Committed to Young PARENTS & THEIR CHILDREN
YoungLives exists for expectant and parenting adoescents to grow in life, leadership, and faith. We do this through resource support, community events and mentorship. Our outreach is to young parents 20 years old and younger.
We develop well-equipped teams that become champions for the practical, physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of young families. It is only through these authentic relationships that we have the privilege to endure the hardships & experience the joys of life with these incredibly resilient parents.
Our hope is for these families to become equipped to raise healthy families, secure in who they are so that they will then invest into thier communites as leaders impacting generations.
Our Methods
LyfePact
You can’t focus on your future if you can’t feed yourself or diaper your child. Essentials needs such as food diapers, wipes, formula, personal hygiene, along with life skills education & resources are delivered to parents monthly. These boxes provide for the practical needs of a teen parent while also directly connecting them to a community of peers and a supportive mentor that believes in them. See what’s in a box here.
Family Focused Events
YoungLives outreach and weekly events are now relevant to the whole family. Whether it is a mom or dad parenting alone, teens that are co parenting, or a boyfriend who is in a relationship with a teen mom; We focus on reaching these families through a judgment free environment that's fun, safe, and educational. These weekly events are led by mentors who invest in them and deliver the message that their role is important.
Mentorship
Everyday caring adults take steps towards growing friendships with young moms and dads. Text messages, play dates, rides to work or appointments, volunteering at their school, homework or resource support, are all things our mentors freely offer to earn the right to listen, build trust and ultimately share a life together.
The
impact
960
LyfePact Deliveries made to teen parents in 9 Alaskan communities over the course of the last year.
445
Teen Parents & Children KNOWN by name within 8 area ministries
97
Volunteers are investing in teen parents by giving their time serving as mentors or indirect ministry roles.
30
Teen mothers experienced a week long summer camp with thier child and mentor.
81
Times the Gospel was shared with teen parents in a safe & supportive community setting.
852
collectively teen parents engaged with their child 852 times in weekly events created for the specific needs of a young parent. This environment fostered relationships, community, and nurtured the important sense of belonging.
WHy YoungLives?
"Being in YoungLives allows me to be with my baby more. I never thought I would want to socialize with people and feel like I was a part of something good. I get out of the house now and hang out with people who care about me and my baby which helps me be a better mom."
- YoungLives Participant
“I was a teen mom and it was hard. I wish there would have been someone who cared about me in so many ways. I can’t mentor but LyfePacts allows me to show a mom like I was that there are people who see you doing your best and care ”
- LyfePact Volunteer
“The work YoungLives does is not easy and needed greatly. I know that my financial support truly creates lasting impact with families who need it the most in my community.”
- Ministry Finacial Partner
“YoungLives connects me to a mission that allows me the privilege to walk alongside young parents and babies while also sharing the love of Christ with them through support and encouragement.”
- YoungLives ASPS Volunteer
“We recognize and value the way YoungLives partners with their local community. This has
been a clear representation of how despite unprecedented challenges, an organization can grow substantially to meet the needs of the community.”
- Foundation Board Member
"I never thought I would be a better person because I became a mom so young. I am thankful for the friends and mentors in YoungLives that help me understand and believe that I am loved, accepted, and cared for no matter what. Now I am more joyful even when life gets hard and motivated to reach my goals. "
- YoungLives Participant
“YoungLives gives our congregation a tangible way to follow what we are called to do in helping the marginalized; We know that by partnering with this ministry generations of disciples will be shaped through love and authentic relationship.” - Local Church Partner Pastor
“You invest in your staff as much as you invest in the families we serve. I have never felt so supported and valued as an employee until coming on staff with Young Life. ”
- YoungLives Area Coordinator
“I really apreciate that YoungLives is not a nine to five organization - evenings, weekends, or summer.... it doesn’t matter, they reach out to meet the needs of young families ” - Teen Parent Program Teacher
We are better together
Organizations
Many young parents are unaware of or lack the support needed to utilize the resources available to them. We work hard to develop mutual partnerships to bridge that gap by connecting agencies to a demographic difficult to reach while mentors help parents gain access to areas of need. This year for the first time ever we partnered with a pregnancy center in a collaborative fundraising event to support the families we serve!
Foundations & Businesses
The region has built strong partnerships with 10 foundations dedicated to collective efforts to provide resources and support to parents under 21, that will help build strong families within our communities. The generous support of local businesses have helped broaden awareness of the need, sponsor events and promote like minded individuals to get involved.
