This Week's Updates

Alaska Department of Health sent this bulletin at 09/04/2026 01:14 PM AKDT

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DOH Office Hours at the Summit

Summit on Aging Event Flyer

Statewide Summit on Aging this October: Register Now!

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 15-17th. We have combined forces with the Aging and Disability Summit traditionally held at Special Olympics to bring you this Summit on Aging. Continuing education credits have now been approved. Attendees can receive up to 21 CE hours at the Summit.

View all Summit details, including the complete agenda, and register here.

Summit attendees have the opportunity to sign up for 15-minute one-on-one office hour segments with Alaska Department of Health leadership on Friday, October 16th between 10:00 AM and 12:00 PM. Bring your questions, ideas, concerns, or feedback and connect directly with DOH leaders about issues affecting older Alaskans, people with disabilities, caregivers, providers, and communities across the state. Space is limited. Please email yasmin.radbod@alaska.gov to reserve your time: first come, first served.

Our early bird discount of $250/3 days full Summit is available through September 15, 2026.

Alaskans ages 65+ and individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) have waived in-person registration fees. These spaces are limited, and registration is required. We are not accepting walk-ins at this time. We kindly request that you only register for the day(s) you plan to actively attend and participate in sessions. This helps make the Summit more accessible to all interested Alaskans. If registering online is not possible, please call 907-230-0871 to register. If you prefer to attend virtually instead, please contact us to complete registration.

Senior centers and organizations are welcome to contact us to coordinate their community member registrations and/or communal watch gatherings.

Interested in sponsorship opportunities? Review our Sponsorship Prospectus here. To register as a sponsor and/or exhibitor, click here. Sponsorships are critical to ensuring rural voices are represented. Thank you for your support! 

We are in the process of following up with all scholarship applicants. Thank you!

Our Summit hotel block is Homewood Suites by Hilton Anchorage at 101 W 48th Ave. If you are purchasing tickets to the Summit from out of town and wish to use our negotiated hotel rate for your stay, please use this link.

Flying to the Summit? Use this Alaska Airlines code for a 7% discount: ECMQ426. To use the Code, go online to www.AlaskaAir.com and input the Discount Code when searching for flights. The discount will be applied to any flights meeting the contract parameters. By clicking the “?” next to the discount code box after entering the code you may view a detailed description of the rules. 

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ACoA Quarterly Board Meeting Minutes 

Thank you to everyone who joined our board meeting last week. Meeting minutes will be available soon.

Community Rides Pilot Grant Program: Webinar Sept 8 & Apply by October 19 

Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility Technical Assistance Center (CCAM-TAC) is a national technical assistance center funded through a cooperative agreement with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and operated by the Community Transportation Association of America. CCAM‑TAC is now accepting applications for the 2027 Community Rides Pilot Grant Program, offering up to $100,000 for innovative projects that expand transportation access to healthcare, jobs, education, healthy food, and social services.

Eligible lead applicants include public transit providers, tribal transit, local governments, and nonprofit human service organizations. All proposals must include formal partnerships with community agencies such as healthcare systems, workforce boards, social service organizations, or educational institutions.

Register for the Informational Webinar September 8, 2026 at 9:00 AM AKT.

