Tyler Healy: 2025 Alaska Afterschool Champion

Tyler Healy has been selected as the 2025 Alaska Afterschool Champion for his work expanding afterschool in the Mat-Su and advancing prevention-focused afterschool programming for teens statewide.

Tyler is a lifelong Alaskan who has dedicated his career to working with youth and youth program providers across educational, therapeutic, and afterschool settings. He grew up in Haines and Skagway, where he experienced firsthand the benefits that close-knit Alaskan communities can provide for their youth.

As a young adult, Tyler worked in various roles including fishing and tour boat deckhand, lumber yard worker, substitute teacher, and English tutor. He eventually found his calling in community-based youth behavioral health in the Mat-Su Valley. His experiences working with children facing mental and behavioral health challenges built a foundation for understanding the importance of relationships and healthy support systems for young people. Tyler designed and led various youth behavioral health programs in Mat-Su and Anchorage before becoming the director of Youth 360, a brand-new Mat-Su youth initiative, in 2019.

Youth 360 introduced the Icelandic Prevention Model to Alaska. This unique approach combines direct youth programming, family engagement efforts, surveying and data work, and coalition-building. The model has been shown to help teens stay involved in positive activities and avoid drugs and alcohol. Tyler led Youth 360 from its launch to its current status as an Alaskan leader in high-quality afterschool programming for teens. The organization now features four afterschool youth clubs, an activity scholarship program, large evening and weekend events, training and education activities, and surveying efforts that demonstrate a clear positive impact on Mat-Su youth.

Tyler was honored as a 2025 Afterschool Ambassador. As an Ambassador, he led further advocacy and outreach efforts to our Federal and State policy makers about the importance of afterschool. Tyler has recently moved into a position with the Mat-Su Health Foundation but remains a committed afterschool and prevention champion. He lives near Palmer with his wife and their three children.