ANCHORAGE, Alaska (December 19, 2019) – The Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority (Trust) awarded more than $969,000 in grants to organizations across the state in the second quarter of fiscal year (FY) 2020.
These grants to community partners fund beneficiary supporting programs and initiatives that align with the Trust’s mission and values. These grants are a part of the trustee approved $24M grant program for FY 2020; which includes grants for Alaskan nonprofits, Tribal entities, state and local government agencies and service providers. Grants are awarded throughout the year.
“We know that real improvements in beneficiary outcomes won’t occur without collaboration and partnerships,” said Mike Abbott, CEO of the Trust. “We are proud to support these beneficiary-serving organizations and initiatives, and grateful for the professionals who are applying their skills and expertise to improving the lives of their fellow Alaskans.”
The mission of the Trust is to provide leadership in the advocacy, planning, implementing and funding of services and programs for Trust beneficiaries. Beneficiaries include Alaskans who experience mental illness, substance use disorders, developmental disabilities, Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias, and traumatic brain injuries.
Among the grants awarded in the second quarter of FY 2020:
JAMHI Health & Wellness, Inc.
Barrier free clinical support: $75,000
Trust funds will support JAMHI Health & Wellness fund a behavioral health clinician to provide barrier free support for Trust beneficiaries who reside at Forget Me Not Manor, the community’s permanent supportive housing program. Maintaining at-risk adults in a housing first model like the manor supports long term stabilization. JAMHI Health & Wellness also contributed funds for this initiative.
Association of Alaska School Boards (AASB)
Trauma-Engaged Toolkit for Alaskan Schools: $30,000
This grant builds on previous Trust investments in trauma-informed schools, and will assist school districts with implementation of a state-specific framework that has been developed. Trust funds will amplify efforts of AASB and the State Department of Education and Early Development, and allow for a trauma-informed toolkit to be finalized and disseminated to districts statewide. For students who have experienced trauma, trauma-informed practices help school staff foster positive early interactions that can improve health and education outcomes.
Sitka Homeless Coalition
Men’s Winter Night Shelter: $18,500
Trust funds will support the Sitka Homeless Coalition, who provides the Men’s Winter Night Shelter in the community offering a safe, indoor sleeping option for unsheltered men during winter nights when temperatures are expected to drop below 40 degrees, or the weather is particularly wet and stormy. The community has successfully implemented a shower and laundry program for the men identified to benefit from the shelter. The shelter will be an interim service until a more permanent housing solution can be implemented. The Sitka Legacy Foundation and the City and Borough of Sitka are also supporting this effort.
University of Alaska, Anchorage – Alaska Health Education Center (AHEC)
Youth and Teen Mental Health First Aid Instructor Training: $35,000
Using a curriculum developed by the National Council for Behavioral Health, school district and AHEC staff will receive instructor training allowing them to deliver a teen and youth specific mental health first aid training in communities across Alaska. Mental health first aid courses focus on how to help people developing a mental illness or experiencing a mental health or substance disorder crisis, and teaches best practice suicide prevention. In addition to the Trust and AHEC, the Anchorage School District is also supporting this training.
Below is a complete list of Trust grants awarded in the last quarter. You can learn more about the grants in a quarterly grant report posted online.
| Organization Name | Project Title | Grant Amount |
| NAMI Fairbanks | Fairbanks Police Department – Crisis Intervention Team Training | $24,125 |
| Southeast Alaska Independent Living, SAIL, Inc. | Transition Outreach and Program Development | $24,725 |
| Southeast Regional Resource Center, Inc. | Regional Special Education Teacher Trainings | $24,611 |
| Association of Alaska School Boards | Trauma-Engaged Toolkit for Alaskan Schools | $30,000 |
| Division of Behavioral Health, DHSS | Partnership Access Line – Pediatric Alaska (PAL PAK) Program Year 2 | $89,000 |
| University of Alaska Anchorage | Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Institute and Adolescent and Family Behavioral Health Conference | $30,000 |
| Valley Hospital Association | 2019 Mat-Su Community Health Assessment | $10,000 |
| Alaska Coalition on Housing & Homelessness | Alaska Housing Advocacy Day | $35,000 |
| Alaska Public Health Association | 2020 Alaska Public Health Summit | $2,500 |
| Anchorage Library Foundation | Community Resource Navigation Program – Assistant Social Worker | $75,000 |
| Beans Café, Inc. | Emergency Shelter Support | $25,000 |
| Bridges Community Resource Network, Inc. | Project Homeless Connect – 2020 | $5,000 |
| Christian Health Associates | FY20 Anchorage Project Access | $25,000 |
| Co-Occurring Disorders Institute, Inc. | Electronic Health Records Implementation | $50,000 |
| First Alaskans Institute | 2019 First Alaskans Institute Elders and Youth Conference | $2,500 |
| Hope Community Resources, Inc. | Deaf/Hard of Hearing Neuropsychological Access | $18,700 |
| JAMHI Health & Wellness, Inc. | Barrier free clinical support | $75,000 |
| Northern Hope Center, Fairbanks | Northern Hope Center Organizational Support | $80,631 |
| Providence Health and Services – Washington d.b.a. Providence Alaska Medical Center | Mental Health Counselor for Alaska CARES | $100,000 |
| Sitka Homeless Coalition | Men’s Winter Night Shelter in Sitka | $18,500 |
| Tanana Chiefs Conference | Sobering Center Lease-Cost Assistance Part 2 | $75,600 |
| UAA-Center for Human Development | Head Injury ECHO and Advisory Committee | $49,414 |
| University of Alaska Anchorage | Youth & Teen Mental Health First Aid Instructor Training | $35,000 |
| Valley Hospital Association | Behavioral Health Services in Mat-Su Schools | $25,000 |
| Standing Together Against Rape (STAR) | STAR Office Expansion | $25,000 |
| Blood-n-Fire Ministry of Alaska (Mat-Su) | Blood-n-Fire Ministry Gap Funding – Part 2 | $14,000 |
| Total | $969,306 |
Contact:
Allison Biastock, Chief Communications Officer 907.334.2531, allison.biastock@alaska.gov
