Heart of the Coast | Anchorage Children's Home

Melissa Nelson de Valcourt
7 hours ago
3 min read

There are places in a community that quietly hold everything together. Not with headlines or fanfare, but with consistency, care, and a commitment to showing up day after day for the people who need it most. Anchorage Children’s Home is one of those places.

Heart of the Coast feature graphic highlighting Anchorage Children's Home and Development Director Brooke Bullard, showcasing the organization's mission of providing stability and support for vulnerable youth across the Gulf Coast.

For decades, this local nonprofit has provided safety, stability, and support to some of the most vulnerable youth in our area—children and teens navigating abuse, homelessness, and uncertainty. Through residential programs, counseling outreach, and case management services, Anchorage meets these kids exactly where they are, offering not just shelter, but a path forward.

At the heart of that mission is Brooke Bullard, Development Director, who is marking 19 years of service this month.

“It is absolutely my heart,” Bullard shares. “I feel like teenagers are often forgotten at times, and the trauma they’ve endured—the cycle of abuse and homelessness—it’s our responsibility to make sure they understand they’re not forgotten. Their situation right now should not define their future.”

That belief is woven into every program Anchorage’s Bridge Transitional Living Program serves homeless youth ages 16 to 21, offering an 18-month window of stability—time to finish school, find employment, and begin building an independent life. Right now, the program is at full capacity, with a waiting list, and recently, it lost a key federal grant.

Exterior view of Anchorage Children's Home's Transitional Living Program residences, featuring a row of well-maintained cottages designed to provide safe housing and stability for young adults.

Instead of scaling back, Anchorage made a different decision: keep the program running.

“We are self-funding through community support and private donations,” Bullard explains. “We’re not in the business of evicting. We want to make sure they have that safety and stability permanently in their life so they can thrive.”

It’s a powerful statement—and one that comes with real urgency. These are students graduating from local high schools, working jobs, and trying to create a future for themselves, often without a stable place to call home. The need is closer than many realize.

Referrals come from a wide network: the Department of Children and Families, local schools, law enforcement, and even the teens themselves. Guidance counselors, teachers, and administrators often recognize when a student is struggling—when “home” might mean couch surfing, staying with friends, or not having a place at all.

Anchorage steps in during those moments, offering not just a place to stay, but structure, support, and the ability for these students to refocus on their goals.

“We want schools to understand the services we provide,” Bullard says, “so if they encounter a child who could benefit from that stability, they know where to turn.”

If there’s one thing Bullard emphasizes, it’s this: Anchorage doesn’t do this work alone.

“I want to recognize our community,” she says. “We have built such strong relationships that when we face funding challenges or immediate needs, the community always steps up. That means so much to me. It’s comforting to know we can work together.”

It’s a reminder that while Anchorage may be the hub, the support system extends far beyond its walls. Every donation, every volunteer hour, every conversation helps sustain programs that quite literally change the trajectory of a young person’s life.

Child welfare organizations are easy to overlook until they’re needed. Bullard is candid about that reality. “Unless Anchorage or a child welfare agency has impacted your life directly, you probably don’t think about the services we provide,” she says. “But we all play a role in these children’s lives.”

It’s not about guilt. It’s about awareness—and the opportunity to step in, even in small ways, to support something bigger than ourselves. Because behind every statistic is a teenager trying to break a cycle. A student trying to graduate. A young adult trying to build a future without a safety net. And right now, Anchorage is working to be that safety net.

How to Get Involved

To learn more, support the Bridge Transitional Living Program, or explore volunteer opportunities:

Visit anchoragechildrenshome.org • Connect on Facebook and Instagram

Contact Development Director Brooke Bullard directly at: bbullard@achkids.org