Creating Safe Spaces of Healing
Suicide Prevention
Joel’s Place in Fairbanks is no ordinary youth center. Designed to give creative and adventurous youth of all ages a safe energy outlet, the place boasts both indoor and outdoor activities, including a popular skate park and hot meals for hungry kids. But Joel’s Place provides more than safe activities. In partnership with the Fairbanks Wellness Coalition and thanks to a Suicide Prevention Grant from ACF made possible by GCI, Joel’s Place is proactively addressing one of the most devastating issues among Alaskan youth today – suicide. With Sources of Strength, a national best practice program, Fairbanks peer leaders and adult advisors are creating a school community that encourages adult to youth relationships, help seeking, and resilience to prevent suicide.