In this newsletter:

• 50th Anniversary Celebrations Kick Off in May!
• Alaska Advanced Trauma Training Institute
• MATCH - ADTC: a new evidence-based practice
• Common Sense Parenting classes: free for Anchorage families!

Alaska Behavioral Health was established on June 11, 1974 as Anchorage Community Mental Health Services, Inc., a private not-for-profit corporation with a mission to provide treatment for people with mental illness in the Anchorage area. 

Since then, we have served thousands of Alaskans of all ages who are experiencing mental health challenges, from anxiety and depression to chronic serious mental illness. We work with children who have experienced trauma, transition age youth, and adults of all ages and with a wide range of needs.

Our overarching goal has been the same over these 50 years: to provide exceptional behavioral healthcare so that Alaskans with mental illness can live and thrive in their communities.

We hope you'll join us at one of our community celebrations!

Community Picnic in Anchorage

June 27, 3:00 - 6:00 pm at 4020 Folker Street

Come join us to celebrate our 50th Anniversary at an outdoor picnic! Community members will have a chance to meet providers and learn about programs and resources.

Food trucks (free!), outdoor activities for children and adults! We'd love to see current and former staff and clients and welcome the whole community. (Children must be accompanied by a caregiver.) More info here!

We are thrilled to be hosting the 11th Annual Alaska Advanced Trauma Training Institute this week in Anchorage! This year's conference includes a track focused on serving military and veteran families, and sessions addressing providing trauma services in rural locations. Key Note speakers include Dr. Patricia Resick, one of the developers of Cognitive Processing Therapy, and Dr. Craigan Usher, who work with young people and families experiencing first episodes of psychosis.

Conference registration is currently full. If you have registered and won't be able to attend, please let us know so we can accept folks from our waitlist! Email training@akbh.org.

Alaska Behavioral Health has begun implementing a new evidence-based treatment for working with children and families.

MATCH – ADTC stands Modular Approach to Therapy for Children with 

Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, or Conduct Problems. 

MATCH is designed to be flexible to provide a wide range of tools and supports, depending on the child’s strengths and needs. It is grounded in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. MATCH providers will work with families to customize treatment. Throughout the program, children and families learn skills and build a toolkit of scientifically proven strategies to help manage challenges that come up at home, at school, or with friends. Learn more.

Alaska Behavioral Health is pleased to announce a new series of parenting classes being offered to Anchorage families free of charge through a Municipality of Anchorage Alcohol Tax Prevention Grant in partnership with the Alaska Children’s Trust. Zoom classes are available to parents statewide with a nominal fee for materials.

Common Sense Parenting® (CSP) provides parents and caregivers with logical strategies and easy-to-learn techniques to address communication, discipline, decision-making, relationships, self-control and school success through six 2-hour long sessions. The next sessions begin May 15 and 16!