Several Valley organizations receive grants from Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority

WASILLA — Several Mat-Su Valley organizations recently received over $200,000 in grants from the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority who awarded over $1.98 million in grants to recipients across the state.

The Trust Authority issues these statewide grants throughout the year to Alaska nonprofits, Tribal entities, state and local government agencies, and service providers that serve Trust beneficiaries, according to a recent press release. The annual grant program awards about $25 million a year.

Examples of beneficiaries include Alaskans who experience mental illness, substance use disorders, intellectual and developmental disabilities, Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, and traumatic brain injuries.

The Trust Authority is a state corporation dedicated to supporting Alaskans experiencing mental illness, intellectual and developmental disabilities, substance use disorders, Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia, and traumatic brain injuries through the Mental Health Trust to ensure comprehensive mental health programs statewide.

Organizations such as Valley Charities, Inc., CCS Early Learning, and the Mat-Su Health Foundation received grants for their continued efforts and community projects reflecting the Trust Authority’s mission and values.

Valley Charities received $100,000 to support prisoner reentry programs. CCS was awarded $50,000 to expand mental health services in their Head Start program. MSHF got a $100,000 grant for community development.

“With these grants, Trust funds are meeting their intended purpose of working to improve the lives and ``circumstances of Trust beneficiaries,” Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority CEO Mike Abbott stated in the press release, “With Trust funding, our grantees are helping beneficiaries better access addiction treatment and behavioral health services, attain housing, live self-directed lives in their home communities, and more. We are grateful that we can use Trust resources to meaningfully support organizations across Alaska that are providing essential services and improving the continuum of care.”

Many of the projects that are awarded Trust grants will also receive funding from the philanthropic community, private donations, earned revenue, and other community support. The total value of the projects funded by the Trust this quarter is approximately $12.3 million.

To learn more about the grants in a quarterly grant report posted online, visit

alaskamentalhealthtrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Final-21-MHT-0200-Quarterly-Grant-Report-Q4-July21-3A-JB.pdf

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com