AMHTA to disburse more than $2.3 million in grants to mental health assistance programs in Alaska

By

Shane Ersland

|

Alaskans who face various mental health challenges will benefit from the disbursement of more than $2.3 million in Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority (AMHTA) grants.

 

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AMHTA provides funding for Alaska nonprofits, state and local government agencies, tribal entities, and service providers. Beneficiaries include Alaskans who experience mental illness, substance use disorders, intellectual and developmental disabilities, traumatic brain injuries, and Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias.

“Understanding the importance of a robust system of care that [AMHTA] beneficiaries need to thrive, we are pleased to be able to support so many organizations and initiatives that provide essential support and services,” AMHTA CEO Steve Williams said in a statement. “The 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 [AMHTA] beneficiary-serving partners who are making real improvements in the lives of Alaskans.”

Award winners include:

  • The Youth Traumatic and Acquired Brain Injury (TABI) program at Southeast Regional Resource Center, Inc., in Juneau, which will receive $93,074. The initiative is a statewide response to the long-identified need for Return to Learn (which focuses on post-brain injury accommodations in schools) and community-based TABI resources for youths. The project aims to build infrastructure for coordinated and long-term services for youths affected by TABI and their families, including developing a streamlined community and school-service referral process to ensure beneficiary youth needs are met.
  • The Mountain View Health Services Behavioral Health Planning project at Mountain View Health Services in Anchorage, which will receive $50,000. Mountain View is a nonprofit community health clinic that is seeking to plan the expansion of behavioral health supports for beneficiaries living in the community. Funds will support consultation and technical assistance support to explore additional services, including behavioral health crisis stabilization  and the potential implementation of a Clubhouse International model. Clubhouse International is a community mental health service model that provides people experiencing a mental illness opportunities for friendship, education, and access to support in a caring and safe environment.
  • The Ketchikan Crisis Now program at the Ketchikan Wellness Coalition, which will receive $100,000. Funding will support a full-time Crisis Now community planning coordinator position in Ketchikan who will serve as the liaison between the local community implementation team, AMHTA, and consultants throughout the development of improved behavioral health crisis response services in the city. Supporting this position and the establishment of improved crisis response services in the region is part of AMHTA’s effort to transform mental health crisis response in Alaska.