Anchorage, Alaska – The Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority awarded more than $800,000 in grants to beneficiary-serving organizations in the final quarter of fiscal year 2023.
Trust grants are awarded throughout the year to Alaska nonprofits, Tribal entities, state and local government agencies, and service providers that serve Trust beneficiaries. Beneficiaries include Alaskans who experience mental illness, substance use disorders, intellectual and developmental disabilities, Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, and traumatic brain injuries.
This quarter’s grants are a part of the Trust’s approximately $20 million annual grant program, which funds beneficiary-supporting programs and initiatives. Trust grants support direct services, capacity building, capital construction & equipment, data & planning, workforce development, and conference sponsorships.
“Trust beneficiaries thrive in our communities when they have access to the care they need, as close to home as possible, and provided by a skilled workforce,” said Steve Williams, CEO of the Trust. “The Trust’s grant program is designed to support and improve Alaska’s continuum of care to help ensure timely access to services, and meaningful, self-directed lives for Alaskans with behavioral health conditions and intellectual and developmental disabilities. We appreciate our many partners, who are integral to our work to improve outcomes for Alaskans.”
Many of the projects funded by the Trust also receive funding from the philanthropic community, private donations, earned revenue, and other community support. The total value of the projects funded by the Trust this quarter represents an estimated $1.7M.
Among the grants awarded in the fourth quarter of FY 2023:
Employment through Recreation for Transition-Age Youth
Southeast Alaska Independent Living (SAIL) Inc., $50,000, Juneau
This Trust grant will support recreational and pre-employment transition services (Pre-ETS) for beneficiary youth in partnership with the State Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR), other state agencies, and community partners. Grant funds will support training and accreditation for recreational therapy support staff to safely and effectively contract with DVR to help young beneficiaries engage in their community and develop “soft skills” critical for successful future employment through team building and social interactions. Participation and engagement in DVR services prior to graduation, such as Pre-ETS, is believed to increase graduation rates and encourage workforce participation for children and youth with disabilities after exiting school services.
Furniture Bank
Shiloh Community Housing, Inc. $25,000, Anchorage
Shiloh Community Housing Inc.’s (SCHI) Furniture Bank, the first of its kind in Anchorage, will meet a gap in community support for beneficiaries coming from homelessness or those being housed for the first time who do not have the means to purchase furniture. Furniture will be donated by the community, inspected, cleaned, and repaired then made available for free. SCHI has been working with furniture bank models developed in the Lower 48 to replicate their successes. Trust funds will support remodeling activities, furniture, fixtures, equipment, and preparation necessary for the Furniture Bank warehouse to begin operations.
Hospice and Palliative Care of Kodiak Inc., $28,000, Kodiak
To better address the needs of those with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia (ADRD), Hospice and Palliative Care of Kodiak (HPCK) is implementing a new project titled Dignity for Kodiak. HPCK recognized that additional support and services are needed for families and individuals experiencing dementia throughout the entire Kodiak Island Borough. Trust funds will support HPCK in providing free ongoing training opportunities for volunteers and community members, and resources and tools for clients and families including a lending library, and support and compassion for caregivers. Through well-trained volunteers and specialized tools, Trust beneficiaries will find meaning and connection regardless of where they are in their diagnosis.
Below is a list of Trust grants awarded last quarter. You can learn more about the grants in the quarterly grant report posted online.
| Name | Project Title | Grant Amount | Location |
| Bethel Community Services | Bethel Youth Single Room Occupancy Project | $82,000 | Bethel |
| Alternatives Community Mental Health Center Inc. Dba Denali Family Services | 2023 FFTA Conference | $15,000 | Anchorage |
| Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium | Behavioral Health Aide Training Center Skills Building via Audio-Visual Interventions | $50,000 | Anchorage |
| Cook Inlet Tribal Council, Inc. | 2023 NYO Games | $2,500 | Anchorage |
| Alaska Injury Prevention Center | Overcoming Aces with Resilience Survey | $90,000 | Anchorage |
| Southeast Alaska Independent Living (SAIL) Inc. | Employment through Recreation for Transition-Age Youth | $50,000 | Juneau |
| Hope Counseling Center | Neuro Feedback Distance Learning Introductory Course & NF Equipment for Two Clinicians | $25,000 | Soldotna |
| Mat-Su Health Services | Ambulatory Detox using the NSS-2 BRIDGE for Opioid Use Disorder Treatments | $50,000 | Wasilla |
| Alaska Coalition on Housing & Homelessness | Center for Supportive Housing Summit | $12,000 | Juneau |
| Shiloh Community Housing Inc | Furniture Bank | $25,000 | Anchorage |
| FOCUS, Inc. | Summer Camp for Youth and Adults | $6,000 | Eagle River |
| Spirit of Youth | 25th Annual Spirit of Youth Awards | $1,500 | Anchorage |
| Alaskan AIDS Assistance Association | Syringe Access Program Expansion – Mat-Su Valley | $14,500 | Anchorage |
| City and Borough of Juneau | Youth Shelter, Transition, and Rapid Rehousing | $100,000 | Juneau |
| Alaska Eating Disorders Alliance | Temperament-Based Treatment with Support Conference | $2,500 | Anchorage |
| Concussion Legacy Foundation Inc | Patient Services Project Alaska Expansion | $100,000 | Statewide |
| National Association of State Head Injury Administrators | Learning Practices Academy on Criminal and Juvenile Justice and Brain Injury | $10,000 | Statewide |
| Bristol Bay Native Corporation Education Foundation | Mental Health Support | $25,760 | Anchorage |
| Juneau School District Yaakoosge Daakahidi Alternative High School | Commons Beautification | $25,000 | Juneau |
| Trinity Family Counseling | Group Therapy to Promote Resiliency in Adolescents (FY23) | $25,000 | Eagle River |
| Hospice And Palliative Care of Kodiak Inc | Dignity for Kodiak | $28,000 | Kodiak |
| Young Life – YoungLives Alaska | Education Empowerment for Teen Parents | $5,000 | Anchorage |
| Arctic Slope Native Association | Youth Suicide Prevention and Response Training for First Responders Project | $10,000 | Utqiaġvik |
| MapHabit, Inc. | MapHabit Pilot Project for Assistive technology to provide critical services for ongoing I/DD and TBI care | $49,950 | Statewide |
Organizations that serve or support Trust beneficiaries can apply for Trust funding. To learn more about the types of Trust grants, how to apply, and past grant awards, visit https://alaskamentalhealthtrust.org/about/grants/.
Contact: Allison Biastock, Chief Communications Officer, 907.334.2531, allison.biastock@alaska.gov