Services

Our mission is to support the wellness of Alaska’s youth and families through community-based behavioral health services. The services we offer are designed to form an interlocking structure of support around the child and family.  This approach to care is known as a “wrap-around model.”  The various types of service are described below; however, every child and family’s services at DFS will be individualized to meet their specific needs.

Denali Family Services will not deny anyone access to services due to his/her inability to pay.

Our Services

• Therapeutic Foster Care
  The Therapeutic Foster Care program offers youth aged 3 to 21 invaluable therapeutic support within a community-based family setting. What makes Therapeutic foster parents unique is that they fulfill all of the roles and responsibilities of traditional parenting, while also working with the youth’s therapist, case manager, and other treatment team members to ensure they understand the unique developmental and behavioral health needs of each youth so they can nurture and support growth and progress in the lives of the youth they serve. DFS supports prospective parents through the State’s licensing process and provides all the training parents need to provide trauma-informed care. Therapeutic foster families can be either single-parent or two-parent homes, and can provide either full-time or part-time care. To learn more, click here.
• Case Management
  Case Management services are designed to provide comprehensive support for youth and families. Our Case Managers advocate for clients’ rights, develop personalized service plans, and monitor progress across various settings including the home, school, and community. We actively connect youth and families with community resources, remove barriers, and offer skill development through family, individual, and group activities which foster positive life skills and support healthy relationships. Case Managers at DFS are dedicated to providing holistic and individualized support that empowers children and families to overcome challenges, achieve their goals, and thrive in their communities.
• Clinical Services
  Clinical Services offer a range of personalized therapies and psychiatric care designed to support individuals and families. Our approach is grounded in trauma-informed care and strength-based principles, aiming to foster healthier relationships, build self-regulation, and enhance social and emotional skills. We provide individual, family, and group therapy, utilizing evidenced-based practices such as ARC Framework, EMDR, Play Therapy, Neurofeedback, and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Our psychiatric services include assessment, medication management, and routine follow up to ensure treatment effectiveness. Clinicians at DFS provide evidence-based treatments that empower youth and families, strengthen their resources, and facilitate personal growth and recovery.
• Denali Explorers
  Denali Explorers specializes in providing targeted services for young children aged 3-5 in Anchorage and the Mat-Su Valley who require emotional, social, and behavioral support. Our Denali Explorers staff provide child-centered, trauma-informed care, and involve family members throughout the treatment process. Our services include on-site programs offered at Denali Family Services facilities, where Behavioral Health Associates (BHAs) lead activities, teach social and emotional skills, and create a supportive environment. We also offer community preschool support, with BHAs providing behavioral assistance within preschools and early learning centers to promote healthy development and social skills. Denali Explorers is dedicated to nurturing children’s growth and supporting families through comprehensive and compassionate care.
• Intensive School & Community Based Services
  Intensive School & Community Based Services provides coaching, mentoring, Life-skills teaching, and behavioral health support which promotes growth and development for youth. Services include one-on-one in-school support, after school services, day programs for school breaks, peer support services, and Recreational Therapy. These services are offered across Anchorage and the Mat-Su with a strong emphasis on fostering healthy relationships and developing essential coping skills crucial for success in various environments. Through coaching and mentoring, the BHA engages youth in activities designed to promote social, emotional, and behavioral growth while encouraging each child’s active participation in treatment activities. Our approach is based on developing healthy connections, nurturing strengths, and teaching skills to foster resilience and an overall sense of wellness.
• Transition to Independence Program
  Transition to Independence Program is grounded in The Transition to Independence Process (TIP) Model, a strengths-based approach tailored for Transitional Aged Youth (ages 13 to 21) facing social, emotional, and behavioral challenges. At the core of the TIP Model is the empowerment of youth and young adults to actively participate in shaping their futures. This involves delivering services that are developmentally appropriate, culturally competent, and free from stigma to ensure our services resonate with each individual’s unique needs. The Transition Facilitators, along with Peer Support Specialists develop caring relationships with youth while emphasizing practical skills development, self-advocacy, job readiness, and community engagement through group activities.
• Training & Development
  Denali Family Services offers nationally recognized training in behavior management, mental health, emergency response, and sexual abuse prevention to all of our employees and foster parents. Using a unique blend of online and classroom-based courses, all employees are trained and certified to meet and exceed the highest standards of care required by local, state, federal and accrediting bodies. DFS also provides parenting classes to all foster, biological, and adoptive parents, and family members, of DFS clients to equip caregivers with the tools to support youth with behavioral health needs.