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Dear Alliance,

Last week, Alliance members gathered for Calricaraq, a three-day training developed by the Yup’ik community to address historical trauma and promote healing and healthy living. The training was facilitated by Rose Domnick and Katrina Domnick, with support from Elder Evelyn Day and Danika Baile. Each of them shared not only the curriculum, but deeply personal stories, teachings, and reflections drawn from their own lives and the wisdom of their communities. It was an honor to witness and learn from them, and we are profoundly grateful for their generosity in sharing this work with us.

We also want to thank the Yup’ik community for the years of care and knowledge that went into developing Calricaraq. This training is rooted in centuries of cultural knowledge, practice, and resilience. Their willingness to share it with us is both generous and profound, and we are grateful to receive these teachings.

Bringing Calricaraq to the Alliance has been years in the making. Interest grew after many members heard Rose and Katrina speak at the Prevention Summit in Juneau last year. It was clear that a culturally grounded healing framework resonated deeply with coalition members and aligned with our prevention work.

Living and working in Alaska, on Native lands and alongside Native communities, it is essential that our efforts recognize both the harms of colonization and the deep knowledge that has sustained communities for generations. Our work focuses on reducing alcohol related harm across the state. Alcohol has affected all of our communities in different ways, and it is important to remember it was also used as a tool of colonization. Addressing alcohol harm requires us to confront those ongoing impacts while centering Indigenous knowledge that strengthens community and guides healing.

During the training, sixty-five participants, a majority of Alliance members and also several new faces, came from all regions in Alaska to reflect on Yup’ik perspectives on community, parenting, learning, healing, and living well. The feedback so far has been incredibly positive, with multiple requests to host another Calricaraq and the subsequent Facilitator training – we will keep you posted! Rose and Katrina highlighted the energy and engagement in the room, praising the openness and willingness of participants to engage in the process. The energy in the room was powerful, moving, and deeply grounding, a reminder of what is possible when we come together across communities to witness, learn, and heal.

We will continue the conversation at our All Alliance Open Space on March 19th from 1:30 to 3pm. One breakout room will be dedicated to reflecting on the training and discussing how it applies to our work. You are welcome to join us via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81577071196?pwd=UIgrkypuJpniqqu8kESwfVElJhtFYh.1

Thank you to our facilitators, our Co-Chairs, our workgroup leads, and the Recover Alaska team for the support that made this training possible.

Warmly,

Tesia Bobrycki

Coalition Coordinator

tbobrycki@recoveralaska.org

Full Lives Conference for

Direct Service Professionals & Care Coordinators

Mark your calendars for April 16th-17th, 2026 for the 25th annual Full Lives Conference, hosted by the UAA Center for Human Development Alaska Training Cooperative in partnership with the State of Alaska Senior and Disability Services, the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority, and the Stone Soup Group.

This year's conference brings together direct support professionals, care coordinators, supervisors, case managers, clinicians, and others working across disability, behavioral health, brain injury, aging, and substance use services. It is a space for people on the front lines to learn from one another, strengthen skills, and build connections that support Alaskans in living full lives.

This year’s theme, Honor | Celebrate | Advocate, reflects both the history and the future of this work. Attendees can expect engaging keynote speakers, practical breakout sessions, and meaningful opportunities to connect with colleagues from across the state. It is professional development grounded in real world practice and shared purpose.

The conference also recognizes excellence in the field, with nominations open for the Outstanding Professional of the Year awards and the Spirit of Full Lives Lifetime Achievement Award.

Registration details and the full agenda will be available soon. If this work touches your role in any way, this is a conference worth attending.

Alaska Suicide Prevention Conference

The Alaska Department of Health, Division of Behavioral Health is excited to announce the 2026 Alaska Suicide Prevention Conference, happening virtually April 22-23, 2026. This year's theme is Messages of Resilience: Breaking the Silence, Building Strength.

For any questions, check out the website or contact Lanisha Wuitschick at Lanisha.wuitschick@alaska.gov.

LEARN MORE HERE

Ripple Effects Mapping & Person-Centered Planning Exercise

The Data & Learning Workgroup invites you to participate in an upcoming hybrid Ripple Effects Mapping and Person-Centered Planning session designed to create an updated inventory of the data, strategies, and prevention work happening across our communities.

So much meaningful work is taking place across the Alliance, and this is an opportunity to step back and see the fuller picture together. Through this facilitated process, we will:

• Map the ripple effects of the work already happening
• Identify what data we’re collecting and how it’s being used
• Surface strengths, gaps, and opportunities
• Better understand how our individual efforts connect and build on one another

Ripple Effects Mapping is a participatory approach that helps groups visually capture impact, relationships, and outcomes — including those that may not always show up in traditional reporting. It’s a powerful way to recognize the depth of community-driven work and identify where we can align more intentionally moving forward.

