Priority: Ongoing Support & Wellbeing
"Do not give up on your dreams because someday your dream will come true. You'll be able to live on your own."
– Jennifer, Trust Beneficiary
Every Trust beneficiary has the support needed to live with dignity and self-determination across the lifespan.
Overview
Areas of work supported through this priority area could include:
- Home and community based services (HCBS)
- Health related social needs (HRSN)
- Beneficiary housing
- Community engagement and integration including reentry
- Beneficiary employment
- Home modifications and assistive technology
- Caregiver supports
- Self-directed services
The Trust invests in ongoing supports that sustain beneficiaries’ quality of life, self‑direction, and connection to their communities. Guided by Priority 4 of the Trust’s Strategic Planning Framework, this work strengthens the everyday services that help beneficiaries live safely and successfully in their homes and communities.
This priority promotes initiatives that support daily living needs so beneficiaries can maintain independence and reduce the risk of crisis or institutional care. It also emphasizes person‑centered services, family and caregiver supports, case management, and navigation to ensure beneficiaries receive coordinated, reliable help that aligns with their goals and preferences.
Through this priority area the Trust also invests in programs that foster community engagement and inclusion, helping beneficiaries build relationships and participate fully in community life. Home and community‑based services further support beneficiaries by providing individualized care that allow them to remain in the least restrictive environments.
Together, these efforts create a strong foundation of wellbeing that complements the Trust’s prevention, crisis, and treatment priorities. By supporting beneficiaries with the practical, day‑to‑day services they need, the Trust helps build healthier, safer, and more inclusive communities where individuals can live with autonomy and dignity.
Alignment with the Comp Plan
This Trust priority aligns most closely with the following areas of focus within Strengthening the System: Alaska’s Comprehensive Integrated Mental Health Program Plan (Comp Plan). The plan is developed by the Department of Health and the Department of Family and Community Services with support from the Trust and in coordination with community stakeholders. The Comp Plan identifies priorities for the next five years to inform planning and funding decisions to meet the needs of Trust beneficiaries.
- Area of Focus 2: Healthcare
- Area of Focus 3: Economic and Social Well-Being
- Area of Focus 7: Services in the Least Restrictive Environment
Contact
Resources
- HCBS One-Pager
- HCBS Infographic (NASDDDS, NAMD, Advancing States)
- Medicaid Administrative Claiming, HCBS - August 2024 (recording of webinar)
- Caregiver Resource Guide, Alaska Dementia Action Collaborative (2022)
- FY18 Shared Vision for Developmental Disabilities Final Report (July 2018)
- A Call to Action - Alaska's 10-Year Map to Address ADRD (2021)
- Prevention-Diversion-Rapid-Exit-July-2019.pdf (usich.gov)
- Addressing Health-Related Social Needs in Communities Across the Nation (2023, HHS)