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Alaska Training Cooperative & Alzheimer's Resource Alaska: Older Adult Mental Health & Dementia Free Trainings in Valdez May 21-22 

Mental Health First Aid for Older Adults Training May 21st from 8:30 am - 5:00 pm is designed to take the fear and hesitation out of starting conversations about mental health and substance use problems experienced by adults over 65. This course aims to improve our understanding of various disorders and provide an action plan to teach us to safely and responsibly identify and address a potential mental illness or substance use disorder while distinguishing these signs from typical aging. Contact Jill Ramsey at jdramsey2@alaska.edu with questions.

Dementia Care Skills Workshop May 22nd from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm introduces participants to dementia; how it affects the brain, sensory system and visual range. Participants will discuss normal vs not normal aging traits. Participants will learn & practice Positive Physical Approach® interaction skills to navigate challenging behaviors, role play common caregiving situations and utilize their physical skills, including ways to ‘activate’ their care partner. Contact Riki Chapman at racook@alaska.edu with questions.

Register here.

You must have a UAA Continuing Studies account to register (free). If you need assistance with Account Creation, reach out to Riki at 907-322-1881 Monday-Friday from 9am-4pm or email chdsupport@alaska.edu.

Registration fees for these trainings have been covered by the Alaska Statewide Dementia Training Project. Catered lunch will be provided each day.

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USDA: Distance Learning & Telemedicine (DLT) Grants Application Due June 30 

This competitive program helps rural communities use advanced telecommunications technology to connect to each other - and the world - overcoming the effects of remoteness and low population density. The DLT program is targeted to rural areas with populations 20,000 or fewer.

Based on Fiscal Year 2026 appropriated funding, the agency estimates that approximately $27 million will be available. To learn more about recently funded DLT projects, Rural Development has developed a map of recently funded DLT projects. All upcoming events will be posted on the events program tab.

For both programs, eligible applicants include most entities that provide education or health care through telecommunications, including:

• State and local governmental organizations
• Federally-recognized Tribes
• Non-profit organizations
• Incorporated, for-profit businesses
• Groups of eligible entities working
  together

Older Americans Act Title VI Tribal Grantees: Improvements for Patients & Providers Act (MIPPA) Funding for Beneficiary Outreach and Assistance

This is a Federal Fiscal Year 2026 Tribal MIPPA Funding Opportunity. This funding provides a minimum of $4,000 per grantee to support outreach and assistance to Native American elders, helping them access vital Medicare benefits.

To ensure immediate readiness to initiate funded activities upon award, applicants must submit a detailed program plan as part of the initial grant application package. Please note that plans submitted after the application deadline will not be accepted.

Your program plan (two pages maximum) must describe how your tribe intends to use the requested funds to fulfill the following requirements:

Focus Area	Plan Requirements
Objective	Reach as many eligible Native American elders as possible with information and education about the Medicare subsidies and benefits that are available to them.
Activities	Organize and promote at least two community announcements. Host at least two outreach events aimed at informing eligible elders about Medicare Part D, Low-Income Subsidy (LIS), Medicare Savings Programs (MSP), and Medicare prevention benefits and screenings.
Expected Outcomes	Increased awareness among eligible Native American elders regarding Medicare Part D, LIS, MSP, and prevention benefits. Enhanced access to resources and support for elders to navigate their Medicare options effectively.

Submission Details:

• Due Date: Tuesday, July 7, 2026, 7:59 p.m. AKT
• How to Apply: Submit your completed application and program plan via email to MIPPA.Grants@acl.hhs.gov.

Please review the application form and instructions for complete details. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out: Jasmine.Aplin@acl.hhs.gov

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IHS Small Ambulatory Program (SAP) Funding for Tribes Closes August 3 

Section 306 of the IHCIA, P.L. 94-437, authorizes the Indian Health Service to award funds to Tribes and/or Tribal organizations for construction, expansion, or modernization of ambulatory health care facilities. Where non-Indians will be served in a facility, the funds awarded under this authority may be used only to support construction proportionate to services provided to eligible American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people. The SAP program was funded for $25 million in Fiscal Year 2025 and funded for $25 million in Fiscal Year 2026, setting the amount available for the combined FY 2025 and FY 2026 SAP at $50 million. During this award cycle, the maximum amount is $3.5 million for each awarded project.

Eligible participants include: 

• Only federally recognized Tribes that operate non-IHS outpatient facilities under P.L. 93-638 contracts are eligible to apply for this program.
• Facilities for which construction is funded under Section 301 or Section 307 of P.L. 94- 437 are not eligible for this type of program.
• Priority will be given to Tribes that can demonstrate a need for increased ambulatory health care services and insufficient capacity to deliver such services.
• The completed facility will be available to eligible Indians without regard to ability to pay or source of payment.
• The applicant can demonstrate the ability to financially support services at the completed facility.
• Funding may be used for:
  • Construction of a new satellite facility
  • Construction of a replacement facility
  • Expansion of an existing facility
  • Modernization of an existing facility
• The completed facility will:
  • Have sufficient capacity to provide the required services.
  • Serve at least 500 eligible AI/AN people annually.
  • Provide care for a service area with a population of at least 2,000 eligible persons

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Safe and Accessible Forensic Interviewing with Elders Alaska Training August 25-26

Elder serving organizations and agencies are invited to attend a two-day Safe and Accessible Forensic Interviewing with Elders (SAFE) training seminar at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Anchorage, Alaska, on Tuesday, August 25th to Wednesday, August 26th, 2026. This training will be offered both in-person in our spaces in Anchorage and remotely for personnel that may be outside of the Anchorage area.

This training is designed for financial and fraud investigators, detectives, victim advocates, and any personnel that may interact with elderly victims of fraud or identity theft. Because the remote option can accommodate more personnel than the in-person space, they encourage anyone who could potentially benefit to attend virtually if you are outside of the Anchorage area.

Please RSVP via email to olivia.young@usdoj.gov and https://forms.gle/CieHC5SzVnJhGFbA8 (Google Document) if you intend to participate in this training, and feel free to disseminate this invitation through your organizations to potentially interested partners. 

Justice in Aging: Supplemental Security Income Basics Webinar May 20

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a vital benefit for extremely low-income older adults or people with disabilities who cannot work enough to meet their basic needs. The eligibility requirements and rules governing the program are complicated and confusing. Becoming familiar with the rules will help advocates ensure clients can get benefits and keep them.

Join Justice in Aging May 20th at 10:00 am AKT for the webinar, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Basics, which will explain the benefits SSI provides, how SSI differs from other Social Security benefits, the eligibility requirements for the program, and strategies to prevent individuals from having their benefits incorrectly reduced or terminated. This webinar will be most useful to aging, disability, and legal aid providers and advocates who work with individuals who might be eligible for SSI.

After viewing this training, attendees will be able to:

• Recognize and explain the difference between SSI and Social Security Benefits;
• Identify individuals likely to qualify for SSI; and
• Assess potential obstacles to SSI eligibility.

Background Information for Attendees:

• FAQ: Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Facts About Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI): In-Kind Support Rules
• The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Restoration Act

Alaska News

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A Closer Look at Rural Nursing Homes