This Week's Updates

Alaska Department of Health sent this bulletin at 07/10/2026 12:42 PM AKDT

Alaska Commission on Aging logo

Alaska Virtual Self-Direction Forum Next Week

Sponsor and/or Exhibit at the Statewide Summit on Aging this October 

You're invited! Please join us this fall, either virtually or in-person at Turnagain Social Club in Anchorage for the Statewide Summit on Aging October 15-17. Continuing education credits are available. Stay tuned for early registration details this summer. 

Interested in sponsorship or exhibitor opportunities? Review our Sponsorship Prospectus here!

To register as a sponsor and/or exhibitor, visit myalaskatix.com/events/alaska-statewide-summit-on-aging-10-15-2026 and click "Buy Tickets." Exhibitor space is available on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Sponsorships are critical to ensuring rural voices are represented. Thank you for your support! 

If you have any questions, contact Jenny at jenny@northernlightsconsulting.org. Note: we have combined forces with the Aging and Disability Summit traditionally held at Special Olympics to bring you this Summit on Aging.

Alaska General Relief Assisted Living Home Program: FY27 Payment Rate Increase 

The State Fiscal Year 2027 Operating Budget (House Bill 263) signed by Governor Dunleavy on June 26, 2026, contains a rate increase for the General Relief Assisted Living Home (GRALH) program. In keeping with the legislative intent supporting the increased funding, the Alaska Department of Health Division of Senior and Disabilities Services have implemented the rate increase immediately. The minimum daily rate increased from the previous $109.32/day to $113.13/day for GRALH services provided on or after July 1, 2026.

The Department will be working later this year to draft and adopt regulations that make changes to minimum rates to reflect the increased daily rate. More information about the final enacted budget can be found at: https://omb.alaska.gov/fiscal-year-2027-enacted/

US Administration on Aging July Grant Announcements 

The Administration for Community Living's Administration on Aging has recently released more than 20 funding opportunities! Questions should be directed to AOA.OAA@acl.hhs.gov.

Alaska Virtual Self-Direction Community Forum July 14 

The Independent Living Network, in partnership with the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority, is hosting a statewide webinar for all Alaskans on Tuesday, July 14th from 1-3 PM to inform and discuss the potential for a self-directed services program under Alaska’s Medicaid home and community-based waivers. The Network wants to hear ideas and questions so it can make recommendations on how the state can design a program that will work best for Alaskans. Join to learn more about self-directed Medicaid waiver options. Meeting information is below.

Statewide Self-Direction Community Forum Zoom meeting:

For more information or questions, please contact sandra.heffern@effectivehealthdesign.com

Alaska Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Statewide Needs Assessment Due July 24

The Alaska Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) is conducting its Comprehensive Statewide Needs Assessment (CSNA) and invites all stakeholders to participate in a brief survey. The survey helps DVR identify strengths, service gaps, barriers to employment, and opportunities to improve services and employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities across Alaska. Responses will be reported in aggregate and will remain confidential. The survey takes approximately 5 minutes to complete and will remain open until Friday, July 24, 2026.

Survey Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5QJ329X

Questions? Email dol.dvr.info@alaska.gov

Federal ACF Kinship Support Funding Opportunities: Due August 7

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is inviting applications for two key grant initiatives that both close on August 7, 2026. Both grants require partnerships with Title IV–E agencies (in Alaska, Office of Child Services).

The first opportunity, Kinship Navigator Programs: Replication and Tribal Adaptation, offers up to $5 million in cooperative agreements. It aims to increase the implementation of evidence-based kinship navigator programs rated as promising, supported, or well-supported by the Title IV–E Prevention Services Clearinghouse. State and tribal child welfare agencies are encouraged to either replicate an approved navigator model or develop tribal-specific adaptations, provided the program’s core components are preserved. Awards are expected to range from $400,000 to $500,000, with cost-sharing requirements.

The second initiative, Kinship Navigator Programs: Evaluations, makes approximately $4.8 million available in cooperative agreements to support rigorous evaluations of existing kinship navigator programs run by eligible state or tribal agencies not currently operating under Title IV–E. Each award may total between $400,000 and $600,000, and recipients must complete a final report demonstrating positive outcomes. This initiative also requires cost sharing.

Indian Health Service: Addressing Dementia in Tribal Communities Funding: Due Sept 4

Indian Health Service's Alzheimer’s Program released the 2026 Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Addressing Dementia in Tribal and Urban Indian Communities: CAReS Program. This opportunity supports stronger, culturally responsive dementia care across the country. Applicants may apply for one of two funding tracks. Funding Available - 2026 Addressing Dementia in Tribal and Urban Indian Communities - Apply by September 4th. Option A: Offers up to $750,000 in the first year to one awardee to expand dementia care through mini-projects, training, and technical assistance. Option B: Offers up to $300,000 in the first year to one awardee to develop a caregiver support and training center. Federally recognized tribes, tribal organizations, urban Indian organizations, and qualified nonprofit organizations are encouraged to learn more and apply by September 4, 2026.

Federal Innovative Coordinated Access and Mobility Funding: Due September 9

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has released the Fiscal Year 2026 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Innovative Coordinated Access and Mobility (ICAM) Pilot Program. The FTA announced the opportunity to apply for $11,959,671 million in competitive grant funding to support transit services. Under the ICAM pilot program, funds awarded will finance innovative capital projects for the transportation-disadvantaged, with the goal to improve the coordination of transportation services and non-emergency medical transportation services for older adults, people with disabilities, and people of low income.

As required by Federal public transportation law and subject to appropriations, funds will be awarded competitively to eligible applicants. Eligible applicants are entities eligible for the Federal Transit Administration's Section 5310 Program including: State departments of transportation, designated recipients, local governmental entities that operate a public transportation service, or their eligible subrecipients including private non-profit organizations and operators of public transportation. Organizations that do not operate public transportation are not eligible applicants. Complete proposals must be submitted electronically by September 9, 2026. 

More details about the NOFO can be found on the FTA website. For further information contact Destiny Buchanan, FTA Office of Program Management, at destiny.buchanan@dot.gov. Eligible activities may include: Capital projects, as defined in 49 U.S.C. 5302(4), to improve the coordination of transportation and non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) services for older adults, people with disabilities, or people of low income, including: Mobility management projects; The deployment of coordination technology; Projects that create or increase access to one-call/one-click centers; and Vehicles for shared or coordinated transportation services.

Aging & Disability Events, Resources and News 

Disclaimer: The information and announcements included in this email are being redistributed for informational purposes only. Our agency does not necessarily endorse or support the views, opinions, or activities of these organizations, and inclusion in this email does not imply any affiliation or recommendation.