Please review the linked PowerPoint for additional background on Ripple Effects Mapping and what to expect from the session.

To help us schedule this gathering, please complete this brief scheduling poll and indicate the days/times that work best for you:

https://calendly.com/d/cvh3-wcj-8vw/data-scan-2-0

Your voice and perspective matter in shaping a more accurate and complete picture of prevention efforts statewide. We hope you will join us.

Statewide Youth Mentorship Program

The Statewide Youth Mentorship Program connects youth ages 13 to 18 from across Alaska to build leadership skills, strengthen their voices, and support community health, all while having fun and making new friends.

Participants gain real experience in advocacy and community projects, connect with a statewide network of mentors and peers, and receive a monthly stipend, certificate, and recommendation letters. Youth take part in monthly one on one mentor calls, skill building workshops, group meetings with peers around Alaska, and hands on community projects such as coalition meetings, peer presentations, outreach with local health groups, and wellness activities. Members also help plan and attend the Annual Youth Summit in Anchorage, with all travel, food, and lodging covered.

There is no cost to participate and no prior experience is needed. Just show up and be yourself.

APPLY HERE

Alliance Policy Work Needs Your Input

We are gathering community insights to help shape a broader survey aimed at supporting healthier, thriving Alaskan communities. Your input will help make sure we gather the right information and is vital to building meaningful change!

🕒 Takes just a few minutes

📍 Community-informed

SHARE YOUR VOICE HERE

Rural Health Transformation Project Deadline

The Alaska Department of Health has opened the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), a significant opportunity to invest $272 million this year in community-driven, sustainable improvements to rural health systems across Alaska, with anticipated continued funding for the next five years. Funding pathways support projects at varying levels of readiness from planning and administrative capacity to full implementation and innovation across priority areas including workforce, access to care, healthy communities, technology, maternal health, and fiscal sustainability.

Letters of Intent are now open and due March 11th. If your organization is considering applying or would like to explore collaboration, please complete our brief interest form so we can help align partners and strengthen proposals.

RHTP Job Aid

Southcentral Foundation has put together a clear, step by step Job Aid to support organizations applying for the Rural Health Transformation Program Letter of Interest through the Alaska Department of Health.

This guide walks you through exactly where to go, how to log in or create an account, and what information you will need for each section of the LOI. It breaks down character limits, explains what is being asked in each narrative response, and outlines the key pieces to have ready, including organizational details, service area, project scope, readiness stage, budget range, and alignment with RHTP initiatives.

If you are considering submitting an LOI, this is a helpful tool to review before you start. Thank you to Southcentral Foundation for developing and sharing this practical resource to make the process smoother for applicants across Alaska.

USE THE JOB AID HERE

Take The Alliance Member Survey!

The Alliance’s 2026 member survey is now live. We want to know your opinions about what principles and values are most important to guiding the work of The Alliance, how well The Alliance is meeting its goals, what keeps members engaged in The Alliance, and opportunities for The Alliance to better meet our members’ needs.

The survey will take about 15 minutes to complete and all members who complete a survey will have an opportunity to enter a drawing for a $100 gift card at the end of the survey. The survey is being administered by the Goldstream Group and will remain open through late March. The survey results will be shared with Alliance members in late spring.

Go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2026AllianceMemberSurvey to take the survey now!

Join the Evaluation and Learning Group at our regular monthly meeting on Thursday, March 5 from 9:30 – 11:00. This month our learning topic is focused on data visualization and report planning. The Goldstream Group will be leading a presentation and discussion about creating visuals to effectively share your evaluation findings, as well as factors to consider when planning out your evaluation reports. Following this discussion, workgroup members will check-in on progress and next steps for The Alliance’s annual evaluation. All are welcome!

Data & Learning Lesson: YRBS Basics

The Data and Learning Workgroup will be hosting a conversation about "YRBS basics" for our March 25th meeting, to be held online via zoom from 12-1:30. Participants will have an opportunity to learn about the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), challenges with implementation in Alaska, and opportunities to educate community members and other stakeholders about the importance of community-level data to drive decision making and inform prevention programming.

Please join us for this discussion! 

