ANCHORAGE, Alaska (February 15, 2022) – The Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority (Trust) board of trustees recently approved several large grants totaling more than $1.1 million to Trust beneficiary-serving partner organizations across the state. These grants represent investments in supportive housing for Trust beneficiaries, workforce development, and improving communications systems that support Trust beneficiary service delivery.
The Trust grants, on average, $25 million a year to Alaska organizations that serve Trust beneficiaries. Grants support nonprofits, providers, state and local agencies, and projects that promote long-term system change or innovative solutions that improve the lives and circumstances of Trust beneficiaries.
“These grant investments are a great illustration of how the Trust uses its resources to implement systems change improvements within our continuum of care,” said Trust CEO Steve Williams. “We are grateful to our partners at the state and in the behavioral health care sector for their work championing new and innovative solutions to meet Trust beneficiary needs and improve the systems that serve vulnerable Alaskans.”
The Trust’s recently approved large (over $100,000) grants are listed below. For many of these projects and initiatives, the Trust joins other funding partners.
• Recidivism Reduction & Recovery Project
Set Free Alaska: $250,000 (Mat-Su)
This project addresses the primary risk factors of ongoing criminal activity and substance misuse through an innovative therapeutic campus model, offering both treatment and wraparound supports. Trust funds are supporting a residential facility that will house up to 30 Trust beneficiaries and provide a comprehensive recidivism reduction and recovery model that includes supportive housing, certified peer support, therapeutic treatment, education and job skills, and intensive case management.
• Adult Residential Treatment Housing
The Arc of Anchorage: $216,000 (Anchorage)
This Trust grant is providing startup funding for operations and facility upgrades for three residential homes to be used for adult residential treatment in Anchorage. The homes will serve adults exiting the Department of Corrections who experience intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD), symptoms of mental illness, and/or substance use challenges. The homes will provide a stable environment that supports reintegration into the community and where residents can receive intensive clinical treatment services. Currently, resources for reintegration and support services for individuals experiencing an IDD and mental health diagnoses are severely limited.
• OpenBeds Real-Time Treatment Facility Availability Platform
Alaska Department of Health and Social Service (DHSS), Division of Public Health: $285,000 (Statewide)
OpenBeds is a secure, cloud-based behavioral health capacity and referral platform that provides real-time access and referral capabilities between call centers, providers, and stakeholders, as well as community members seeking services through a public-facing referral webpage. Trust funds will support the continued and expanded use of the OpenBeds platform which is currently utilized by the state and numerous health care providers to help communicate treatment facility availability, data analytics, and more.
• Alaska Careline: Infrastructure Development
Interior Alaska Center for Non-Violent Living (IAC): $197,400 (Statewide)
Later this year, a Federal Communications Commission-approved three-digit dialing code, 988, will become the nationwide National Suicide Prevention Lifeline phone number. Currently, the Careline, Alaska’s crisis hotline operated by IAC, responds to Alaska behavioral health crisis calls statewide. When 988 comes online, calls to 988 made in Alaska will be routed to the Careline, resulting in an anticipated increased call volume. The Trust’s grant funding will help increase Careline capacity through additional technology and infrastructure, and call counselor and management positions.
• SHARP Workforce Recruitment and Direct Incentive Support
Alaska Psychiatric Institute (API): $255, 150 (Statewide)
Trust funds will support SHARP program contracts for three advanced nurse practitioners, one physician’s assistant, and two medical doctors at API. SHARP is a state program run by DHSS that improves professional recruitment and retention by providing loan reimbursement or direct financial incentives to medical and behavioral health practitioners who commit to working in the state. These six SHARP contracts with API clinicians will help stabilize the staffing pattern for the hospital, which directly impacts Trust beneficiaries receiving treatment at API.
The Trust accepts grant applications year-round. You can learn more about Trust grant opportunities on the Trust grants webpage.
Contact: Allison Biastock, Chief Communications Officer, allison.biastock@alaska.gov