Rep. Tarr’s Newsletter: SEPTEMBER IS SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH
September is Suicide Prevention Month. Did you know that 1 in 4 people experience a mental illness at any given time? This is something that touches all of us, having lost a family member to suicide I know how devastating it can be to families in our community. As a member of the Suicide Prevention Council, I’m hoping to reduce the rates of suicide in Alaska. Here’s a list of resources in our community that you or a loved one can go to if you need information: NAMI, StopSuicideAlaska, Suicide.org,Alaska Suicide Prevention Council, and Alaska Suicide Prevention Resource. These issues are so important as Alaska has some of the highest rates of suicide. Please read the proclamation below or click on the link to read the official proclamation.
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Rep. Tarr’s Newsletter: RUSSIAN JACK COMMUNITY PICNIC, SKATE PARK RIBBON-CUTTING & CC MEETINGS
This Sunday, August 28th, I hope to see you at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new skate park located at the Polar Bear Park! In 2012, the Anchorage Park Foundation received a $250,000 State Legislative Grant for the project and began working closely with northeast residents to identify an appropriate site for the new skate park. Construction began this June and concluded at the beginning of August. The new skate park has quickly become the popular new skateboarding hub. I am proud to say that the Russian Jack Community Council was a strong champion for the new skateboarding facility. They are excited that North Russian Jack Springs Park will continue to promote healthy lifestyles and activities, as well as serve as a venue to encourage youth to safely pursue their interests. I hope you can make it, and don’t forget your skateboards!
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Rep. Kawasaki’s Newsletter: Back-To-School Tips and Happy 100th National Park Service!
This is the first week of school for the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District and next week marks the first day of classes for the University of Alaska.
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Rep. Guttenberg’s Newsletter: Introduction to Summer Staff!
The best part about the interim is being home to reconnect with my constituents, and to listen to what matters to them. I make it a priority to be out in the community as much as possible and this summer I’ve had the opportunity to employ the skills of a few diverse and talented individuals from around town.
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Note from Rep. Gara: Foster Youth Mentors Needed At Big Brothers/Sisters; Adoptive & Foster Parents Needed Too
I consider it good news when there are ways to help people. Many years ago, when I started working to improve our foster care system, I listened to youth, and learned I had it all wrong. Or partially wrong. One thing they made clear was that foster care isn’t all about, well, just improving the foster care system. It’s about what happens when a youth leaves the system, has no reliable parent, and has no reliable adult to turn to for advice. In prior years statistics have shown high post-foster care homelessness (approx. 35%) and incarceration rates (approx. 20%) and we all want to do better.
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