In Alaska, child abuse and neglect is defined by state law as the physical injury, neglect, mental injury, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, or maltreatment of a child under 18 by a person responsible for the child’s welfare, like a parent or guardian. It must occur under circumstances indicating the child’s health or welfare is threatened.

Anyone, whether under 18 or an adult, can report child abuse and neglect. The authorities can only act to protect children in danger if someone who knows about the child abuse or neglect steps forward to report the problem.

The Alaska Legislature decided that people in certain jobs who are likely to see evidence of child abuse or neglect must report suspected child abuse or neglect directly to the Department of Health and Social Services.  These people are called “mandatory reporters.” Some of the mandatory reporters are:

• Doctors, nurses and other medical workers;
• School teachers and school administrative staff;
• Law enforcement and corrections officers;
• Administrative officers of hospitals and medical facilities;
• Child care providers;
• Employees of domestic violence and sexual assault programs;
• Employees of crisis intervention and prevention programs ;
• Employees of drug and alcohol counseling and treatment centers;

In addition, persons who provide services related to visual media, computer, internet, or cellular telephone use must notify law enforcement immediately if they see what they reasonably suspect to be child pornography.

Call 911 if you know or suspect someone is abusing or neglecting a child and it is an emergency.  You should also report that information to the nearest office of the Office of Children’s Services.

• View a map with contact information of your nearest Office of Child

If you cannot reach OCS to make a report, call the Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-478-4444. You can also contact a local law enforcement agency.

• Alaska State Trooper posts
• List of Alaska police departments

If a parent or guardian is hurting or not taking care of you, you can ask for help.  You can speak to one or more of the people who must report child abuse listed above.  You can call the OCS yourself, or ask another person to call OCS for you or with you.  For more information, check the following websites:

• Alaska Department of Family & Community Services
• Covenant House 24/7 Youth Engagement Center

If you do not want abuse or neglect by someone in your home to be reported, it is still important that you get support.  You can tell a trusted adult who doesn’t work at a school or in a job that helps kids. That can be a relative, friend, or someone you can confide in who is not a “mandatory reporter,” meaning they are not required by law to report abuse or neglect.  

Lawyers and religious leaders are not mandatory reporters. They do need to report if you may harm yourself or another person. Otherwise what you tell them is allowed to be kept secret.

If you talk about abuse or neglect to a “mandatory reporter” they MUST tell OCS. If you tell someone who’s a reporter at a safe shelter (like a youth or domestic violence shelter), they can help make a safety plan with you if you’re afraid of what will happen with OCS.

If you need a place to temporarily live:

• Covenant House Anchorage is open 24/7 to youth ages 13-24.
• The Door in Fairbanks accepts youth ages 6-18
• MY House in Wasilla serves ages 14-25
• Juneau’s Shéiyi X̱aat Hit is open to youth ages 10-17.

Finally, reports to OCS don’t always mean being taken away. Unless there is a serious emergency, OCS will try to work with your family to make things better.

What will happen after a report of abuse depends on what is going on at home, and whether your brothers and sisters are in danger.

Whatever happens, there is a state law that says when OCS is involved with a family, they must try to keep siblings together as long as they are safe with each other.

If someone at home is abusing you, it is the job of the Office of Children’s Services (OCS) to investigate and keep you safe. You should report the abuse to stay safe. Your safety is more important than an adult maybe getting in trouble.

If you want to live at  someone else’s home for another reason, you can make an agreement with your parent or guardian and the other person or family. It does not have to be anything formal.

If it’s going to be more than just a few weeks. It is helpful for the person you’ll be staying with to have a Power of Attorney, also known as a Delegation of Powers by Parent or Guardian. That does not take any rights away from your parents/guardians.  Instead, it adds a person or people who can sign as a parent for things like school permission slips, medical and dental care, and counseling.

That form can be used for up to a year. If you plan to stay longer with another family or person, those adults can ask the court for a guardianship, custody, or adoption order.

An adult with a power of attorney, custody, or guardianship order can apply for benefits to help pay for things, including cash assistance, food, housing, and school financial aid.

You can find the Delegation of Powers by Parent or Guardian form here.  Your parent or guardian will need to sign it in front of a notary public (which can be done at a bank) and given to the adult you will be living with.

If you run away to another home and your parent/guardian insists you come home, you will have to return home unless it’s unsafe and the abuse or neglect in your home that you would be returning to is reported to the police or OCS.  The other home can’t let you stay without permission from your parent/guardian.

Some youth shelters offer Mediation. That’s where staff helps you and your family talk about what you are experiencing and try and find solutions. You can contact one of the shelters listed above to see if they can help.

If you are 16 or 17, see also the section on Emancipation.

Community food pantries have times they are open to the public and youth are welcome.

Many places have box meals and pantry items for kids during the school year and summers. If you are a student at a public school, ask your school counselor.

To find out what is available where you live now, visit the Alaska Food Bank or call them at 907-272-FOOD (3663).

To get monthly SNAP (food stamps) you have to either be an adult or emancipated (see section on Emancipation)