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Greetings,
We wish you and your friends and families well during this time of the year. Winter Solstice is fast approaching, and then we get to receive more and more light each day. Please continue to safely connect with others during this time.
Looking forward to the New Year,
AMHB, ABADA, SSPC
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December 11, 2020 Resource Bulletin |
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Miss our last email? Past e-bulletins are posted in the left column on both the ABADA and AMHB websites. |
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Mental Health
The relationship between our immune system and mental health is important to consider, especially for people with pre-existing mental and physical health conditions.
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Survey for Alaskans: How has COVID-19 impacted you and your children?
We are seeking your input through an online survey that takes about 10 minutes to complete.
The Alaska Division of Public Health in partnership with others, including AMHB/ABADA, created this anonymous survey to learn about how Alaskans are doing mentally and physically in light of the pandemic. Earlier this year, over 4,000 Alaskans responded to a request for input through a series of three surveys on this topic. Results are being used to help identify areas of need and to coordinate pandemic response statewide.
Please click here to complete the survey:
Training: Body Project 4-week course
The Alaska Eating Disorder Alliance (AKEDA) partnered with the National Eating Disorders Association to provide this training which teaches young women to confront unrealistic appearance ideals and to start developing healthy body image and self-esteem. If you are interested in having a free course offered to a group of 6-8 young women, email brose.alaskaedalliance@gmail.com or jloudon.alaskaedalliance@gmail.com.
AKEDA will be holding their December support group for parents, siblings, spouses and friends of loved ones struggling with an eating disorder on December 16. Please email Evelyn Abello at eabello.alaskaedalliance@gmail.com to be invited to the confidential Zoom group.
Resource Guide Release: Empowerment Through Employment
The Governor’s Council on Disabilities and Special Education would like to announce the launch of this guide which contains many resources to support Alaskans experiencing a range of disabilities, including mental illness, substance use disorders, intellectual and/or developmental disabilities, and traumatic brain injuries. Alaska is an “Employment First” state and employment in the general workforce should be the first and preferred option for individuals with disabilities receiving assistance from publicly funded systems.
To access the guide, click here: http://dhss.alaska.gov/gcdse/Documents/EmpowermentThroughEmployment.pdf
Optum Provider Listserv and Technical Assistance Teleconferences
Next Date: December 16, 9-10:00am AKST
Optum Alaska is the Alaska Division of Behavioral Health's Administrative Service Organization, contracted to assist with administrative components of Alaska Medicaid behavioral health services. Provider trainings are held on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month, with time reserved at the end for Q&A. The next topic is:
"Service Authorizations and Claims"
To register, click here:
https://alaska.optum.com/content/ops-alaska/alaska/en/providers/provider-trainings.html
To sign up for alerts and other announcements from Optum Alaska, visit: https://alaska.optum.com/content/ops-alaska/alaska/en/providers/alerts/alert-email.html
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Alaska Careline
For someone to talk to, call anytime:
1-877-266-4357 (HELP) or text 4help to 839863
3-11 p.m. Tue-Sat
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Suicide Prevention & Postvention
Managing our mental health, substance use, and healthy relationships is always important. Physical isolation due to COVID-19 can make this more difficult.
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Report: 2020 National Veteran Suicide Prevention
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) released a report which found no significant increases in the Veteran suicide rate from 2017-2018, average suicide deaths per day or total count of Veteran suicides and found positive trends related to VA health care and suicide prevention efforts overall.
To view the report, click here: https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/mentalhealth/suicide_prevention/data.asp
For more information visit: https://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=5565
Article: CDC Concerned of High Rates of Suicidal Ideation Among Youth During Pandemic
The Washington Post published this article stating that the Centers for Disease Control is becoming increasingly alarmed about the high rates of suicidal ideation among youth since the onset of the pandemic. Federal surveys show that 40 percent of Americans now have at least one mental health or drug-related problem, but young adults have been hit harder than any other age group, with 75 percent struggling. Even more alarming, when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention asked young adults if they had thought about killing themselves in the past 30 days, 1 in 4 said they had.
For more information visit: https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/11/23/covid-pandemic-rise-suicides/
Iditarod Musher Launches Suicide Prevention Campaign in Honor of Cousin
Iditarod Musher Gunnar Johnson is launching a suicide prevention campaign during the 2021 race in honor of his late cousin, Benjamin Stassen, who died by suicide in 2010. He, along with Benjamin’s parents, Helen and Jay Stassen, and his brother Peter, is gathering the names of other victims of suicide to be carried in his dog sled from Anchorage to Nome. Once in Nome, the names will be presented during the annual Mushers’ Mass. The list will ultimately be burned, and the ashes spread on the frozen Bering Sea ice so when spring comes, the ashes will be swallowed up into the vast arctic seas.
For more information or to add a name to the list visit: https://gunnariditarodhope.com/
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Alaska Careline
For someone to talk to, call anytime:
1-877-266-4357 (HELP) or text 4help to 839863
3-11 p.m. Tue-Sat
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Substance Misuse & Recovery
As we continue to self-isolate to slow the spread of COVID-19, it is especially important to approach things one day at a time and to care for pre-existing health concerns such as substance misuse.
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Virtual Sober Winter Lounge
Recover Alaska continues to host their Virtual Sober Lounge, updated for the holidays. They have a calendar of events, a link to the zero-proof cocktail recipe book, links to podcasts, videos, and more.
To visit the lounge go here: https://recoveralaska.org/virtual-sober-lounge/
To access a helpful page of resources form Recover Alaska, click here.
