This month, we caught up with two Juneau-based organizations that have regional impact: The Haa Tóoch Lichéesh Coalition and NAMI Juneau. 

In 2018, the Juneau Violence Prevention Coalition (JVPC) underwent a re-envisioning process and emerged with a new name, “Haa Tóoch Lichéesh” (HTL), a Tlingit phrase which translates to “We Believe it is Possible.'' Around the same time, the Juneau Suicide Prevention Coalition found a home with NAMI Juneau. These partnerships have allowed each coalition to expand the scope of their work and do it in a way that reflects the needs of their partners and our region.

What are you excited about working on this year? Who are you partnering with on these projects?

Regional Healing Work: Haa Tóoch Lichéesh Coalition is thrilled to announce a new partnership with the Sustainable Southeast Partnership (SSP), a network working together to reach cultural, ecological and economic prosperity for our communities and region.

We would also like to formally welcome our new Regional Healing Catalyst, Jamiann S’eiltin Hasselquist. Their work will address regional community healing efforts in Southeast Alaska. Jamiann is Tlingit, Deisheetaan (Raven/Beaver/Dragonfly) of the Ravens Bones House (Yéil S’aagi Hit) of Angoon, born and raised on the ancestral homelands of the Aakw Kwaan in Juneau, Alaska.

Kaa Tukaxsaké Héende Framework: Towards the River that Untangles a Person’s Mind. Our Haa Tóoch Lichéesh partner organizations have identified the need for ongoing learning opportunities wherein their new and existing staff can participate in meaningful organizational change efforts around inclusion, accessibility, and racial/gender equity. This month marks one year for the Kaa Tukaxsaké Héende cross-sector learning cohort, which supports this type of institutional transformation.

Participants include representatives of the Association of Alaska School Boards, Auke Bay Yoga, AWARE, the Baha'i Community of Juneau, Discovery Southeast, Ecotrust, Goldbelt Heritage Foundation, Hoonah City Schools, Juneau Audubon Society, Juneau Public Libraries, Juneau School District, KTOO, In Bocca Al Lupo, NAMI Juneau/Juneau Suicide Prevention Coalition, Petersburg City School District, SalmonState, Southeast Alaska Conservation Council (SEACC), SAIL, Sealaska Heritage Institute, UAS, UAF, CBJ Zach Gordon Youth Center/Services, Tlingit & Haida.

Orange Shirt Day: Orange Shirt Day is an annual International Day of Remembrance for the children removed from their families by the U.S. Indian Boarding School system's forced assimilation policy. It is a time to honor those who returned home and mourn those who did not, a time for truth-speaking, and for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to heal as a community. This year Haa Tóoch Lichéesh Coalition schools took on this work, integrating content and lessons from the following toolkits into schools, classrooms and school environments. To learn more about Orange Shirt Day, and be a part of this healing, check out the Orange Shirt Day Toolkit from Alaska Children’s Trust and Alaska Native Heritage Center, and the Orange Shirt Day Resource List from Haa Tóoch Lichéesh.

We talked with Virginia Plett, JSPC’s Youth Program Coordinator and Tina DeAsis-Samaniego, JSPC’s Program Manager. 

What are you excited about working on this year? Who are you partnering with on these projects?

This fall, we expanded our school-based offerings to include Signs of Suicide for the 8th graders at Floyd Dryden Middle School. We have also modified our Social Emotional Health Education Curriculum to include more activities and games and are sharing it with the BAM afterschool students at Dzantik’i Heeni Middle School. In January, we will expand our offerings at Johnson Youth Center to all youth.

As you reflect back on the STEPS, what’s a story or something that has changed that’s worth celebrating?

After hearing our presentation on positive protective factors, one 6th grader said, "Thank you for being here; this is really important stuff for us to learn." After a Signs of Suicide presentation, an 11th grader shared that his takeaway from the afternoon was, "I learned that it is OK to talk about your feelings." It can be hard to know the exact impact of prevention work, but statements like these are good indicators. We also saw that at one event, of the one hundred high school students we presented Signs of Suicide to, 18 asked to talk with someone about a mental health concern. Of those, five safety plans were developed. That’s five more people who now have emotional life jackets. These numbers are not unusual. Over the last few years, we have consistently seen about one in 6 students respond yes when asked if they would like to talk about their mental health or if they have a friend or family member whose mental health they are worried about.

New Trainer, Stacy Halvorsen, from Yakutat Tlingit Tribe partners with JSPC to offer QPR Suicide Prevention Training to Yakutat School Staff ~ Way to take the lead, Stacy!

What’s a tool or resource everyone should know about?

• Check Juneau Mental Health whether you are looking for resources for yourself or to help others. 
• Visit linktr.ee/JSPC to access the Juneau Suicide Prevention Coalition (JSPC) resources and current events, including the 2023 Juneau Mental Health Needs Assessment, and to participate in the Juneau Community Resource Survey as JSPC prepares for its 2024 strategic planning.
• JSPC also provides tailored Suicide Prevention Training and Suicide Safety Planning Workshops (in-person or virtual). If you are interested in attending a public event, requesting a private event for a specific audience, or are interested in becoming a trainer or creating suicide prevention resources for your SE Alaska community, please contact Tina at tdeasiswright@namijuneau.org or sign-up here for JSPC’s newsletter.

Upcoming Opportunities

Workgroups & Trainings

Alaska Native Dialogues on Race & Equity (ANDORE) Host Training

What: The dialogue-hosting strategies build on strong relationships, community strengths, restorative communities, and systemic change.

Who: Community leaders or education advocates

When: December 5 & 6, 9 am - 5 pm

Where: Yacht Club, Juneau

How: Apply here

Ongoing Learning Opportunities

Career Guides Community of Practice

What: A space to connect, reflect, and share resources for culturally affirming career guidance.

Who: People who work with students to plan for life after high school 

When: Last Monday's of the month at 9:00 am.

Why: Reflecting together and sharing resources is one of the best ways we can build the web of support students need in order to thrive after they graduate from high school.

How: Register here to receive the Zoom link

Continuing Education Credits for Trauma-Engaged School 

What: DEED now offers CEU credits for Trauma-Engaged Schools training. 

Who: educators who hold current five- or ten-year Alaska teaching, administrative, or special services certificates

When: Registration fees are waived for the first 400 people who register.

How: Register here

For Students, Families and Staff

Haa Shuká Tundatáan Teaching Curriculum

What: A new resource for teachers to find and use curriculum from the Goldbelt Heritage Foundation

Where: https://hstlearning.org/resources/

Alaska Family Advisory Board (the FAB!)

What: A statewide network of family members providing insight and feedback to the Alaska Family Engagement Center. 

Who: Family members who have kids in schools across the state and who want to help make our school systems more family-friendly.

When: The FAB will meet for an hour a month via Zoom

How: Nominate FAB candidates here (self-nominations are also appreciated!)

Outer Coast

What: Outer Coast in Sitka is currently accepting applications for the Spring of 2024.

Who: High School seniors or graduates

How: Apply here 

PS: Outer Coast also has a faculty position open

Health Care Career Connections

What: A three-day intensive for students who experience disabilities and are interested in Health Care Careers

Who: Students who experience disabilities

When: December 12-14

How: Click here to learn more