2026

This week, we say goodbye to our 2025-26 Alaska Fellow, Aakriti KC. Aakriti joined ACT last August from Atlanta and immediately embraced all things Alaska. In nine months she made an outsized impact, from supporting our advocacy team in Juneau to taking the lead on Child Abuse Prevention Month, tackling online safety work and managing statewide Youth Cultural Grants.

"I will miss Aakriti both personally and professionally," said her supervisor, Director of Prevention Strategies Addy Peters. "She possesses a wonderful mix of curiosity, skill, humor and a 'can-do' attitude. We were lucky to call her part of our ACT team."

In her own reflection, Aakriti said the experience deepened her appreciation for community-centered prevention. "When I first came to Alaska, I was excited to explore the cross-country trails, go wild ice skating and chase the northern lights. But what I've gained is a much deeper appreciation for the strength of community, the importance of relationship-building, and the interconnectedness of advocacy, culture and prevention."

All of us at ACT wish Aakriti every success in what comes next. We're grateful to the Alaska Fellows Program for their partnership in making this year possible.

05/27/2026

Anchorage families, do you need some diaper support? Diaper donations are also accepted.

https://www.facebook.com/PICAlaska/posts/pfbid025YCtFr6yqLBkUbudgqeszQ3nB42hx7RsHC1XoGTkLUhn9pv5Smb8AnjXEwsap15gl

🗓️ Mark your calendars for the PIC Diaper Pantry!

This Wednesday, May 27, head to our Mountain View office from 12 to 4 pm. We'll be distributing diaper sizes newborn to 6. Families are eligible for one pack of diapers per child. Walk-ins are welcome, but you are encouraged to sign up ahead of time (link below) to save time.

https://www.picak.org/swaddle-me-1