Online Support Group: Alaska Al-Anon
Al-Anon Family Groups are a fellowship of relatives and friends of alcoholics who share their experience, strength, and hope with one another, in order to solve their common problems and help others do the same.
For more information, go to: https://al-anon-ak.org/
Presentation/Overview: Alaska Peer Support Certification
December 14, 1-2:30pm AKST
The Alaska Commission on Behavioral Health Certification (ACBHC) and members of the ACBHC Peer Certification Advisory Board will provide an orientation to the new Peer Support Certification which is to be available in January 2021. The presentation will describe the multi-year process to create the certification program, the different types and levels of certification, and the different sets of requirements for work experience and training. The application process will also be discussed with plenty of time for questions.
To register for the event, go here: https://ttclms.remote-learner.net
Quit Smoking Today!
Alaska’s Tobacco Quit Line is a free resource to assist in your nicotine recovery. The Quit Line offers a free starter kit with a two-week supply of patches, gum or lozenges, as well as supportive texts and emails, a quit guide, web coaching, and more. The Quit Line is currently offering enhanced services for individuals with behavioral health conditions, including an extended eligibility period for services and resources.
To learn more about these services or to get started, call 1-800-QUIT NOW (1-800-8669) or visit alaskaquitline.com.
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Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)
Many individuals with FASD have a high rate of pre-existing health conditions and often rely on the help of others. Below are resources for individuals and their caregivers.
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Blog: Supporting Individuals with FASD in the Workplace
This post written by a mother of an adopted daughter with FASD, offers helpful suggestions for people with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, including prepping for a job, workforce training programs, interviews, job coaches, and more.
For more information, go here:
https://oursacredbreath.com/2020/11/27/job-support-for-individuals-with-fasd/
Wednesday FASD Caregiver Support Group
December 30, 9-10:00am AKST
The December topic for the statewide FASD caregiver support group is "Nutrition to Support Children Who Have Experienced Trauma," on how to incorporate dietary changes to support the needs of young children, with Audrey Sunnyboy. This is a private Zoom for families and caregivers only. To receive the Zoom link or call in information, contact Jenn Wagaman at jenn.wagaman@alaskacenter.org or by phone or text at 907-371-8247.
To see upcoming trainings, click here: http://alaskacenter.org/fasdsupport/events/
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Justice Involved
We are told to practice physical distancing but how does that work for people living in correctional facilities? What support do people have when they return to the community? This section is for topics like these and more.
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Introducing: The Reentry Unit of the Alaska Department of Corrections
The Alaska Department of Corrections Reentry Unit works to reduce recidivism through advocacy, program support, providing technical assistance, and by connecting reentrants to community agencies, reentry coalitions and other resources throughout Alaska.
For more information, go here:
https://doc.alaska.gov/TskForce/
Video: "Step Inside the Circle"
This video, made by the Compassion Prison Project, offers a seven-minute exploration of the correlation between childhood trauma and the lives of the men and women who are incarcerated.
For more information, go to www.compassionprisonproject.org
To view the video, click here: https://youtu.be/FVxjuTkWQiE
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Other Resources/Opportunities
If you are an agency or an individual with a great resource or opportunity, send us an email and we'll try our best to include it here or in a section above.
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Funding Opportunity: Microenterprise Grants to Mental Health Trust Authority Beneficiaries
Deadline to apply: January 27
This grant program supports self employment
opportunities for Trust beneficiaries. The Trust works in
partnership with the University of Alaska Anchorage Center for Human Development which administers the program and provides business plan development support at no cost to the grantee.
Eligible applicants must be a Trust beneficiary, meaning that they experience a mental illness, substance use disorder, developmental disability, Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia, or traumatic brain injury.
To download the Press Announcement, click here.
For more information click here: https://alaskamentalhealthtrust.org/alaska-mental-health-trust-authority/grants/micro-enterprise/
Providers Needed: COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution
DHSS is seeking Alaska providers to help make the COVID-19 vaccine available in their community and enroll in a CDC COVID-19 Vaccine Program administered by the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services. As an enrolled provider, your facility will be eligible to order COVID-19 vaccines through the department’s immunization program and receive shipments of the vaccine from the distributor.
Learn more about enrolling in the program at the Alaska COVID-19 Vaccine Information Page for Healthcare Workers, by clicking here: http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/Epi/id/Pages/COVID-19/VaccineProviders.aspx
Survey: Governor’s Council on Disabilities and Special Education Satisfaction Survey
Due December 16, 12:00pm AKST
The Alaska Governor’s Council on Disabilities and Special Education would like your feedback on how well the Council is carrying out its mission (creating change that improves the lives of people with disabilities). Please note, this survey differs from the DD Vision Survey or 5-Year State Plan survey you may have recently completed in October/November of this year.
To take the survey, please click here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/35ZY9N2
Bring Back the Light
December 20, 5:00pm AKST
Alaska DHSS encourages each and every Alaskan, in a moment of statewide celebration, solidarity and reflection, to step outside with others in their household and light a candle or turn on lights, flashlights, headlamps or a lantern.
During this pandemic, Alaskans have shown considerable strength to adapt and take care of themselves and each other. On the eve of Winter Solstice, Alaskans will take a moment and come together to show support and gratitude for one another and their communities, take pride in their resiliency and look forward to brighter days ahead.
To view the event websites click below:
http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/Epi/id/Pages/COVID-19/general.aspx#light
https://www.facebook.com/events/374300443856257
To download a shareable press advisory click here.
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Questions? Comments? 