Addressing Brain Injuries with Rural Health Transformation: September Webinars 

The Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority is working to expand services for individuals with brain injuries by increasing awareness of key statewide resources, including the Alaska State Plan for Brain Injury, the Statewide Brain Injury Needs Assessment, the Brain Injury Council of Alaska, and related data tools. The first session they are offering is an online, public event designed to help participants understand this broader context. A second, hybrid session is intended for agencies that plan to apply for RHTP funding or already provide brain injury services. Rather than reviewing RHTP requirements, the Trust aims to create a space for agencies to discuss projects, build relationships, and explore opportunities for coordination. By ensuring providers understand current efforts and needs in Alaska’s brain injury service sector, the Trust hopes to support stronger partnerships and more complete letters of intent and grant applications, ultimately contributing to the growth of brain injury services across the state. Learn more here. 
End Abuse in Later Life Federal Grant Opportunity Due Sept 14
Training and Services to End Abuse in Later Life Program (Abuse in Later Life Program) assists states, Tribal governments and organizations, local governments, and nonprofit entities in supporting a comprehensive approach to addressing abuse in later life, including domestic/dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, neglect, abandonment, economic abuse, or willful harm committed against victims who are 50 years of age or older (older victims). Submit your application by September 14.
Alaska Transportation Funding for Seniors & People with Disabilities: Submit by Sept 18
The Alaska Community Transit Office (ACT) is pleased to announce that the SFY2028 Human Services Transportation Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) has been published. Thank you for your interest in improving mobility and transportation options for seniors, individuals with disabilities, and Alaska Mental Health Trust beneficiaries. 
The SFY2028 NOFO and related application materials are available on the ACT website homepage at: https://dot.alaska.gov/stwdplng/transit/
The Intent to Apply period for ACT administered funding opportunities opened on August 10 and closes on September 18, 2026, at 4:30 PM AKT. All applicants planning to apply for funding are encouraged to submit an Intent to Apply during this period. 
If you have any questions regarding the SFY2028 HST NOFO or the application process, please contact the ACT Office: dot.alaska.transit@alaska.gov 
AK Training Cooperative & Alzheimer's Resource Alaska: Dementia Care Skills Training Sept 25 in Anchorage  
Alaska Training Cooperative, in partnership with Alzheimer’s Resource Alaska, is offering a Dementia Care Skills Training September 25, 2026 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM in Anchorage at the address below. Registration costs are covered by the Alaska Statewide Dementia Training Project. 
Register for the training by making a free UAA account here.

This workshop teaches Teepa Snow’s Positive Approach to Care ®. Ideal for assisted living home staff, direct support providers and any staff providing care to a person living with dementia. Participants will learn dementia awareness and Positive Physical Approach® with Hand Under Hand®, Positive Action Starter, Teepa’s 5 Apologies and practice using those skills. 
Training location: 
Bragaw Office Complex
1901 Bragaw Street
Anchorage, AK 99508
Questions on the training? Contact: racook@alaska.edu. For help registering, contact: chdsupport@alaska.edu. 
2026 Alaska Health Information Exchange Summit October 7 

Registration is open for the 2026 Alaska Health Information Exchange Summit! Join healthcare professionals, leaders, policymakers, and community partners from across Alaska for a day of learning, collaboration, and discussion focused on health information exchange and the future of connected healthcare.

October 7, 2026 at Egan Center, Anchorage + Online Option. This event is free. Lunch included for in-person attendees. 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. (Doors open at 8:30 a.m.)

Learn more and register here!

AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP Program Funding Opportunity Q&A October 8 

AmeriCorps Seniors Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) engages adults aged 55 and older in a wide range of volunteer activities tailored to meet community needs. The program encourages applicants (tribal organizations, nonprofits, government entities) to identify unmet needs in their communities and describe how volunteers will address those gaps. AmeriCorps also seeks proposals aligned with its agency priorities, which for this funding opportunity include supporting older adults and caregivers, assisting older adults in re-entering the workforce, and preventing or mitigating fraud and scams.

A live budget and general Q&A session is scheduled for October 8 at 10:00 AM AKT.

Applications are due October 20, 2026 at 1:00 PM AKT.

2026 Employment First Conference October 12-13 Anchorage 

Employment First Conference Flyer

Monday - Tuesday, October 12-13, 2026 at the Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center in Anchorage.

This two day conference is intended for all sectors and sizes of employers, employment support providers, and individuals with disabilities ready to join the workforce. Topics provided include accommodations and accessibility in the workplace, healthcare workforce development programs, youth transitions to employment, labor force data, working with disability benefits information, and more! Also featured will be the Statewide Vocational Rehabilitation Committee's Business Awards, and keynote featuring the Rural Health Transformation Program. Visit to gain information and connection, meet providers and resource groups, and learn how workers with disabilities and employers can strike gold in Alaska's untapped workforce! Don’t miss out!

Register today!

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