How Alliance Members Are Choosing Connection

-Michelle Kavouras, Alliance Regional Co-Chair

"I choose connection through hiking, nature, watching eagles, sea life, collecting beach glass, photography, music, and connection with others. Whether it is through friendships, family, colleagues, participants, educating healthcare providers, child protection workers, peer support specialists, or community members, each interaction can be meaningful and grow into shared understanding and respect. Truly meeting everyone where they are, even if they disagree with my beliefs, has opened up a safe space for effective conversations. I have learned so much and will always continue to learn more. The culture in Alaska is so beautiful. I feel honored to be able to learn about the healing practices. I also enjoy being out in nature. Seeing so much life in the ocean, the rainforest, the sky, there is nothing like it. It brings me so much joy and peace. I also listen to music that helps me regulate my nervous system. That could be relaxing music with some beautiful scenery playing in the background as I work, or sometimes, really loud music helps me feel emotions that I may have suppressed. ❤"

We’d love to hear from all of you about how you choose connection, whether in small daily moments or in the big steps you’re taking to find and maintain it in your lives!



Email your connection stories to Tesia: tbobrycki@recoveralaska.org.

CADCA's 36th Annual National Leadership Forum

February 2 to 5, representatives from Sitka Counseling and the HOPE Coalition, Ketchikan Wellness Coalition, and Fairbanks Wellness Coalition attended the 36th Annual National Leadership Forum hosted by CADCA in Washington, DC, which included Capitol Hill Day meetings with Alaska’s federal delegation.

During Capitol Hill Day, they met with Senator Murkowski, Representative Begich, and Senator Sullivan to share about the prevention work happening in Sitka and across their communities. Conversations highlighted both the impact of coalition efforts and the ongoing challenges created by funding uncertainty.

They also discussed the Drug Free Communities funding requirements, including the 150% match. Now in year nine across two five year cycles, they advocated for an additional five years of funding to help ensure this work can continue and remain sustainable in their communities.

Show Love, Carry Naloxone

Sitka Counseling and the HOPE Coalition recently hosted a Show Love, Carry Naloxone pop up training event. A total of 31 community members stopped by to learn more and ask questions.

Seven individuals received training on how to recognize the signs of an overdose and how to administer Naloxone, and 20 doses were distributed. One youth shared that they already carry Naloxone and know how to use it.

Many visitors asked whether Sitka is truly experiencing a problem. Conversations like these are an important reminder that carrying Naloxone is about being prepared. Having it on hand can save a life if someone encounters a person experiencing an overdose, even if they do not expect it to happen in their own community.

About The Alliance

The Alliance is a collaborative effort of multiple and diverse partners across Alaska who recognize the harms of alcohol on individuals and communities. We are personally and professionally committed to working together to address this complex problem in our state.

Our primary goal is to connect and engage communities as partners — increasing protective factors, reducing risk factors, and changing social norms — to prevent underage alcohol use and eliminate all harms of alcohol use in Alaska.

Alliance Materials:

• The Alliance's common agenda
• The Alliance's Resource Page

Get Involved!

Between starting new work and sustaining our progress, there are many opportunities to participate in The Alliance! All current workgroups are open to any member who would like to join. You can always read more about our workgroups and their purpose on the Get Involved page of our website. Our network practices an emergent strategy, and we update information based on our network's needs.

• The Communications & Social Norms Workgroup is led by an experienced media and communications contractor and advances the two social norms campaigns addressing underage drinking Choose Connection and In Case You Missed It. Th workgroup also supports the Alliance's various other internal and external communications needs. This workgroup meets on the second Tuesday of each month from 1-2 pm.
• The Data and Learning Workgroup is led by an data expert and will be supporting data equity conversations and practices. This workgroup meetings on the fourth Wednesday from 12pm - 1:30pm.
• The Evaluation and Learning Workgroup is where members can participate in designing the annual evaluation process for the Alliance alongside a professional evaluator and receive technical assistance and support on utilizing evaluation in their work. This workgroup meets on the first Thursday of the month from 9:30am - 11am.
• The Strategic Design Workgroup builds structures and processes for the network to work in alignment with our values and theory of change. This workgroup is led by an experienced prevention professional and regional co-chair and meets monthly on the third Tuesday from 1pm - 2pm.
• The Policy Workgroup is led by a policy expert and works to track alcohol and prevention policies, identifies and designs advocacy actions, and provides technical assistance to individuals wanting to engage in the political process. This workgroup meets monthly on the second Friday from 11am - 12pm.

You are welcome to ask questions about those workgroups or to ask to join any of them.

Want to Lead Change? Apply to Be a Co-Chair of the Alaska Alliance!

Are you passionate about shaping Alaska’s future and driving meaningful community impact? The Alliance is now accepting applications for the Co-Chair position. This is a unique opportunity to help guide the organization’s vision, build partnerships, and amplify our collective voice.

If you’re interested in stepping up as a leader and making a difference, we encourage you to apply!

APPLY HERE

If you would like to submit content for The Alliance newsletter, please email Tesia at tbobrycki@recoveralaska.org and Kara at kstewart@recoveralaska.org.