The Department of Family and Community Services (DFCS) has four agencies that offer direct care to Alaskans 24/7 either in a facility or in the community: The Office of Children’s Services; the Division of Juvenile Justice; Alaska Psychiatric Institute, and the Alaska Pioneer Home. The agency you will be working with is directly dependent on the needs of the children placed in your home.
Safe Children, Strong Families.
Ensuring the safety, permanency and well-being of children by strengthening families, engaging communities, and partnering with Tribes. OCS serves families whose children have been determined to be unsafe or at high risk of maltreatment by their parent or caregiver.
A child and family may come to the attention of OCS in several ways:
In some instances, when the child(ren) is unsafe or at high risk for maltreatment and cannot be safely cared for in their home, OCS will intervene by placing the child(ren)either in an in-home or out-of-home setting. When a child is in an out-of-home setting, OCS assists the family with reunification through case management and referrals for services. Resource families support the mission of OCS by providing safe, stable, and nurturing care to children until they are able to return to their parents’ home.
The mission of DJJ is to:
Foster families support this mission by providing care to youth in DJJ custody.
DJJ is responsible for youth who are in the custody of the Division who have committed criminal offenses and/ or are committed to probation by the court. All DJJ foster homes in the State of Alaska are licensed through the Office of Children’s Services.
The Division of Juvenile Justice provides a system of intake assessment, probationary services, youth detention and treatment throughout the state. If a youth is adjudicated by the court for a delinquent offense, the youth may be put on probation. If appropriate, the youth may either continue in the custody of their parents or they may be placed outside the home, to ensure adequate care and supervision. Placement outside the home may include placement with a relative or resource family that is willing to provide structure, guidance and intensive supervision.
If DJJ does not have any homes available, they can choose to place in an OCS foster home. Placements in an OCS foster home must be pre-approved by OCS prior to placement. It is DJJ’s responsibility to obtain approval from OCS.
To provide emergency and court-ordered inpatient psychiatric services in a safe environment using culturally-sensitive, effective, person-centered treatment followed by a referral to an appropriate level of care and support for recovery from mental illness.
Excellent experiences for patients, families, community supports, students and staff with quality treatment and best practices in mental health care.
Safety
Education—Life-long Learning
Responsibility
Valuing Hope and Recovery
Integrity
Compassion—Fairness and Honesty
Excellence
Alaska Pioneer Homes: Providing elder Alaskans a home and community, celebrating life through its final breath.
The Alaska Pioneer Homes are licensed assisted living homes that are owned and operated by the State of Alaska. We have a proud history of service to Alaskans that predates statehood, with our first home opening in Sitka in 1913! Since then we have grown and expanded to an additional five locations in Fairbanks, Palmer, Anchorage, Ketchikan and Juneau.
Guided by the Eden Alternative® philosophy, staff together with volunteers, friends and family members, work to create a supportive, caring, vibrant and engaging community where the elders are truly the heart of the home