In the Spotlight: Youth Advocates of Sitka

It is mid-April and we are meeting in a room with kids’ art projects papering the walls.

“We always want to offer art and music, as part of our services, wherever we are,” says Heather Meuret, Executive Director of Youth Advocates of Sitka (YAS).

“A lot of people don’t understand what we do. This includes myself, before I worked here.” Heather has been with YAS for “two years and 14 days,” she says. Her precise knowledge of her time with YAS is reminiscent of some people’s sobriety stories.

YAS is a mental health and behavioral health facility for youth ages 5 through 24 years.

The centerpiece is Hanson House – a residential program that houses up to 10 residents, aged 14-17, who live at the facility usually anywhere from 8-9 months. “They leave when they are ready,” says Meuret. While living at Hanson House, the young people attend one of the local high schools.

Students come to the program from Sitka and from all over the state – “as close as Juneau and as far away as Kotzebue,” says Meuret. “There are only a handful of youth facilities in the state.”

While living at Hanson House, the kids prep meals, do chores, and participate in both group and one-on-one therapy. Students can get referred by a parent, with support from a health care provider who is familiar with their diagnosis.

Another pivotal service, notes Meuret, is the Outpatient Program, where youth – and their families – can come for therapy during the day. YAS also operates the Sitka teen center, called “The Cloud.” This drop-in center sees on average about 50 different youths per month.

Says Meuret, “The Cloud is set up as an unstructured safe space.” You have to be at least 14 to get in the door, and the upper limit is just before you turn 18. The Cloud is open from 3pm to 8pm Monday – Friday.

YAS also offers “therapeutic foster care” – a program where “high needs youth” (e.g., who are neurodivergent or have a background of trauma) can receive 24/7 advice and support, for both the foster parents and the foster kids.

What about challenges? Says Meuret, “Staffing is always an issue – we have seven staff openings right now, so all of us are doing double duty.”

YAS also supports teens transitioning into adulthood with their “Transitional Living Program” – serving young people from age 18 up till their 24th birthday in an independent living situation. Some teen clients “have aged out of foster care and others may be homeless.”

And, on the horizon? “We are opening a new physical location for our residential program – a good-sized piece of property on Halibut Point Rd. We are also building up the After-School Program at Blatchley Middle School – that happens on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday.”

Whatever they are doing, though, “We always strive to provide young people with comprehensive or ‘wraparound’ services.” The youth are always our main focus – that’s what makes our program special.”

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Sitkans can help by supporting YAS events. On June 8th this year, YAS will hold a sale of indoor plants & succulents, plus baked goods. This fundraiser is put on by youth and YAS staff – the youths run the sale (accepting money and learning skills), while the baking of goodies is a collaboration between staff and kids.