Sitka Counseling

10/30/2025

Sitka Counseling and the HOPE Coalition gather data from students every year since 2019

What can we do with this information? We can educate our community, put more protective factors in place, change the patterns by raising awareness, and take action.

If this topic is something that you are interested in learning more about, join us at the next HOPE Coalition meeting being held on November 18th at 12pm. We meet at the See House, behind St Peter's by the Sea Episcopal Church.

Some of the data points from the 2024 Substance Use Survey of Youth:
•Sitka youth drink at higher rates than their peers across the state
•Sitka female youth drink and binge at much higher rates (approaching 2x) than males
•Sitka has a significant youth drinking problem

Data sources:
Sitka-Alaska Comparisons
Alaska data are averages from 2019 and 2023 YRBS dataset.
Sitka data are averages from 2019 and 2023 SUSY dataset.
Those years were chosen to enable the best comparison with statewide data.
Survey questions used are standardized across the 2 surveys; the same questions are used.
Sitka-only data (Figure 1)
Presented data are averages from SUSY surveys 2019-2024. 2022 data were omitted as that cohort of 12 graders was a data outlier due to latent pandemic effects.

More information is available here. https://www.sitkacounseling.org/early-intervention-prevention #:~:text=2024%20SUSY%20Report%20Highlights%20and%20Trends

If you have questions, please contact Michelle Kavouras, Prevention Director. 907-747-3636 x221

10/29/2025

🌿Healing Through Conscious Communication 🌱

This 4-hour interactive workshop provides practical tools for building emotional awareness, strengthening relationships, & improving communication.

🌱Identify emotional triggers connected to unmet needs & use this knowledge to strengthen emotional competency.
🌿Develop skills to meet emotional needs through positive interpersonal relationships.
🌱Practice effective listening skills-the cornerstone of emotional healing.
🌿Optimize your ability to send & receive good intentions.
🌱Strengthen conflict resolution abilities, including the art of compromise & the importance of timing and word choice.

📞Call 747-3636 to RSVP.

10/28/2025

2025 Fall Food Programs ~ updated
🥦🥕🍅🫑🥖🥚

10/25/2025

We're here until 2pm!

💊DEA Take Back Day
📆Saturday October 25th
🕙10am-2pm
📍Harrigan Centennial Hall-Sitka
If you have unused, expired, or unneeded medications, dispose of them safely by bringing them to the DEA National Rx Takeback Day Event this Saturday!

10/25/2025

TOMORROW (Saturday)!
💊Bring your unused, unneeded, and expired prescription medications to the DEA Takeback Day event at Harrigan Centennial Hall-Sitka from 10am-2pm.

💊DEA Take Back Day
📆Saturday October 25th
🕙10am-2pm
📍Harrigan Centennial Hall-Sitka
If you have unused, expired, or unneeded medications, dispose of them safely by bringing them to the DEA National Rx Takeback Day Event this Saturday!

10/23/2025

💊DEA Take Back Day
📆Saturday October 25th
🕙10am-2pm
📍Harrigan Centennial Hall-Sitka
If you have unused, expired, or unneeded medications, dispose of them safely by bringing them to the DEA National Rx Takeback Day Event this Saturday!

10/22/2025

Sitka AA Potluck
October 25th
Potluck 6pm-7pm
Meeting 7pm-8pm
Halloween Themed
611 Lincoln St
at the See House behind St. Peters By The Sea

10/21/2025

💊DEA Take Back Day
📆Saturday October 25th
🕙10am-2pm
📍Harrigan Centennial Hall-Sitka
If you have unused, expired, or unneeded medications, dispose of them safely by bringing them to the DEA National Rx Takeback Day Event this Saturday!

10/21/2025

Happening Now!
The 9th annual MAT Conference will take place virtually from October 21 to 23, 2025. This year’s theme, “Elevating Care: Supporting Recovery in Every Community,” centers the importance of meeting people where they are–clinically, culturally, and geographically–through strong systems of care and person-centered support.

Despite significant progress in regulations, medications, and treatment approaches, Alaska experienced the nation’s fastest growing rate of overdose deaths in 2023. The annual Medications for Addiction Treatment (MAT) Conference brings together healthcare providers, policymakers, peers, researchers, and community partners from across Alaska and beyond to share strategies, stories, and solutions for treating opioid use disorder.

The 9th annual MAT Conference will take place virtually from October 21 to 23, 2025. This year’s theme, “Elevating Care: Supporting Recovery in Every Community,” centers the importance of meeting people where they are–clinically, culturally, and geographically–through strong systems of care and person-centered support.
A presentation focused on Fairbanks is at 12:45PM on the 21st.

Reimagining Community Support and Recovery in Fairbanks

Description:
Through a combination of system advocacy, partnerships, and direct service delivery, the Fairbanks Emergency Service Patrol has been reimagined into a wraparound support service. Combining Peer Support, Case Management, and Social Work, individuals experiencing chronic substance abuse, homelessness, and/or co-occurring mental illness receive a rapid response service that targets long-term outcomes and evidence-based interventions.

City staff will broadcast the State of Alaska MAT Conference for any of the public who would like to view the event with others on October 21st-23rd from 9AM-3PM at City Hall in the Mike Meeks Conference Room. This is an opportunity to meet others who are eager to learn what communities can do to improve outcomes. Drop-in attendance is encouraged. No need to RSVP.

More information about the conference: https://matconference.com/

Agenda: https://matconference.com/agenda/

10/20/2025

Save the date for the 2025 STA Annual Meeting on December 2, from 5:30-7:30pm at the Centennial Hall! RSVP at https://forms.gle/eqRx3qq6162yQRBM6 or scan the QR code.

10/20/2025

Preventing Youth Su***de Community Training
November 2nd 1pm-5pm
Harrigan Centennial Hall-Sitka

Register with the QR Code below