After-school activity aims to support kids, families

Alaska Children’s Trust is the statewide lead organization in the prevention of child abuse and neglect. The nonprofit organization has worked since 1988 toward its goal of ensuring that all Alaskan children and youth have the tools and resources necessary to grow up safe and healthy, and that all children, youth, and families can thrive.

Much of ACT’s focus is on “primary prevention,” which aims to prevent child abuse and neglect before it occurs. Family support is key in this approach that helps build parental resilience while reducing children’s exposure to adverse childhood experiences.

ACT’s recent annual Kids Count initiative revealed some sobering statistics. Among them, 55,000 children have parents who lack secure employment. Eight percent of children statewide lack health insurance. Academically, 76% of Alaska 4th graders are not proficient in reading, and 77% of 8th graders are not proficient in math.

The Kids Count survey is part of the regular research undertaken to help ACT decide where to focus its efforts. Thomas Azzarella, executive director of ACT’s Alaska Afterschool Network, said the data is an important tool in ensuring positive results.

“Work becomes more intentional,” he said. “It helps us put things into action that lead to better outcomes for kids.”

The Alaska Afterschool Network is the only statewide organization dedicated to increasing after-school learning opportunities for school-age children and youth. With funding from the Mat-Su Health Foundation, the network was founded 11 years ago to expand access to high-quality after-school programs to take the burden off working parents and caregivers and giving them peace of mind that their children were in good hands during out-of-school hours.

Studies have shown that after-school programs are likely to increase academic and health outcomes and decrease the odds of youth engaging in risky behaviors. The programs have the added benefit of giving kids access to other trusted adults, while encouraging positive experiences.

“Decades of research show high-quality programming is more likely to produce high-quality outcomes for youth,” Azzarella said. “The quality of after-school programming is a proxy for youth outcomes.”

Another Mat-Su Health Foundation grant, this one in July for $25,000, will help ensure that the mission continues unabated.

“The Mat-Su has one of the highest demands for after-school programming,” he said. “The health foundation has really been there as a collaborating partner from the beginning of our network. I commend them for their focus on ensuring Mat-Su youth are healthy and thriving. There is a huge amount of need locally.”

The Mat-Su Health Foundation has been investing in community wellness since 2007. As part owner of the Mat-Su Regional Medical Center, the foundation channels its share of profits back into the community, while helping to ensure that the hospital continues to meet the needs of a growing population. To date, it has invested more than $130 million around the Valley.

“The Mat-Su Health Foundation has been a key investor in our work,” Azzarella said. “They have ensured that local interests are seen and heard inside our statewide collaboration.”

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