Anchorage, Alaska (July 2, 2019) – The Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority awarded more than $1,287,000 in grants to organizations across the state in the fourth quarter of fiscal year (FY) 2019.
The Trust grants, on average, $20 million a year to Alaskan organizations that serve Trust beneficiaries, including various nonprofits, state agencies and projects that promote long-term systems change and/or innovative projects that improve the lives and circumstances of Trust beneficiaries. Grants are awarded throughout the year.
“Without the hard work of our community partners, many Trust beneficiaries would not have access to services or supports that help them live full and independent lives,” said Mike Abbott, CEO of the Trust. “We are proud to fund these beneficiary-supporting programs and initiatives that align with our values and our mission.”
The mission of the Trust is to provide leadership in the advocacy, planning, implementing and funding of services and programs for Trust beneficiaries.
Among the grants awarded in the fourth quarter of FY 2019:
Alaska Prisoner Reentry Initiative: Reentry Coalition Capacity Development
- Fairbanks: Alaska Center for Non-Violent Living, $100,000
- Mat-Su: Valley Charities, Inc., $100,000
- Anchorage: NeighborWorks Alaska, $100,000
- Juneau: JAMHI Health & Wellness, $100,000
Approximately forty percent of incarcerations annually are Trust beneficiaries. Trust beneficiaries are at increased risk for involvement with the criminal justice system, both as victims and defendants, due to their disabilities and other factors such as lack of community treatment services and supports.
One strategy for improving reentry outcomes is to foster “warm hand-offs” from correctional facilities to community-based services and supports for beneficiaries reintegrating into the community from incarceration. A key to strengthening these connections is the development and/or strengthening of reentry coalitions; particularly, in communities with a correctional facility. Reentry coalitions are a key part of the Trust’s effort to raise awareness about beneficiaries involved in the criminal justice system, and to provide beneficiaries the opportunity for positive, successful reintegration into our communities. Trust funds will support ongoing operation and development of reentry coalitions in the named communities.
Integrating Infant & Mental Health Approaches in Infant Learning
- Juneau: Reach, Inc., $50,000
This project concurrently addresses infant and early childhood mental health workforce development/capacity building, and directly serves young beneficiaries receiving early intervention services and their families. Trust funds will support a contractual relationship between the Juneau community’s Infant Learning Program and a clinician skilled in infant mental health to provide clinical consultation, screening, in-home assessment and treatment for children identified with developmental delays and their families.
Below is a complete list of Trust grants awarded last quarter. You can learn more about the grants in the quarterly grant report posted online.
- Alaska Association on Developmental Disabilities, DD Vision Summit, $5,000
- Alaska Federation of Natives, 2019 AFN Convention, $5,000
- Alaska Literacy Project, Inc., IMPACT Family Literacy Program, $10,000
- Alaska Public Media, Alaska Public Media Mental Health Content Initiative, $125,000
- Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness, Alaska Homeless Management Information System (AKHMIS), $27,000
- Anchorage Pediatric Group, Integrating Mental Health Services into Primary Care Pediatrics, $52,000
- Chickaloon Native Village/Chickaloon Village Traditional Council/Cook Inlet Tribal Council, Ya Ne Dah Ah Multi-Use Day Care Expansion, $25,000
- Community Connections, Inc., Family Focused Treatment Association Conference 2019 for Alaska Child Agencies, $7,000
- Cook Inlet Tribal Council, Inc., 2019 NYO Games Alaska , $2,500
- Disability Law Center of Alaska, Juneau Benefits Advocacy Project, $50,000
- FOCUS, Inc., Behavioral Support Pre-School Business Development, $15,000
- Girdwood Health Clinic, Inc., Girdwood health Clinic, Pre-development Project, $44,700
- Interior Alaska Center for Non-Violent Living, Alaska Prisoner Reentry Initiative: Reentry Coalition Capacity Development – Fairbanks, $100,000
- Interior Alaska Center for Non-Violent Living, Peer Support Specialist Training, $10,500
- JAMHI Health & Wellness, Alaska Prisoner Reentry Initiative: Reentry Coalition Capacity Development – Juneau, $100,000
- Juneau Cooperative Christian Ministry, Vulnerability Index Survey 2019, $6,500
- Kodiak Island Borough School District, Thread Bear Resale Shop, $2,000
- NeighborWorks Alaska, Alaska Prisoner Reentry Initiative: Reentry Coalition Capacity Development – Anchorage, $100,000
- Peer Power of Alaska, Third Annual Peer Power Self-Advocacy Summit, $15,000
- Polaris House, Individual Placement Supports, $50,000
- Providence Alaska Foundation, A New Home for Alaska CARES, $50,000
- Rasmuson Foundation, Rasmuson Foundation Summer Visit , $10,000
- REACH 907, 2019 June Trust-Based Relational Intervention Trauma Training, $2,500
- REACH, Inc., Integrating Infant & Family Mental Health Approaches in Infant Learning Program, $50,000
- Set Free Alaska, Homer Residential SUD Capacity Building, $300,000
- Sound Alternatives, Cordova Complex Behavior Collaborative, $5,000
- Southeast Alaska Independent Living, FY19 Pre-Employment Transition Supports Flex Funds, $7,245
- The Arc of Anchorage Alaska, Alliance of Direct Support Professionals Launch, $10,800
- Valley Charities, Inc., Alaska Prisoner Reentry Initiative: Reentry Coalition Capacity Development – Mat-Su, $100,000
Contact: Allison Biastock, Chief Communications Officer, 907.334.2531, allison.biastock@alaska.gov