The Youth Development Services department is made up of four different programs: YO!Alaska; Youth Employment Services; CITC Summer Cultural Enrichment and Reforestation Camp in Ninilchik; and Native Youth Olympics.

YO! Alaska is one of 36 U.S. Department of Labor grantees from across the country committed to helping communities build education and job-related resources for youth where unemployment is high and job success can be difficult. Under this five year grant, YO! Alaska - the only grantee to provide services on a statewide level - strives to provide Native youth, both in school and out of school, ages 14-21 with a variety of employment, education and youth development activities. Youth in 40 villages across the state receive comprehensive services through their local Youth Opportunity Centers where YO! staff work to identify their individual needs and set education and career goals. Efforts are made to help youth stay in school, receive their diploma or GED, improve their academic skills, participate in apprenticeships, enter and be successful in postsecondary education, gain work experience and attain permanent employment. Students are matched with partnering programs and referred to local and regional resources for additional assistance.

Youth Employment Services (YES) helps youth with educational and employment barriers attain their goals and achieve success in life.  Eligible youth are ages 14 - 21, meet non-metro earned income eligibility, possess proof of a tribal affiliation and reside within Cook Inlet Regional Incorporation (CIRI) communities.  Males 18 years and older must register and provide proof of registration for the Selective Service.

The CITC Summer Cultural Enrichment and Reforestation Camp in Ninilchik provides Alaskan Native and American Indian youth ages 14-18 residing in the CIRI region the opportunity to gain pre-employment skills and work ethics, learn culturally appropriate traditional activities, explore environmental education, practice group dynamics and conflict resolution styles and earn educational credits.

NYO is a unique event that allows youth to connect to Alaska's culturally rich past through athletic competition. Each event is based on games that were traditionally used to demonstrate the agility, endurance and strength necessary for a young man to survive in the arctic.  In keeping with tradition, sportsmanship - pride in the success of others - is prized as highly as one's own achievements. Cook Inlet Tribal Council hosts a three-part NYO series comprised of the Junior NYO (a competition for elementary school students), Anchorage Preliminaries (where Anchorage area middle and high school students vie for a spot on the Anchorage NYO team that will compete at the statewide event), and Statewide NYO  (where teams travel into Anchorage from across Alaska to compete in a three day tournament).

3600 San Jeronimo Drive
Anchorage, AK 99508
Phone (907) 793-3275
Fax (907) 793-3290