Thrive Mat-Su developing youth programs for fall and coming year

WASILLA — Thrive Mat-Su created a work group and started identifying locals needs at the beginning of the summer. They decided to highlight local youth voices by offering new activities and opportunities to meet their various interests this fall.

United Way of Mat-Su oversees Thrive Mat-Su, a community led coalition made up of locals from all walks of life with the core mission to support local youth and prevent substance misuse through a range of programs, fundraisers and public projects.

United Way outreach coordinator Stephanie Allen said they’re hoping to connect with local businesses to offer youth internships, apprenticeships, job shadowing, and other career and work ethic building opportunities.

“That type of experience for young people is really important,” Allen said.

Thrive Mat-Su holds monthly meetings with groups split into different projects across the Valley, lending their various skills and knowledge to find creative solutions for local youth. Allen said they’re bringing on a part time coordinator for their fall youth activities.

Thrive recently applied for a $32,500 to address mental health, social isolation, and suicide prevention as a result of the impacts of COVID-19.

“We know that this is an extremely difficult time for everyone, but especially difficult for those with mental health challenges, anxiety, depression, and those struggling with substance misuse. While social isolation is helpful to prevent the spread of COVID-19, it has negative effects of contributing to increased loneliness and despair,” Allen said.

Thrive is a data driven operation that conducts a community survey every other spring to navigate their future efforts. The next one comes in the spring of 2021. According to the last survey, one in five Valley youth have thought about suicide.

“We should be appalled by that number,” Allen said. “There’s definitely more work to do.”

Allen noted that the deadline to participate in the 2020 census is Sept. 30 and stressed the importance of filling it out. She said their federal funding depends on data from sources like the census. People have the ability to fill out the census online for the first time this year.

Allen said Alaska ranks second to last in the U.S. in overall participation.

“It’s very easy to do but we need to do a big push,” Allen said.

For more information about Thrive Mat-Su, visit unitedwaymatsu.org/our-work/coalitions/thrive-mat-su

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com