Bernard W. Gatewood
Superintendent

Fairbanks Youth Facility
1502 Wilbur Street
Fairbanks, AK 99701

Alaska

Bernard W. Gatewood exemplifies the commitment and dedication essential to improving the lives of children and families. Well-known and highly respected both in the Fairbanks community and statewide, Mr. Gatewood without fail proves a prominent presence when the concern is children—whether it be children's health, delinquency, child abuse and neglect, substance abuse, or service availability.

In addition to his responsibilities as Superintendent of the Fairbanks Youth Facility, Mr. Gatewood devotes his time to numerous boards, committees, and councils. He focuses on both issues surrounding youth in the juvenile justice system and those that impact children and families in child welfare and relate to the general well-being of the entire community. Mr. Gatewood serves as a member of the Fairbanks North Star Borough Health and Social Services Commission, which is responsible for identifying the health and social service needs of the community and coordinating the use of services to meet these needs, and as Vice President of the Compass Community Coalitions, which addresses substance abuse problems.

Mr. Gatewood has worked extensively with the Fairbanks School System to divert youth from custody and provide supportive services to those in the system. He also is a member of the Board of Directors for the Resource Center for Parents and Children, which strives to provide education and services aimed at reducing the prevalence of child abuse and neglect.

A contribution of particular note is in the area of disproportionality. Mr. Gatewood's region proved the first to develop a team to address disproportionality by combining the work of juvenile justice and child welfare. He actively collaborates to share monetary and staff resources in an effort to achieve mutual goals.

These represent only a few of Bernard Gatewood's countless contributions. Without question, his contributions improve the lives of abused and neglected children and their families. Truly an advocate for the disenfranchised and the vulnerable, Mr. Gatewood acts as spokesperson and as a role model for activism and action.