FYA

Who Are We?

Fairbanks Youth Advocates is dedicated to helping young people who face life’s crossroads and must make difficult decisions. Often these choices and options can expose young people to unsafe situations. In particular, when faced with conflict, violence or other difficult circumstances in the home, youth can feel that leaving home is their only answer…their only hope.

In recognizing that Fairbanks does not have a shelter specifically designed to meet the unique needs of youth seeking a safe place, Fairbanks Youth Advocates has decided to create one. “the Door”, scheduled to open in 2013, will provide temporary shelter and meet the immediate basic needs of those seeking its safety.

Until the opening of ‘the Door,’ we are partnering with First Presbyterian Church to provide shelter overnight each day from 9pm til 8am to all youth who come through the door.

Some say we are taking risks. Of course we are. How can we not? No child grows up dreaming that one day they will be homeless. No parent hopes that one day they will be disconnected from their child.

Reports show that unaccompanied homeless youth are at a higher risk for physical and sexual assault, physical illness including HIV/AIDS, and mental illness. Homeless youth are at a higher risk for anxiety disorders, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and suicide because of increased exposure to violence while living on their own. They are significantly less likely to graduate from high school, and significantly more likely to become pregnant, or to use or abuse substances. Overall, homeless youth are also likely to become involved in prostitution and to engage in other dangerous and illegal behaviors to sustain themselves.

Fairbanks Youth Advocates believes that providing assistance at critical times in the lives of young people is vital to their present and future well being, ultimately contributing to the stability and long term health of our community.

Mission Statement

To facilitate life-transitions of at-risk youth in the Fairbanks and greater Interior Alaska community.

Core Purpose:

Provide homeless, near homeless, and other marginalized youth, support to help them move towards stability, health in all its forms, and self sufficiency.
Provide professional accredited counseling through Clearwater Counseling. (faith based for those who seek it)

Who We Serve

Fairbanks Youth Advocates provides its services to all youth regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, gender, disability, religion, or sexual orientation. We respect and honor the human dignity of all people. Under no circumstances is it required or expected that an individual believe a certain way to access or receive services. We accept all as they are, however they are.

Guiding Principles

That as community of citizens, we bear a local responsibility to help those in need, especially young people who have for reasons beyond their control found themselves in troubling circumstances.
That we must speak up for those who are unable to speak for themselves and advocate for the rights of the less fortunate.
That we are most effective when we partner with like-minded agencies, without duplication of services; allowing one another to be and do that which we are uniquely tasked to do.
We Believe . . .
- “Doing” defines our true beliefs. (1 John 3:18)
- All people have the right to be loved & treated with respect and dignity. (1Corinthians 13, 1 Peter 2:17)
- Do unto others as we would have done unto us. (Matthew 7:12)
- God requires of us to love mercy, act justly and walk humbly. (Micah 6:8)
- To whom much is given, much is expected. (Luke 12:48)

Community Support

It is our goal to network and work cooperatively with the many agencies in the Fairbanks area to cover the continuum of care for young people in need of assistance. The list below reflects the broad support for FYA in general and in particular the need for a temporary emergency shelter for at-risk youth:

Access Alaska
Carenet Pregnancy Center of the Tanana Valley
Fairbanks Community Food Bank
Fairbanks Counseling and Adoption & S.O.A.P.
Fairbanks Native Association
Fairbanks North Star Borough School District
Fairbanks North Star Youth Court
Fairbanks Rescue Mission
Interior Center for Nonviolent Living
Interior Community Health Center
Joel’s Place & Safe Place (Wellsprings Ministries)
Presbyterian Hospitality House
The Fairbanks Housing and Homeless Coalition

Fairbanks Youth Advocates, Inc. (501c3 non-profit)

Fairbanks Youth Advocates is the federally recognized 501c3 non-profit organization governed by a board of directors under which Clearwater Counseling functions as a division:

Clearwater Counseling (nonprofit agency dedicated to providing quality therapeutic counseling services to Fairbanks and the surrounding area and will offer family counseling, and mediation and reconciliation services to youth and their families)

Fairbanks Youth Advocates
PO Box 10337
Fairbanks, Alaska 99710
Website: www.fairbanksyouthadvocates.org
Email: info@fairbanksyouthadvocates.org