VOA Alaska had the honor of hosting Representative Mary Peltola at ARCH, our residential treatment center serving youth with co-occurring substance use and mental health challenges.
Alaska’s congresswoman first met with our leadership to learn about VOA Alaska’s impact through the services we provide to youth, young adults, and their families. They also discussed Alaska’s youth mental health crisis, and the need for greater investment to build out a more comprehensive behavioral health system of care for Alaska’s youth.
Afterward, a youth resident provided a tour of ARCH, showing the classrooms, gym, kitchen, therapy rooms, and the residential wing.
At the end of the tour, the youth resident providing the tour presented Representative Peltola with a painting he had made for her during art group earlier that day.
Representative Peltola stayed for dinner, spoke with the residents about her own challenging life experiences, and encouraged them in their recovery and healing journeys. They asked her great questions like, “How did you get to where you are now,” and “What does it feel like to be able to help?”
Thank you, Representative Peltola, for visiting ARCH. We look forward to our continued collaboration with you, alongside Senators Murkowski and Sullivan, on removing barriers to care for Alaska’s youth.
