Anchorage, Alaska (April 11, 2019) – The Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority (The Trust) has awarded over $1,145,000 in grants to organizations across the state in the third quarter of fiscal year 2019.
The Trust grants, on average, $20 million a year to Alaska organizations that serve Trust beneficiaries, including various nonprofits, state agencies and projects that promote long-term system change and/or innovative projects that improve the lives and circumstances of Trust beneficiaries. Grants are awarded throughout the year.
“With Trust grant funds, our aim is to improve the lives of our beneficiaries,” said Mike Abbott, CEO of the Trust. “We are proud to work with our community partners and, in many cases, funding partners to support these important projects.”
Among the recipients of grants awarded in the third quarter of FY 2019:
Abused Women’s Aid in Crisis, Inc. (AWAIC)
Safe Spaces Expansion and Renovation: $50,000
Trust funds will help to increase AWAIC’s capacity and ability to provide services at their current 52-bed emergency shelter for victims of domestic violence. Approximately 60% of those receiving services at AWAIC are Trust beneficiaries. This grant will help support AWAIC’s expansion project to increase the number of beds by 15, add space for direct service advocates and case managers to meet with participants, provide more work space for staff and increase space for donation sorting as well as intake rooms. Services provided at AWAIC include safe shelter, food and clothing, case management and access to additional supportive services throughout our community.
Eastern Aleutian Tribes, Inc.
King Cove Elder Center Start-up: $36,675
Trust funds will help support the start-up of an Elder Center in King Cove, Alaska. This center will provide local Elders, including Trust beneficiaries, the opportunity to get out of their homes on a regular basis, socialize with friends and others in the community and have regular contact with health care providers. The Elder Center Program will include daily hot lunches, social, recreational, and health education activities, engagement with youth and transportation to the facility. This project supports area Trust beneficiaries, including individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia, Elders struggling with substance use and addiction and Elders who are dealing with depression due to social isolation, inactivity and lack of connection to cultural activities.
Anchorage School District
Suicide Awareness and Prevention Materials: $15,000
Trust funds will help ASD with materials to deliver youth suicide prevention training to all the staff, faculty, and youth within their high schools through the evidenced-based practice of Question, Persuade, and Refer, coupled with peer-to-peer training. This project aims to train approximately 10,000 high school aged youth in the next year.
thread Alaska
Early Childhood Expulsion & Suspension in Alaska (Research & Strategic Planning): $20,000
Trust funds will support the establishment of baseline data relating to early childhood expulsion and suspension rates as a key indicator of early childhood health and a strong predictor of mental health outcomes later in life. These data are needed for informed planning related to the Trust’s development of early intervention and prevention strategies to help keep Alaskans, whenever possible, from becoming Trust Beneficiaries.
Below is a list of Trust grants awarded last quarter, you can learn more about the grants in the quarterly grant report posted online.
- Rural Alaska Community Action Program, Inc., $150,000, Sitka Place Permanent Supportive Housing
- United Human Services of Southeast Alaska, $75,000, The Juneau Social Service Nonprofit Center
- Love INC Fairbanks, $50,000, 609 3rd St Partnership Grant
- Rural Alaska Community Action Program, Inc., $50,000, Safe Harbor Improvement Project
- Abused Women’s Aid in Crisis, Inc., $50,000, AWAIC Safe Spaces Expansion & Renovation
- Eastern Aleutian Tribes, Inc., $36,675, King Cove Elder Center Start-Up Project
- Alaska Primary Care Association, $33,000, Stipends for DSP Trainees
- Bartlett Regional Hospital, $25,000, Bartlett Regional Hospital SAFFE Furniture for RRC, MHU, and BOPS
- Alaska Sports Hall of Fame, $25,000’ Healthy Futures Middle School Challenge App
- Anchorage School District, $15,000, Suicide awareness and prevention materials
- University of Alaska Child Welfare Academy, $4,200, Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Institute
- Cook Inlet Tribal Council, Inc., $3,000, FASD Into Action Training
- Stone Soup Group, $2,500, 2019 Parent Conference: Transforming Challenging Behavior into Meaningful Communication
- Hope Community Resources, Inc., $2,000, TBI Treatment and Behavioral Health Educational Conference
- Spirit of Youth, $1,500, 20th Annual Spirit of Youth Awards (FY19)
- Healthy Futures Alaska – Alaska Sports Hall of Fame, $1,000, Positive Leadership for Active Alaska Youth (PLAAY) Summit (FY19)
- FOCUS, Inc., $94,200, Adult Transition Connections to Long Term Supports
- Frontier Community Services, $50,000, Supported Employment IPS
- Alaska Mental Health Consumer Web, $25,000, Alaska Mental Health Consumer Web – Neuropsychiatric Evaluation Assistance (FY19)
- The Foraker Group, $22,000, CHOICES, Inc. Financial Services
- UAA Business Enterprise Institute, $10,000, Testbed for Innovative Enterprises (TIE)
- Juneau Housing First Collaborative, $350,000, Juneau Housing First Collaborative Phase 2
- Anchorage School District, $40,000, ASD Mental Health Consultative Model
- thread Alaska, $20,000, Early Childhood Expulsion & Suspension in Alaska (Research & Strategic Planning)
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Contact: Allison Biastock, Chief Communications Officer, 907.334.2531