Category: Youth Behavioral Health

An alternative high school in Anchorage is focusing on mental health to help students graduate

April 20, 2022

At Benny Benson, VOA’s school-based clinician is a key part of a team committed to helping students graduate.

Child leaning on tree towards camera and laughing

Social and Emotional Competence of Children: Protective Factor #5

April 6, 2022

When kids learn to understand not only their emotions but the emotions of others, they set a foundation of intentional interpersonal interactions for the rest of their lives.

Family of four speaking with a counselor

Concrete Support in Times of Need: Protective Factor #4

April 6, 2022

When a family feels overwhelmed or is in a heightened amount of stress, concrete support means they’ll have the resources available, and the knowledge to access them, to help meet their basic needs

Parent and child facing each other on couch in conversation

Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development: Protective Factor #3

April 6, 2022

It’s all about knowing what to expect and when to expect it from your children so you can create healthy environments for them to grow up in.

Social Connections: Protective Factor #2

April 6, 2022

When children have these positive relationships in their life, they understand they are worth caring for. They also see firsthand what a healthy relationship looks like.

Parent helping child with homework at kitchen table.

Parental Resilience: Protective Factor #1

April 6, 2022

Being a parent can be stressful! Part of being resilient is realizing that “fixing” things is not always the answer.

5 Creative Ways VOA’s Clinicians Help Young Alaskans Understand Their Feelings

March 24, 2022

Therapy looks different for everyone, so here are 5 creative ways we help our youth express, discuss, and understand their thoughts and feelings in a safe and supportive environment.

VOA Alaska on the Mental Health Mosaics Podcast

February 28, 2022

VOA Alaska is excited and honored to participate in the Mental Health Mosaics project from Out North, which includes a podcast featuring a few members of our team.

Two staff and a client standing with sledding innertubes outside in the snow

Embracing our Shared Resiliency: A Message from CEO Julia Luey

February 1, 2022

Julia reflects on the past year and shares how our team came together with a renewed sense of resiliency to face challenges and continue serving Alaska’s youth and families.