Church & Individual
We look for every opportunity to invite and include local churches and individuals into the meaningful work of building a culture of unity, support, and health. Weekly events are hosted at churches, Community members provide meals for events, assemble and deliver LyfePacts or even become mentors. Consistent investments through the financial support of local churches and individuals is what allows us to keep serving adolescent parents.
kaktovik
Tununak
Bethel
Kongiganak
Fairbanks
Delta junction
MAT-Su Valley
Tok
Anchorage
Kenai
Rural Ministry
Where
We
Are
Active Area Ministry
ReachinG
YOUNG
Parents
Greater Highline-Tukwilla
University Place-N. Tacoma
Puyallup
Greater olympia
Lewis County
The
Need
9,020
births by mothers ages 15-19 were reported in 2020 collectively across Alaska and Washington.
2,856
teen pregnancies (ages 15-19)
were documented in 2020 collectively across Alaska and Washington.
3,942
Teens are in foster care across Alaska & Washington. This demographic also experiences the highest rates of teenage pregnancy.
76%
Top 2 States
of teen parents become parents at the age of 18.
Death by suicide is the first leading cause in Alaska & second leading cause in Washington for youth 10-24 years old.
Teen Fathers
face a lack of teen parent programs to help them and are less likely to finish high school than their peers.
* Most Recent Data Available 2020/2021
6 out of 20
of the most diverse high schools in the nation are located in the ASPS region. Race, ethnicity, and socio economic statistics have shown that birth rates are significantly higher among students of color and/or low socioeconomic status.
YoungLives Leadership Team
Celeste Johnson
Regional Initatives & Rural AK Coordinator
Anchorage, AK
Caroline Smith
Anchorage, AK
Betsy Joseph
Faribanks, AK
Brittany Reed
Mat-Su Valley, AK
Traci Washington
Greater Highline-Tukwila, WA
Chris Kiley
Greater Olympia, WA
Leah Barkell
University Place North Tacoma, WA
Shelly Suth
Greater Puyallup Valley, WA
Anne McCarty
Lewis County, WA
Jenni Perkins
Discipleship Coordinator
Anchorage, AK
2024 Vision
Meeting the practical needs of teen parents has proven to be the vehicle to not only meet new teen parents but build strong ongoing relationships with them. Families have expressed that this simple monthly gesture consistently proves that we not only care about who they are but also their practical need for support. This results in fulfilling a level of felt needs that builds trust.
With this proven success and the help of GCI we will expand LyfePacts operations by establishing three additional assembly sites within Alaska. Such a significant development not only enables us to engage more local organizations, churches, and individuals in a cause that genuinely creates a lasting impact, but also extends the reach of support and the gospel to more teen parents, regardless of their geographical location.
Goal
- 3 LyfePact production sites with 5 dedicated assembly & delivery teams
- 6 New church & agency partnerships
- 15 new volunteers
- 1,000 LyfePacts Delivered to Familes
Education Empowerment
72% of moms involved in YoungLives for two years or more graduate from high school. This is significant when compared to the 25% graduation rate of a teenage mother. YoungLives mentors help young parents see that they can be a parent and still pursue their hopes and dreams.
This year with the help of The Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority we will encourage education, vocational training and employment through incentives, scholarships, and special training only available to teen parents through our programs.
Goal
- Monthly Life Skill / Parenting Education / Public Resource insert Included in Lyfepacts with follow up 1:1 support provided by a mentor.
- Provide 3 Drivers Education Scholarships
- Provide 3 Vocational Training / Internship Opportunites
- 12 Instructional Permit or Drivers Liscence Fees for parents who pass the DMV exam
- Award 89 education or employment milestone incentives
Rural Ministry
Many Alaskan teenage parents live in small remote communities far from any Young Life ministry. They face lack of resources, isolation and loneliness. We are connecting these families to mentors and community through LyfePact deliveries, group chats, virtual events, and camps!
Goal
- Distribute 150 Rural LyfePacts
- Develop a team of 7 mentors
- KNOW 20 Rural Teenage Parents
We Are Hopeful for All that God has in store as we work together to offer hope to teenage parents
You Make a difference
YoungLives Alaska & South Puget Sound
PO Box 92153
Anchorage, AK 99509
