About Us
Volunteers of America
is a nonprofit human service organization dedicated to the relief of
human suffering and the advancement of social justice. It was founded in
1896 by Christian social reformers Ballington and Maud Booth in New
York City. Today Volunteers of America is active in more than 220
communities throughout the United States, helping over one million
people every year. Charity Navigator, the nation’s largest evaluator of
charities has awarded its top rating, 4 stars, to Volunteers of America
for “successfully managing the finances of the organization in an
efficient and effective manner.”
Locally, Volunteers of America Alaska
has stood for compassionate and ethical service since 1981, when it
began offering substance abuse treatment to adolescents at the ARCH
residential treatment facility in Eagle River. Since then we have
expanded to serve over 35,000 people statewide in 2005. We offer a wide
array of services for young children, adolescents, families and the
elderly, which include the following:
Substance Abuse Prevention
Our prevention program consists of education and intervention for 5th through 12th grade students in Anchorage. Prime for Life provides a 20-hour alternative to suspension program for youth suspended from the Anchorage School District. Camp Hope
is a summer camp for 7-11 year old children from throughout the state
whose lives have been impacted by substance abuse in their family. In
addition, our FAScinating Family Camp is held annually for families statewide that care for children affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.
The prevention department further provides support, networking and
respite services for families with grandparents raising grandchildren
statewide (the Grandfamilies Network Project).
Adolescent Substance Abuse and Chemical Dependency Treatment
Volunteers of America Alaska offers a full continuum of treatment services that encompass residential (Adolescent Residential Center for Help — ARCH), outpatient and intensive outpatient (Assist) as well as continuing care programs serving adolescents 12-18 and the affected families. In addition, our Alcohol Information School (Prime for Life)
provides 12 hours of intervention services to youth ages 14-20 who have
received first-time alcohol and other drug-related offenses.
Restorative Justice Services
Restorative Justice Services provide
monitoring for community work service and monetary restitution for the
Division of Juvenile Justice as well as monitoring services for youth
who have received Minor Consuming Alcohol charges. Juvenile
victim impact classes are part of the program, along with
victim-offender and parent-adolescent mediation services through our Resolution Center.
Scholastic Books Giveaway Project
Through a generous donation from Scholastic, Inc.,
Volunteers of America Alaska is able to distribute over 50,000 books
each year to children from low-income families throughout Alaska.
Retired and Senior Volunteer Program
The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program
(RSVP) became a part of Volunteers of America Alaska in 1988, offering
meaningful volunteer opportunities to persons 55 years and older in
South-central Alaska through which they are able to share their
experience and wisdom with others.
For more information, contact us at:
1675 C Street, Ste. 201
Anchorage, Alaska 99501
Tel: (907) 279-9634
Fax: (907) 276-0148