Mat-Su Youth Facility
The Mat-Su Youth Facility is a co-ed, 15-bed secure detention program operating within a Restorative Justice framework, emphasizing public safety, restoration of victims and communities, and youth competency development. Services provided to residents of the facility focus primarily on advancing educational goals, physical and mental health, life skills education, victim empathy, substance abuse education and other groups and activities designed to increase self-awareness, promote healthy lifestyle choices and to foster good decision-making abilities. The community’s participation in the facility’s work continues through its Citizens Advisory Board and strong partnerships with organizations such as the Mat-Su Borough School District, the Mat-Su Agency Partnership, and the Community Justice Coalition, among others.
A variety of community service projects are ongoing within the facility which include stuffing envelopes for nonprofits, baking doggie treats for the local animal shelter, assembling Raise-A-Reader packets (reading promotion) given to newborn mothers at the local hospital, and crocheting hats and scarves for the local women shelter. A modest-sized greenhouse facilitates agrarian skills development and produces vegetables and flowers for donation to the local senior center throughout the summer months.
The facility also provides supervision of institutionalized youth being released back into the Mat-Su valley via the Transitional Services Unit. Serving youth in their community provides greater offender accountability, contact with families, the court, local law enforcement officials, and schools. Remaining near or in their own community provides many advantages as juveniles transition.
About MSYF