Office of Children's Services
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Why Alaska Needs a Children’s Trust


The mission of the Alaska Children’s Trust is to improve the status of children in Alaska by generating funds and committing resources to eliminate child abuse and neglect. All fifty states plus the District of Columbia have Children’s Trust Funds.

When one thinks about child abuse and neglect, the mental pictures are generally drawn from images taken from media coverage of the most horrific of cases. The reality however, is that the effects are often much more subtle, but no less devastating for a child and community. Current research shows that the brains of children living under conditions of stress and fear do not develop as well as children living within a safe and nurturing environment.  Childhood trauma – such as abuse or neglect – can have major consequences:

  • First, it impairs a child’s physical, social and intellectual development. This, in turn, increases the risk of poor performance in school, mental health problems, substance abuse, and problems with the law. (Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2004)

  • Second, childhood trauma contributes to serious long-term health problems. Researchers have found compelling evidence that traumatic childhood experiences are surprisingly common, happen in all kinds of families, and have damaging consequences throughout a person’s lifetime. Adults who were abused or otherwise traumatized as children have much higher rates of chronic disease, disability and premature death. (Source: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study, Centers for Disease Control, 1998)

  • Finally, the financial toll of childhood trauma is staggering. Dealing with the immediate and long-term consequences of child abuse and neglect is estimated at $94 billion per year in the United States. (Source: Prevent Child Abuse America, 2001)

According to state reports to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Department, Alaska has amongst the highest per capita rates of child abuse and neglect in the country. That’s the bad news.  The good news is that the national rates of abuse and neglect have trended downward since 2001, and while Alaska’s data collection system has changed in recent years making comparisons difficult, this appears to be the case in Alaska as well.

While seemingly cliché, songwriter Linda Creed summed it up beautifully with her words “I believe the children are our future; teach them well and let them lead the way…” The future of our state and country depends on our ability to foster the health and well being of the next generation. The more we do now to promote healthy thriving children, the greater the probability that they will become productive responsible citizens.

The Alaska Children’s Trust grants are now administered through the Alaska Community Foundation. ACT anticipates that the FY13 RFP will be released on March 1, 2012. Please find further information at www.alaskacf.org or by contacting the ACT office at 907-248-7676. Information on the grant application process is available by contacting Alaska Community Foundation Program Officer Anne Remick.