To support the wellness of Alaska’s youth and families through community-based behavioral health services.
That Alaska’s youth and families have the support and healthy connections needed to be resilient, flourish, and thrive.
Denali Family Services (DFS) began as Alternatives Child and Family Guidance Clinic in 1995 as a small outpatient guidance clinic for youth and families in the Municipality of Anchorage. Over time, the organization has grown to become one of the largest providers of behavioral health services in Alaska.
DFS’ team of experts provides youth living with serious emotional disturbance (SED) with wrap-around therapeutic services, incorporating a combination of individual therapy, family therapy, social skills training, behavioral interventions, and educational accommodations tailored to each youth’s specific needs.
DFS launched its early childhood program in Anchorage in 2001. Today, the Denali Explorers program serves our youngest clients in our Anchorage and Wasilla branches.
In 2002, DFS began providing services to youth and families in the Mat-Su Valley and opened its current facility in Wasilla in 2007. Roughly 80 youth are served in the Mat-Su each year. This same year, DFS earned its accreditation from COA, a recognized authority that outlines best practice standards in the human service field.
2004 marked the first Summer Camp program. Years later, this annual camping excursion still proves one of the most anticipated events on the DFS calendar and is a true favorite among DFS clients and staff.
In an effort to increase youth services in Alaska and reduce the number of youth receiving out-of-state care, DFS joined the “Bring the Kids Home” statewide initiative in 2005.
Today, DFS employees nearly 100 people and is the largest provider of therapeutic foster care in Alaska.
At Denali Family Services, we believe every child, family, and community member deserves to be treated with fairness, respect, and dignity.
For more than 30 years, our work has been rooted in the belief that all people deserve access to compassionate behavioral health care and supportive services, regardless of their background, identity, or circumstances. We are committed to creating an environment where children and families feel welcomed, valued, and supported.
We recognize that barriers—both historical and systemic—can affect access to services and opportunities. Denali Family Services is dedicated to identifying and reducing those barriers by promoting equitable practices in our programs, our workplace, and our partnerships throughout Alaska.
We celebrate the diversity of the communities we serve and believe that different perspectives and lived experiences strengthen our organization. By fostering an inclusive and respectful culture, we strive to ensure that every person who interacts with Denali Family Services—clients, families, employees, foster parents, and community partners—has the opportunity to feel safe, respected, and empowered.
Our commitment to equity is ongoing, and we continue working to ensure every child and family we serve has the opportunity to grow, heal, and thrive.
Serving Anchorage and the Mat-Su Valley since 1995.
2025 © All Rights Reserved. Denali Family Services is a 501c(3) organization. EIN: 92-0155751
