The Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority (Trust) awarded more than $2.3 million in grants to beneficiary-serving organizations in the final quarter of fiscal year 2022 (FY 2022).
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, part of the Trust’s approximately $25 million annual grant program, fund beneficiary-supporting programs and initiatives that align with the Trust’s mission and values.
“Understanding the importance of a robust system of care that Trust beneficiaries need to thrive, we are pleased to be able to support so many organizations and initiatives that provide essential support and services,” said Steve Williams, CEO of the Trust. “The Trust’s grant program is designed to support and improve Alaska’s full continuum of care, from prevention, to intervention and treatment, to post-treatment, and these awards really help address the system’s needs. We appreciate all efforts of Trust beneficiary-serving partners who are making real improvements in the lives of 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 $5,075,500.
Among the grants awarded in the fourth quarter ofFY 2022:
Youth Traumatic and Acquired Brain Injury (TABI) Program Coordinator
Southeast Regional Resource Center, Inc. (SERRC), $93,074, Juneau
This initiative is an Alaska statewide response to the long-identified need for Return to Learn (post brain injury accommodations in schools) and community-based TABI resources for youth. The project aims to build infrastructure for coordinated and long-term services for youth affected by TABI and their families, including developing a streamlined community and school service referral process to ensure beneficiary youth needs are met.
Mountain View Health Services is a non-profit community health clinic in the Mountain View neighborhood of Anchorage that is seeking to plan expansion of behavioral health supports for beneficiaries living in the community. Trust funds will support consultation with technical assistance support to explore additional services such as behavioral health crisis stabilization services and the potential implementation of a Clubhouse model, a recognized community mental health service model that provides people experiencing a mental illness opportunities for friendship, education, and access to services in a single caring and safe environment.
Trust funding is supporting a full-time Crisis Now Community Planning Coordinator position in Ketchikan who will serve as the liaison between the local community implementation team, the Trust, and consultants throughout the development of improved behavioral health crisis response services in Ketchikan. Supporting this position and the stand-up of improved crisis response services in Ketchikan is a part of the Trust’s larger effort to transform mental health crisis response in Alaska.
