Alaska Children's Trust

The Alaska Children's Trust is excited to announce that our very own Anna McGovern, Alaska Afterschool Network's Afterschool Program Specialist, has been selected as a 2024-2025 White-Riley-Peterson (WRP) Policy Fellow! The WRP Policy Fellowship is run by the @rileyinstitute at Furman University and equips participants with a real-world understanding of the art, science, possibilities, and realities of policy-making around afterschool and expanded learning. For the next 10 months, Anna will be learning how to improve afterschool programs and opportunities in the state of Alaska. We can’t wait to see what wonderful things these fellows do across the country! Learn more about the fellowship at furman.edu/wrpfellowship

🧸 Calling All Families and Caregivers in Alaska! 🧸 The Alaska Children's Trust is developing a tool specifically designed for Alaskans with children ages 3-7 and their caregivers. We need your valuable input to ensure this tool meets your needs! 📋 By participating in this short survey, you’re helping us create something truly useful for our community. Plus, you’ll have a chance to enter a Giveaway for a $50 Amazon gift card! 🎉 (Make sure to provide your contact info if you want to participate in the giveaway.) 🔗 Take the survey here: https://lnkd.in/gGz8C_Jj Your feedback is incredibly important—thank you for helping us build a brighter future for Alaskan families! 💙 #AlaskaChildrensTrust #AlaskanFamilies #Caregivers #Survey #CommunitySupport #AmazonGiftCard #Giveaway #FeedbackMatters

We are thrilled to celebrate Jodi Stuart, who was recognized as a Champion for Kids at the Soldotna Rotary Club meeting last Thursday! 🎉 Jodi's unwavering dedication to improving the lives of children impacted by adverse childhood experiences is truly inspiring. As she said, "I never want to see another child be kicked out at 7. That should never happen in this town. It should never happen on the peninsula. It should not happen in our state. It should not be allowed." Her passion and commitment have made a significant impact on countless young lives, and we couldn't be more proud to see her honored for her incredible work. 👉 Read more about Jodi's journey and her contributions in the Peninsula Clarion article: https://lnkd.in/gtxYgKmA Please join us in congratulating Jodi on this well-deserved recognition! 👏 #ChampionForKids #CommunityHero #ChildAdvocacy #AlaskaChildren #RotaryClub

Each year, Alaska Children’s Trust recognizes individuals who demonstrate dedication and commitment in working to ensure that children and youth are living in safe, supportive, and nurturing communities. We call these individuals Champions for Kids. Meet our 2024 Champions for Kids, Jodi, Hank, Kay, and Carolyn, and meet one extra special awardee, Dr. Cathy Baldwin-Johnson: https://lnkd.in/gSBTUZbu

Platform Launch! Introducing STORIESACT.ORG - ACT’s Storytelling Platform! We are introducing a space where Alaskans can share their stories of child abuse and neglect, and come together to build a community of hope. At Alaska Children’s Trust, we believe that every story matters and has the power to create change. Our platform, StoriesACT.org, is designed to: 📢 Share: Collect stories from survivors of child abuse and neglect, giving voice to experiences that deserve to be heard. Users can share a narrative or artwork. ❤️ Heal: Foster understanding and empathy through reading the experiences of others, contributing to healing journeys and learning about what we can do to help prevent abuse and neglect. 💪 Empower: Encourage others by showing the strength found in storytelling and the impact it can have on our community. We want to hear your story. Whether you’re reflecting on past experiences, celebrating healing, or simply sharing an ongoing journey, this platform is for you. Together, we can create a wave of change that starts with the power of your voice. Swipe through to learn more about how you can participate and make a difference. #storiesact #AlaskaChildrensTrust #storytelling #Healing #communitysupport #Resilience and #empowerment

Join our expanding team! ACT is now hiring for a Director of Individual Giving, a candidate with excellent interpersonal skills ready to create strategies for engaging with donors about our mission in deep, meaningful ways. Transferrable skills in sales and various other fields can be applicable! Reach out with questions, or find the full job posting: https://lnkd.in/gdAtqZrb

New Anchorage Child Care and Early Education Fund Seeks Board Members! At last weeks Regular Assembly Meeting, the Anchorage Assembly unanimously approved AO 2024-61(S-1), As Amended, to establish a board to advise the Mayor and the Assembly on the use of the Anchorage Child Care and Early Education (ACCEE) Fund. As of last week, the Office of Mayor LaFrance has opened board applications. The Municipality of Anchorage invites community members to apply now: https://bit.ly/46gomw6

Congratulations to past ACT board member Reggie Joule, who served in the Alaska State Legislature, as mayor of the Northwest Arctic Borough, and is an accomplished athlete, on winning the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics sportsmanship award. ACT is a proud supporter of traditional games, and values the connections they offer for multi-generational bonding, communities coming together, and strong and supportive adults for our youth! “I’m a little bit older now, and I wanted my grandchildren to be able to see that, you know, even with just a little bit of age, it doesn’t mean you have to stop doing some of the things that you enjoy. To have my son competing as well, it made it even more special" - Reggie Joule Read it here: https://lnkd.in/g9W72Pv2

Without child care covered, many foster parents wouldn't be able to afford being a foster parent. "I would no longer be able to continue fostering kiddos in need or supporting reunification. For long-term planning, it would also impact my ability to adopt kids," said foster parent Ashli Mackey. Fortunately, Alaska foster families just heard that there will be another year of fully funded child care! Read more: https://lnkd.in/ggMZjs2u

Last week, ACT partnered with Providence Alaska to host a screening of Inside Out 2, a new Disney Pixar movie that focuses on managing emotions and finding healthy ways to balance them. We were joined by ACT donors and children from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Alaska, Friends of Alaska CASA, VOA Alaska, and the Hmong Cultural Center summer program to watch this special film and have a conversation about emotions and what programs are out there to help kids and youth. The kids LOVED the movie, and ACT created a special activity guide to go along with it to help parents, mentors, and kids think critically about the film's lessons. Kids were asked for ways they ease anxiety in their life and to create, explain, and draw an emotion they feel should be added to the movie. One grandparent guardian remarked that she needed her grandson's paper back to give it to his clinician, citing that it helped her understand her grandson and better! You too can now use the Inside Out printable sheet when you see the movie, access it here: https://lnkd.in/g8ASKKHP