July 13, 2020 – The Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority (Trust) awarded $917,600 in grants to organizations across the state in the final quarter of fiscal year (FY) 2020.
These grants, part of the Trust’s $24M grant program for FY 2020, fund beneficiary-supporting programs and initiatives that align with the Trust’s mission and values. Trust grants are awarded throughout the year to Alaskan nonprofits, Tribal entities, state and local government agencies, and service providers.
“Trust grants can support a multitude of needs our partners demonstrate, from beneficiary housing projects, to capacity building, and providing technical assistance to organizations navigating change,” said Mike Abbott, CEO of the Trust. “The Trust is proud to have the ability to support these beneficiary-serving organizations, often in concert with other funders, and to leverage our funds to improve our state’s system of care for our beneficiaries.”
The mission of the Trust is to provide leadership in the advocacy, planning, implementing, and funding of services and programs for Trust beneficiaries. Beneficiaries include Alaskans who experience mental illness, substance use disorders, developmental disabilities, Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia, and traumatic brain injuries.
Among the grants awarded in the second quarter of FY 2020:
Hydaburg Cooperative Association
Naa Iwaans (Big Cedar House) Project — Final Phase: $50,000
Trust funds will support the completion of Naa Iwaans (Big Cedar House) to increase the local Tribe’s capacity to offer an array of cultural activities and programs for youth and adults. This includes, community celebrations and gatherings, Haida language classes, Haida song and dance practices, traditional food preparation and preservation, and youth and Elder gatherings. Substance abuse research literature indicates the essential role that culture can play in prevention and treatment programs for American Indian and Alaska Native individuals. A strong sense of belonging and improved health outcomes can come from an emphasis on cultural ties and social relationships, as well as a sacred sense of connection to one’s ancestry and Tribal history.
Interior Alaska Center for Non-Violent Living, for the Fairbanks Reentry Coalition (FRC)
Reentry Housing, Fairbanks: $50,000
This grant will support the FRC in their work to provide housing support for returning beneficiaries who are confronted by barriers to housing due to their criminal history, mental illness, or other complicating factors. In order to overcome these barriers to housing, the FRC will provide the identified population of beneficiaries with housing supports and peer support services to ensure returning beneficiaries participating in the program have safe and stable housing, which will aid their successful reentry into society.
Alaska Association on Developmental Disabilities (AADD)
Technology Capacity Building 2.0: $50,000
Trust funds will support AADD’s work to strengthen providers’ capacity to provide distance-delivered supports. The Technology Capacity Building 2.0 project is leveraging the current necessity to adapt to the pandemic into a larger systems change movement. Technology has been identified as one of the necessary strategies to aid in reducing the demand for in-person supports and increasing independence for Trust beneficiaries experiencing disabilities as agencies struggle to hire and maintain an adequately sized direct services workforce. This project will address person-centered access needs of beneficiaries in partnership with Assistive Technology of Alaska (ATLA) as well as deliver training and technical assistance to service providers and other stakeholders.
Below is a complete list of Trust grants awarded in the last quarter. You can learn more about the grants in a quarterly grant report posted online. In addition to grants listed in this release, the Trust also gave more than $1.2M in COVID-19 response grants to partner organizations in the fourth quarter of FY 2020.
| Organization Name | Project Title | Grant Amount |
| South Peninsula Behavioral Health Services, Inc. | Supported Employment Expansion and Training | $84,600 |
| Southeast Alaska Independent Living (SAIL), Inc. | Home Modifications for Aging in Place (HomeMAP) Upgrade | $80,000 |
| Interior Alaska Center For Non- Violent Living | Reentry Housing – Fairbanks | $50,000 |
| Alaska Association on Developmental Disabilities | Technology Capacity Building 2.0 | $50,000 |
| Cache Integrity Services | Cache Integrity Services Payee Start-Up Project | $100,000 |
| Bean’s Cafe, Inc. | Navigation and Diversion Services | $50,000 |
| Anchorage Community Mental Health Services | Midtown Expansion Project | $75,000 |
| Hydaburg Cooperative Association | Naa Iwaans (Big Cedar House) Project – Final Phase | $50,000 |
| Choosing Our Roots | Kenai Peninsula Service Expansion Pilot Project | $50,000 |
| Bristol Bay Area Health Corporation Behavioral Health | Jake’s Place Renovation Project | $50,000 |
| Disability Law Center of Alaska | Juneau Benefits Advocacy Project | $45,000 |
| Arc of Anchorage | The Arc Realignment Project | $40,000 |
| Yakutat Tlingit Tribe | Yakutat Tlingit Tribe Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Shelter | $35,000 |
| Juneau Youth Services | JYS Sustainability Plan – Consulting Services | $30,000 |
| Juneau Housing First Collaborative | Beds and Mattresses | $28,000 |
| Alaska Community Foundation | ADN Homelessness Journalism Project Fund | $25,000 |
| Kenaitze Indian Tribe (IRA) | Harvest Campus Construction Project | $25,000 |
| Alaskan AIDS Assistance Association | Four A’s Syringe Access Program | $50,000 |
Contact: Allison Biastock, Chief Communications Officer
907.334.2531, allison.biastock@alaska.gov
