Alaska Children's Trust

06/08/2026

Alaska Just Dropped to 47th for Our Kids!

The 2026 KIDS COUNT® Data Book is now live. Produced by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, this annual report ranks all 50 states on child well-being across four key domains: economic well-being, education, health and family and community. For the first time, the Foundation also gives each state a score from 0 to 1,000 that tracks how children's lives are changing over time, not just how states compare to one another. Alaska ranks 47th in the nation for overall child well-being, down seven spots from 40th last year.

Key findings for Alaska:

• 13% of children live in poverty
• 78% of fourth graders aren't proficient in reading, 49th nationally
• 78% of eighth graders aren't proficient in math
• 22% of high school students are not graduating on time
• 9% of children lack health insurance
• 8% of children live in high-poverty neighborhoods

Read the full report here: https://www.alaskachildrenstrust.org/kids-count

06/05/2026

Summer break is in full swing in Alaska and that is the perfect time to download some of the free printable materials from our website. Besides keeping the kids occupied, they also provide great conversation starters on a number of important topics. Check it out and share!
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OUR WORKMaterials for Caregivers & EducatorsCaring for one another is one of the grounding values of Alaska Children's Trust. Check out our Care Packages full of activities or browse some of our other publications, including our online safety cards, Strengthening Families coloring book, Random Acts....

06/04/2026

Anchorage families there are free summer food options for children at schools across the city.

Summer is here & so are free meals for kids🍎

Children 18 & under can enjoy free breakfast and lunch at Summer Meal Program sites throughout Anchorage all summer long.

Find a location near you by checking out the schedule, and come share a meal with us!

See you this summer!

06/01/2026

In this illustrated adventure, Jessi and her friends Skeeto and Nuni set out to rescue her sister Marji from the schemes of a notorious villain. Along the way, Jessi learns that the love of family and friends is a stronger force than going it alone.

Storytelling has brought generations together and carried cultural values across time, and it's a central part of Positive Indigenous Parenting, a program ACT has been proud to help bring to families across Alaska over the past two years. Jessi Axl and the Evil Rubber Baron was created by the staff, students and parents of the Ya Ne Dah Ah School in Chickaloon, with support and artwork from Chickaloonies. A modern-day legend and a companion to the program, it brings Ahtna values to life for young readers: hard work, family relations, love for children, sharing and caring, respect for Elders, honoring ancestors and the strength found in unity.
Download for Free: https://www.alaskachildrenstrust.org/materials

05/30/2026

This week, we say goodbye to our 2025-26 Alaska Fellow, Aakriti KC. Aakriti joined ACT last August from Atlanta and immediately embraced all things Alaska. In nine months she made an outsized impact, from supporting our advocacy team in Juneau to taking the lead on Child Abuse Prevention Month, tackling online safety work and managing statewide Youth Cultural Grants.

"I will miss Aakriti both personally and professionally," said her supervisor, Director of Prevention Strategies Addy Peters. "She possesses a wonderful mix of curiosity, skill, humor and a 'can-do' attitude. We were lucky to call her part of our ACT team."

In her own reflection, Aakriti said the experience deepened her appreciation for community-centered prevention. "When I first came to Alaska, I was excited to explore the cross-country trails, go wild ice skating and chase the northern lights. But what I've gained is a much deeper appreciation for the strength of community, the importance of relationship-building, and the interconnectedness of advocacy, culture and prevention."

All of us at ACT wish Aakriti every success in what comes next. We're grateful to the Alaska Fellows Program for their partnership in making this year possible.

05/27/2026

Anchorage families, do you need some diaper support? Diaper donations are also accepted.

https://www.facebook.com/PICAlaska/posts/pfbid025YCtFr6yqLBkUbudgqeszQ3nB42hx7RsHC1XoGTkLUhn9pv5Smb8AnjXEwsap15gl

🗓️ Mark your calendars for the PIC Diaper Pantry!

This Wednesday, May 27, head to our Mountain View office from 12 to 4 pm. We'll be distributing diaper sizes newborn to 6. Families are eligible for one pack of diapers per child. Walk-ins are welcome, but you are encouraged to sign up ahead of time (link below) to save time.

https://www.picak.org/swaddle-me-1

05/26/2026

Alaska Children’s Trust sent 88 boxes of supplies to organizations across Alaska to support Child Abuse Prevention Month awareness efforts in communities statewide. These boxes were filled with resources designed to strengthen families, encourage positive connections, and support healthy child development.

Preventing child abuse and neglect can feel overwhelming, but meaningful change often begins with small, everyday actions. By equipping communities and families with practical tools and supportive resources, Alaska Children’s Trust helps foster stronger relationships, encourage open conversations, and connect families to the support systems they need to thrive.

Read more about the 2026 impact here: https://www.alaskachildrenstrust.org/blog/child-abuse-prevention-month-2026

05/23/2026

Medicaid Isn't a Line Item. It's a Lifeline for Families.

Roughly one in three Alaska children rely on Denali KidCare for their health care coverage, and about 40 percent of births in our state are covered by Medicaid. For thousands of families, this isn't just a program. It's the difference between getting care and going without.

But the recent trend in enrollment is concerning. Between January and November 2025, overall Medicaid enrollment in Alaska dropped by nearly 30,000 people, and children's coverage fell by 10 percent. The drop wasn't driven by families becoming ineligible. It was driven by paperwork: renewal packets that didn't reach the right addresses and verification requests that went unanswered. Under current rules, that's enough to end a child's coverage.

In his latest blog post, ACT President and CEO Trevor Storrs lays out what's at stake and what we can do together to keep kids covered, from partnering with schools, clinics and providers to help families re-enroll, to removing the administrative barriers that stand between a child and their care.

Read more here: https://www.alaskachildrenstrust.org/blog/medicaid-lifeline

05/20/2026

We are excited to now offer our Strengthening Families coloring book in Iñupiaq! Just like our Yup'ik, Spanish and English versions, you can find this free resource on our website under "Printable Materials".

Quyanaqpak to Kathy Ahgeak, who translated this work and to the Arctic Slope Community Foundation for funding this translation.

👉Click Here to download Iñupiaq version:https://static1.squarespace.com/static/61fef737004f564915c6b3cd/t/6a0d0ca576642722df8f37fc/1779240101582/Inupiaq+language+Strengthening+Families+Coloring+Book.pdf
👉Yupik version:https://static1.squarespace.com/static/61fef737004f564915c6b3cd/t/67e5d807f4b3cf0736d148aa/1765739160444/GCY+Version+of+Strengthening+Families+Coloring+Book.pdf
👉Spanish version: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/61fef737004f564915c6b3cd/t/67e5d7c01b4927593f7b9eb5/1765739160444/Strengthening+Families+Version+en+Espanol.pdf
👉English version:https://static1.squarespace.com/static/61fef737004f564915c6b3cd/t/634f17d7a64c29272fd3a922/1666127838318/ACT+coloring+book.pdf

05/19/2026

💙Join us in this years Child Abuse Prevention Month Wrap- Up Meeting! This meeting will provide an opportunity to reflect on this year’s Child Abuse Prevention Month efforts. Partners are invited to share their experiences, including strategies and activities that were successful, as well as challenges or barriers encountered. The discussion will focus on exploring opportunities for improvement and collaboration moving forward. Your input will help strengthen future prevention efforts!
📆Meeting Info: Wednesday, May 20th at 1:00 PM
🔗Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/1nrAO5JdQD6AiWwk2f1dAQ