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Youth Program

YOUTH PROGRAM SERVICES

Stay tuned in to the upcoming ANCHR 2023 activities and access APIA noteworthy news and events by checking out our Tide Pool Times Newsletter (see this month’s newsletter here)! Or follow us on Instagram @unangaxyouth!

Suicide Prevention Training: 

  • Question.  Persuade.  Refer (QPR) 
  • Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) 
  • Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) 
  • teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA) 

Request a training here. 

  • Learn the warning signs. Friends sometimes let friends know if they are thinking about suicide or dying. Other times, changes in behavior may show that someone is struggling. For more guidance on steps you can take to help someone thinking of suicide, visit www.bethe1to.org or Native Americans and Alaskan Natives: Lifeline (suicidepreventionlifeline.org)
  • Our on-call Behavioral Health staff can be reached at 1-844-375-2742. 
  • The Alaska Careline at 877-266-4357 is available anytime or text 4help to 839863 – 3-11pm Tues-Sat. For more information on the Careline go to https://carelinealaska.com/ 
  • National Suicide Prevention provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States by dialing 988 or 1-800-273-8255. 
  • APIA Suicide Prevention Brochures  
    • Click here to download a PDF file for the Guide to Narcan brochure.
    • Click here to download a PDF file for the Prevention and Postvention brochure.
    • Click here to download a PDF file for the Strengthening our Nets adult suicide prevention brochure.
    • Click here to download a PDF file for the Strengthening our Nets youth suicide prevention and awareness brochure.

Substance Use Prevention Training: 

  • Prime for Life (PFL) 
  • Breaking Waves: adapted from Suquamish’s Healing the Canoe curriculum 
  • Opioid Overdose Awareness and Prevention 
  • Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Trauma Sensitive Practices 

Request a training here. 

  • Click here to download a PDF file for the Guide to Narcan brochure.

Southwest Alaska Heath Education Center (SW AHEC) Healthcare Pipeline Programming:  Exciting opportunities for youth and college students to explore the various professions in the health care field await! Through SW AHEC courses, high school students can receive college credit and may obtain CPR, First Aid, BLS, QPR, Blood Bourne Pathogen and Emergency Trauma Technician certifications. College students also broaden their experience in rural Aleutian and Bristol Bay communities through a two-year classroom and community-based program at the University of Alaska Anchorage.

Southwest Alaska Heath and Resilience Steering Committee: 

The steering committee is organized by SW AHEC and the APIA Youth Services Program. Members convene to steer future programming related to topics like suicide prevention and wellness initiatives for youth living in the Aleutian Pribilof Islands and Bristol Bay Regions. 

Mission Statement: [To] maintain ancestral teachings and incorporate contemporary models of resiliency to address holistic health needs across the Aleutian Pribilof Islands and Bristol Bay Regions, spanning youth to Elders.

Vision Statement: That each person is safe, loved, honored, valued and feels pride living by our ancestral teachings. That the youth feel connected, inspired, highly capable and have pride in their identity and culture. Our communities are mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually healthy and infused with the cultural wisdom of our Elders.

Interested in joining the cause?  Please apply here.   

Reviving our Spirits: 

NB3 tribal community partner projects serving as a catalyst in improving and sustaining Native youth health. With the guidance of the NB3 Foundation and fellow cohort members, APIA works with the six community partners through spring 2023.  Partners include: Aleut Marine Mammal Commission, Atka IRA of Atka, King Cove Strong Non-profit of King Cove, Qagan Tayagungin Tribe of Sand Point, Aleut Community of Saint Paul Island, and the Qawalangin Tribe of Unalaska.

CURRENT ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

MEET OUR YOUTH SERVICES TEAM

 

Dustin Newman, Youth Services Coordinator

Dustin Newman is a Youth Services Coordinator at Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association, Inc. His mother is Rebecca Demoski from Anvik/King Cove and his father is Harlen Newman from King Cove. His grandparents are the late Rudy Demoski from Anvik, the late Agnes Beaver from King Cove, the late Robert “Babe” Newman from King Cove, and Clara Smith from King Cove.  He is working towards a bachelors in Anthropology at the University of Alaska Anchorage with a minor in Alaska Native Studies and Outdoor Recreation. In addition, he has been apprenticing under Marc Daniels in building Iqyan for the past four years, taking yearly trips down to Ferndale, CA and assisting him with iqyax within the region.  Dustin teaches Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA). His favorite things to do are hiking and running, and every chance he gets, he gets onto the water with his family.

 

Olivia Bridges, SW Alaska Health Education Center (AHEC) Coordinator

Olivia Bridges is the SW AHEC Coordinator at Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association, Inc. She received her BA in Health & Societies from the University of Pennsylvania. In the past, she interned at the Philadelphia Department of Public Health with the Opioid Use and Overdose Prevention Department. Olivia teaches ACEs, Narcan Administration and Opioid Prevention, Basic Life Support (BLS) and Question Persuade Refer (QPR). Currently, Olivia is working on obtaining her ETT Instructor certification. She loves to knit, sew and go on walks with dogs. 

 

Jenna Larson, Youth Services Coordinator

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jenna Larson is a Youth Services Coordinator at Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association, Inc. She is a descendant of the Pueblo/Anasazi/Navajo and Mexican Indigenous people and loves serving her Alaskan Native cousins. She is a mom of 2 (a 20 year-old daughter, and 15 year-old son) and always looks forward to traveling with her kids. Jenna was a medical massage therapist for over 20 years. She studied human behavior in college and took a special interest in positive psychology at UAA for her undergrad. She graduated from Grand Canyon University with a Masters in Secondary Education. Teenagers and Veterans are her favorite populations to serve. Jenna teaches Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), Prime for Life, and QPR. She is currently receiving her certification in Mind Body Medicine and is a Yoga instructor who facilitates indigenous healing through breath and movement. 

 

Amy Carlough, Youth Program Services Administrator

Amy Carlough is the Youth Program Services Administrator at Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association, Inc. and a Adgaagux tribal member.  She has her MSW from University of Alaska Anchorage and has devoted herself to providing social work services to Native communities for over 20 years.  Amy teaches teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA), YMHFA, and QPR Suicide Prevention and BLS.  She is completing the HTI Healing Touch Certificate Program through Healing Beyond Borders to become a Certified Healing Touch Practitioner.  She loves to spend time with family, scout beaches for treasures and travel.