At the close of the second quarter of fiscal year 2026, the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority awarded $7,216,838 in grants to organizations that provide services to Alaskans struggling with mental health issues.
The Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority is “a state corporation that administers the Mental Health Trust, a perpetual trust, created to ensure that Alaska has a comprehensive mental health program to serve Trust beneficiaries.” Trust funds support efforts to help Alaskans suffering from mental illness, developmental disabilities, substance use disorders, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, traumatic brain injuries, and underlying causes of mental illness.
The Trust’s cash assets are mostly invested and managed by the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation (APFC) with some funds managed by the Department of Revenue Treasury Division. The Trust generates revenue through land leasing and sales; commercial timber sales; mineral exploration and production; coal, oil and gas exploration and development; and sand, gravel and rock sales.
The second quarter grant awards support 11 organizations addressing mental illness, 4 organizations focused on disability resources, 1 organization addressing substance-use disorders, 1 organization providing Alzheimer’s and dementia support services, 1 organization addressing homelessness, 1 organization providing foster care resources, 1 organization focused on criminal reentry support, and 1 organization providing caregiver support for senior citizens.
Funds for Mental Illness
The Alaska Public Health Association received $25,000 to provide personnel and planning support for the 2026 Alaska Public Health Summit. The funds will also pay for 5-7 scholarships covering travel, lodging, and registration for the summit.
The Fairbanks Mobile Crisis Team (MCT) received $950,000 to pay for personnel, travel for training, rent and utilities for the crisis team base, medical and PPE supplies, communication equipment, critical software, insurance, and indirect costs. Fairbanks MCT provides 24/7 response to people experiencing severe mental health crises. The Mat-Su MCT also received a grant for $1,193,275 to cover operation costs.
Anchorage Neighborhood Health Center received $267,388 to fund the 2-year “Social Determinants of Health Navigation Pilot Program.” The program intends to integrate Health Related Social Needs navigation into patient care.
The Association of Alaska School Board received $300,000 for project THRIVE, which aims to promote “trauma engaged schools.” The program also helps students and families navigate entrance to kindergarten or transition to middle school.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Alaska received $49,984 to launch their Big Futures program, created to help troubled youth with career development.
Blossom House received $7,500 to fund trauma-informed programs that help youth detained at the Fairbanks Youth Facility, a juvenile justice facility.
Christian Health Associates received $300,000 to hire a Mental Health Counseling Coordinator and support general operations for three years.
The Ciri Foundation received $28,580 to develop a program to help Alaska Native young adults recover from trauma and develop coping skills.
North Star Community Foundation received $50,000 to support “Healing Through Music and Dance 2026,” a series of workshops and performances aimed at helping youth with mental health challenges.
The Petersburg Medical Center received $81,960 to expand tele-psychiatry services and local staff.
Southcentral Foundation received $2,955,983 to provide 3-year start-up funding for the Yeshjesh T’uh Project, which aims to address urgent service gaps in Alaska’s behavioral health system.
Funds for Disability Services
The Keli Center for Adaptive Sports received $250,000 to renovate and expand their adaptive recreation facility, which serves Alaskans with disabilities.
Nine Star Enterprises, Inc. received $50,000 for establishing a Center for Workforce Excellence aimed at reducing barriers to the workforce, especially for disabled Alaskans.
REACH received $10,664 to support the “DeafBlind Immersion” training program that will train 60 caregivers helping deaf and blind Alaskans.
Valley Charities, Inc. received $9,004 to purchase an accessible door for their Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Lending Program, which helps Mat-Su residents obtain disability equipment like wheelchairs, walkers, canes, hospital beds, etc.
Funds for Substance Use Disorders
The Alaska Center for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) received $50,000 to train 125 frontline staff to “address complex behaviors linked to neurodevelopment and trauma-related conditions.”
Funds for Alzheimer’s and Dementia
ALZ Cares received $82,500 to hire a Program Manager.
Funds for Homelessness
Kenai Project Homeless Connect received $5,000 to pay for a facility rental.
Funds for Foster Care
Facing Foster Care in Alaska received $250,000 to expand their peer support network and peer navigation services.
Funds for Criminal Reentry
The Ketchikan Reentry House received $150,000 to provide rent to approximately 24 Alaskans reentering society after incarceration.
Funds for Senior Citizens
The Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program received $150,000 to support unpaid family caregivers as they care for their elderly loved ones.
Is there any oversight or accountability once these funds are disbursed? Any tracking to determine effectiveness or success?
Money for nothing. This money that flows out of the state coffers goes into a few pockets and the problems with the mentally incapable on our streets changes not one bit.
Maybe re-read the list of NGOs Robert. Only one NGO focuses on homelessness.
Good questions. I asked a friend who works at one of these NGOs what the organization actually did- she didn’t know. Their web site says a lot of words which mean nothing. I looked it up on Charity Navigator- they did not rate it due to a lack of response to their inquiries. From their ads on media, it appears they advertise programs which are run by other agencies. The whole NGO thing is in need of audit by the state or IRS before getting our tax dollars.
We’re grateful for the community support behind this grant. One small clarification: the young people in Big Brother Bg Sisters of Alaska’s Big Futures aren’t “troubled.” Many are navigating challenges like financial stress, the loss of a loved one, family transitions, or involvement in foster care. We try to use language like “youth experiencing adversity,” which better reflects their resilience and strengths.
I have concerns about some of this funding. Where is the over sight? I can come up with a word salad that sounds good, but means nothing. I just want to make sure the funding goes to those that need it, and it can make a difference.
Wow. they could have put all this money into one project! A state hospital for the criminally insane.
Someone can hurt or murder someone, and a judge won’t let them go to trial because they are not competent. So what do we do? Put them back out on the streets. API is a joke in that it has 15 beds. It is a disgrace that the money Alaska has that it can be given to all these non-profits that really do little in accomplishing their goals. There lies the problem in AK, over One 8,000 non-profits writing grants that don’t really accomplish much to help the people they should.