Services
Volunteers of America Alaska is a national faith-based nonprofit providing a ministry of services dedicated to the relief of human suffering and the advancement of social justice. Founded in 1896 by Christian social reformers, Maud and Ballington Booth, we continue to provide services to the most vulnerable in our communities. We began providing residential substance abuse treatment for adolescents in Alaska in 1981. Our services have grown to include programs to meet needs of children, adolescents, families and the senior community.
Adolescent Substance Abuse and Chemical Dependency Treatment
Volunteers of America Alaska adolescent treatment programs have been designed in an innovative manner to effectively intervene on youth with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health disorders ages 12–18. A full continuum of care has been established to allow individualized services and care in the least restrictive environment possible. Components include assessment, outpatient, intensive outpatient (Assist), residential (ARCH) and continuing care programs. A centralized intake and assessment component provides a single point of entry for all programs. All programs incorporate evidence based practices to increase positive outcomes for the youth served.
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 with the Grandfamilies Network Project.
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.
Retired and Senior Volunteer Program
The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program
(RSVP) became a part of Volunteers of America Alaska in 1988. RSVP is a program geared for retired seniors 55 years and older in the Anchorage and Mat-Su area. RSVP helps transform the talents, energy, wisdom and experiences of seniors into meaningful and lasting contributions to the community. RSVP volunteers enrich their own lives through this program as well as others.
Scholastic Books Giveaway Project
Through a generous donation from Scholastic, Inc., Volunteers of America Alaska is able to distribute over 5,000 books each year to children from low-income families throughout Alaska.
Communities Mobilizing for Change on Alcohol (CMCA)
CMCA was launched in mid 2009, this is a community organizing effort designed to change policies and practices of major community institutions in ways that reduce access of alcohol to teenagers by using environmental strategies.