Advancing our Community, or AOC, is a group of community members who are committed to Sitka’s wellbeing. Many of the members of AOC come from agencies or organizations that work directly with youth, families, and individuals. AOC is organized around the principals of collaboration and consensus. Our meetings are fun, and structured, yet informal. The general membership meets once a month to share what is happening within their organization, agency, or individual efforts. This is a time to celebrate and support the positive work that is going on here in Sitka every day. It is also a time to identify emerging issues that may need action. There are reports from committees that are focused on a specific issue or action, and sometimes a presentation. You are welcome to attend a meeting – they only last an hour. The schedule is on our main page.

AOC uses a committee structure to focus on specific issues or actions. These committees usually meet more frequently. Committees may form and dissolve as needed. See what’s current on the Committees page.

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Focus Area #1: Healthy Youth

Desired State: All youth are respected by one another and by the community. Diversity is an asset of richness rather than an issue of division. There are more high school graduates and a higher percentage of students who pass school tests. More youth feel and are considered to be successful. There is less youth crime and juvenile delinquency, as well as a decrease in the consumption of alcohol and use of drugs and other substances. Youth feel safe because they are no longer victimized. More youth participate in community activities and in organizations such as AOC, helping to shape services available to them.

Focus Area #2: Strengthen AOC

Desired State: AOC is clear in its purpose as a community-wide coalition that focuses on the global issues affecting the community of Sitka’s wellbeing. It has a broad membership base, representing the entire community. Its members are committed to AOC itself and to the causes AOC supports. AOC has a formal structure, with clear roles and responsibilities, which increases its effectiveness. Funding is continuing and sufficient to meet goals and objectives that are consistent with its purpose, following through until they are accomplished. The community of Sitka knows what AOC is and does and supports its efforts.

Focus Area #3: Improve interagency collaboration and coordination

Desired state: The member agencies have an established communication process so everyone knows what all agencies are doing at all times. Resources are shared for joint projects that benefit the community of Sitka. Agencies coordinate their services so there is no wrong door for clients. Agencies with common goals collaborate on projects. There is awareness among all agencies of how all the issues interconnect and how all agencies are ultimately contributing to a common end goal: the well-being of Sitka. With continued collaboration and coordination, Sitka’s agencies are able to move from an intervention model to a prevention one.

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The Advancing Our Community Coalition has evolved over many years, and at its core the mission has always been the same: to work together to make Sitka the best place to live. In fact, the coalition for several years was named Advancing Our Youth -- the change to "Community" was to better show the broader focus of the individuals and organizations that have been regularly meeting since 1999.

The Coalition came into being as a result of a community-wide public forum held on August 3, 1999.  Mayor Stan Filler organized the public forum for the purpose of addressing issues affecting Sitka’s youth and families.  Over 100 people from throughout the community attended the first meeting.  This forum focused on the community’s concerns regarding child abuse and neglect, juvenile crime, and other child behavioral health needs. 

From that original meeting, a core group of interested individuals and agencies decided to continue seeking ways to address identified issues of gaps in services, overlapping services, coordination among agencies, and lack of activities for youth.  Although membership fluctuated, the original core members consisted of the Mayor, Superintendent of Schools, Department of Juvenile Justice, SEARHC Clinic II, Islands Counseling, NAMI, and the Chief of Police.  This group, which subsequently became AOY and expanded to include additional agencies and community members, has met on a regular basis since then in an effort to improve services to youth and their families.

Today Advancing Our Community is as strong and active as ever. We remain dedicated to the principles of community wellness, collaboration, and focusing on the needs and concerns of our youth. The Committees page can provide an update of the issues that we are working on at a glance, and the Archives section provides a record of past efforts and achievements.

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Membership is open to anyone desiring to become a part of a community-wide coalition that focuses on the global issues affecting the community of Sitka’s wellbeing. This includes public agencies; organizations providing services for youth, individuals, and families; businesses; and individual community representatives.

AOC Facilitator

The primary function of this position is to work with the multiple agencies that form the core of AOC, assuring the coordination of meetings, notification of members to current AOC issues, and providing information about AOC activities to the public.  The Facilitator reports to the Steering Committee.

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In addition to the regular general membership meetings, AOC shall maintain standing and ad-hoc subcommittees to allow greater focus on issues and actions as necessary. With the exception of the Steering and Flexible Fund committee, membership to committees shall be comprised of any interested member.

Steering Committee

This group guides the overall activity of AOC and is the decision-making body for the Coalition, taking into consideration the recommendations of the general membership. Resolutions, letters of support, and other matters where the Coalition is taking action as a body must be approved through the Steering Committee.

Guiding Principles:

The Steering Committee is made of individuals from AOC member agencies. This group provides overall guidance and critical decision making for the collaboration, and assures continuity of the mission.

The Steering Committee should be representative of the broad spectrum of the community and the agencies that AOC serves.

There should be no more than 10 members on the Steering Committee.

Members of the Steering Committee should commit to at least one year of service.

It is expected that Steering Committee members will make every effort to attend both Steering and AOC meetings, keep abreast of the issues and actions undertaken by AOC, and serve as a liaison to other agencies and the community in AOC matters.

Flexible Fund Committee

This Committee manages and authorizes the use of special funds for high- and at-risk youth and their families when immediate funding is needed for treatment and intervention services and is not otherwise available through regular channels.  The purpose of these funds is to assist children or youth (and their families) who have identified mental, emotional, or significant behavioral issues or are at-risk of having them.

The funds are made possible by the contributions of agency members. Only those representatives from agencies that contribute to the Flexible Fund shall serve on the Flexible Fund Committee.

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Alaska Marine Safety Education Association	Chris Bryner Rick Petersen
Big Brothers Big Sisters	Barb Morse
Center for Community	Emily Herman, Early Learning Program
City of Sitka	Sheldon Schmitt, Chief of Police
Community Schools	Curt Ledford, Director Ryan Kauffman, Peer Helpers
Northstar Television	Dan Etulain
Salvation Army	Denise DeGroot
SEARHC	Grace Brooks - Steps Anita Didrickson - Raven’s Way Marilyn Lande - Clinic II Doug Osborne - Health Promotions
Sitka City Commission on Health Needs and Community Services	Pat Alexander Steve Warren
Sitka Community Hospital	Elizabeth Faulkner
Sitka Conservation Society	Natalie Settler
Sitka Counseling and Prevention Services	Gordon Blue, Director Kristi Coltharp, School Assistance Coord. Michael Lande, Therapist
Sitka School District	Steve Bradshaw, Superintendent Kathy Blizard, Pacific High principal Allison Ramp, student Taylor White, student Helen West, student
Sitka Tribe of Alaska	Robi Craig Shannon Boussom
Sitka Works	Sheila Finkenbinder
Sitkans Against Family Violence	Chris Bauman, Director Julia Smith
Southeast Alaska Independent Living	Willow Griffin, Program Director
Youth Advocates of Sitka	Annette Becker, Program Coordinator David Voluck, Director

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