Shelter's work celebrated

CASEY RESSLER

Valley Life editor

In a perfect world, there wouldn't be a need for the nondescript duplex-looking house in Wasilla where the Dorothy Saxton Youth Shelter is located. But since it isn't a perfect world, the youth shelter is open, and has done amazing things in the community for the last 10 years.

On Wednesday, board members and the general public celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the shelter, which Kids Are People Executive Director Rich McGill said has helped almost 2,000 kids.

"I strongly believe that every child has the right to three meals a day, a warm bed and a place with a safe roof over their head," said Kids Are People Inc. President Anne Drago. "That's what we give kids here at the shelter, if they have no other place to get those things."

The Saxton Youth Shelter has 11 beds, and can serve up to 10 youth, who come to the shelter through a number of different ways.

"We have referrals from agencies, from the police departments, and even the kids can just walk in," McGill said. "We have a great reputation among the kids that they know they can come here.

"We try to make it as 'home' feeling as we can," McGill continued. "We try to form bonds and relationships with the kids, and our ultimate goal is the unification of their family."

The facility isn't a "jail" of any sorts - the door is unlocked, and if kids want to leave, they are more than welcome to.

"This isn't lockdown for them," McGill said. "I think we've had one kid walk this summer. Mostly, they stay."

There are three categories of kids who go to the shelter.

First, there are kids who just need a timeout from their families. They may be going through some tough times at home, and just need some time away.

Secondly, there are long-term kids, who may have some more chronic problems that need to be addressed.

Finally, there are state custody teens who are in transitional stages.

"Some kids may stay here three to five days, others may stay a couple months," McGill said. "We work with a number of agencies. When the kids are here, we try to stabilize them and start normalizing their routines."

The average stay is 10-12 days, McGill said.

During those 10-12 days, kids can expect a routine that includes regular meal times, regular study times, and a regular bed time. On weekends, the group of shelter residents and staff may do an outdoor activity, such as head to Hatcher Pass.

"Our mission is to reintegrate them into their families, and into the community," McGill said.

For the board of directors and the staff, making a contribution to the youth of the Valley keeps them coming back.

"Just recently, we had a 19-year-old girl come back who was here when she was 16. She told us that there's no doubt in her mind that if it wasn't for us and the shelter, she'd be dead by now," McGill said. "That's when you know you are making a difference."

Drago said she is involved with the organization because of the positive changes it offers kids who are headed in bad directions.

"For a lot of kids, there really isn't an alternative to staying at the shelter, and that's why they come here," Drago said. "I have two big soft spots in my heart - one for children, and the other for animals."

The staff is under the Kids Are People Inc. umbrella of programs. McGill took over the executive director position for John Stein, who saw the organization through the first nine years.

"We are all here today in large part to John, and the work that he did to help get the shelter going," McGill told the crowd Wednesday.

Also housed at the shelter is the Juvenile Assessment Center, where a clinician provides comprehensive behavioral health assessments and referrals for children and families.

More than 2,300 assessments, 840 safety screenings and 40 family mediations have been performed since the Juvenile Assessment Center opened its doors on Oct. 1, 2000.

For more information about all of Kids Are People Inc. programs, interested people can call the agency at 376-6016.