Warm wishes,

We will always do our best to publish upcoming events in a timely, regular manner for our newsletter subscribers. We also keep an event calendar through the Recover Alaska website that allows our partners a secondary means of sharing their event news with our community. We welcome your submissions!

In this 4-week course, participants will learn theories and practices of mindfulness and several ways to implement these tools in their daily lives. Students will discover new ways of working with strong emotions, thoughts, and physical sensations through guided meditation, diaphragmatic breathing, and gentle movement as well as through shifting perspectives/re-framing, understanding habit patterns, developing affirmations, and thoughtful self-compassion. Engaged dialogue is geared towards the students and their specific needs.

Classes are held virtually over Zoom, Monday nights from 6:00-7:00 pm, starting February 5th and ending February 26th. Classes are taught by Tara Lampert from the Alaska Center for Mindfulness, and are free of charge for participants through a grant administered by Center for Safe Alaskans and Alaska Highway Safety Office.

Registration closes Friday, February 2nd. Register here.

Note: For those interested but unable to attend in February, the same four-course series will be offered in April, and an advanced session will be offered in May. More details are forthcoming.

February 22, 9 am to noon (Alaska time), register here.

Discover how you can apply the Consent Principle to reinforce a constellation of values including equity, inclusion, transparency, belonging, autonomy, accountability, continuous learning, forward momentum, and more.

This workshop is ideal for…

The Examining FASD Diagnosis ECHO is a virtual learning network that will explore the necessity of establishing a holistic system of care to support those impacted by prenatal alcohol exposure. The series will feature the expertise of those with lived experience and professionals in screening, assessment, and evaluation, as well as treatment integration.

This is a Zoom event that is free to attend and is intended for interdisciplinary, multi-sector clinical and non-clinical experts who provide support and services to individuals impacted by prenatal alcohol exposure. This ECHO series is sponsored by the Department of Health, Office of Substance Misuse and Addiction Prevention and hosted by University of Alaska Anchorage, Center for Human Development, Project ECHO. Free continuing education credit will be offered and more information will be available.

Mark your calendars and download an ics file!

Save the date for this year’s Alaska Suicide Prevention conference taking place in Anchorage on May 1-2, hosted by the State of Alaska, Department of Health, Division of Behavioral Health, the Statewide Suicide Prevention Council, the Alaska Mental Health Trust, and the

Alaska Mental Health Board/Advisory Board on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse. This will be a free

conference open to all who wish to participate.

We are now accepting applications to present at the conference! This conference will focus on a range of topics pertinent to suicide prevention in Alaska. This includes youth-focused content, crisis-focused content, community-action content, and much more. If you or your organization is interested in sharing your lived experience, community programs and interventions, or research related to suicide prevention in Alaska, please apply at by clicking THIS LINK. The application period closes FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2024, at 11:59pm AK.

If you have any questions regarding the call for speakers, or general conference inquiries, please email the conference coordinator, Monica, at [email protected].

Audience: Mental Health Professionals

The conference will explore the complex and multifaceted ways in which our various identities shape us, intersect, and influence one another. Over the course of three days, hear from a diverse group of speakers, participate in interactive workshops, and engage in thoughtful discussions on topics such as race, culture, gender, sexuality, ability, ethnicity, and more. This is an opportunity for Alaska's professionals to network and learn together with mental health practitioners from across the country! The goal is to raise awareness and move to action as change agents who are culturally informed, trauma informed, anti-racist, anti-oppressive, and more sensitive to all of our clients' identities. Learn more and register here.

Job Description: Under general direction the Public Health Program Specialist will plan, develop, and evaluate varying programs, community initiatives, and grant activities for the Substance Misuse Prevention Program. Read more about this job opportunity on ANTHC's job portal! 

ANTHC invites Alliance members to complete a brief Harm Reduction Workplace Readiness Assessment (HR-WRA) if you are part of an organization that offers or has considered offering harm reduction services. The goal of this survey is to help the ANTHC Substance Misuse Prevention Program better understand harm reduction efforts and increase workplace naloxone program capacity in Alaska.

You can complete the Harm Reduction Assessment here. Please complete this survey by February 16th, 2024.

Pictured above: Atka resident and Behavioral Health Aid with Aleutian Pribilof Island Association, Trinity Nevzoroff, presented Tactile Drinking to the community of Atka on December 29.

On March 2-3, two ASIST trainers from Anchorage will return to Unalaska at the community's request for more suicide prevention training. Thank you to all trainers and educators for building stronger communities, and empowering others to make qualified, careful decisions!

International Doctors in Alcoholics Anonymous (IDAA) is a worldwide fellowship of more than 9,900 healthcare professionals and their families who strive to help one another to achieve and maintain recovery from addictions. Membership is open to doctorate-level health care providers, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, certified registered nurse anesthetists, or to those in training for these degrees. Learn more on IDAA's website.

The Communications Workgroup will resume meeting in February, and we're hoping you'll join us! We will be implementing the Youth Underage Alcohol Use Prevention campaign, working on The Alliance website updates, and providing outreach to current and potential network members through the monthly newsletter and perhaps a new Facebook page! If you're interested in joining the workgroup or being updated more regularly on activities, please email Communications Workgroup Weaver Faith Ozer Green ([email protected]) and Kelby Murphy at [email protected].

The Affordable Connectivity Program is a Federal Communications Commission program that helps connect families and households struggling to afford internet service. This new benefit provides a discount of up to $75 per month toward internet service for eligible households. Eligible households may also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers.

Eligible households can enroll by visiting www.getinternet.gov.

You can learn more about the benefit, including eligibility and enrollment information, by visiting www.fcc.gov/ACP, or by calling 877-384-2575. Additionally, you may contact Stephanie Stillwell, Affordable Connectivity Program Coordinator with Qizhjeh Heritage Institute at [email protected].

We're on the lookout for dedicated individuals to become Regional Co-Chairs across the state, specifically in the Copper River Delta, Rural Interior, Northern, Northwest, and Yukon Kuskokwim regions of Alaska.

As Co-Chair, you'll play a vital role in bridging the gap between your region and The Alliance, fostering real-time communication and collaboration. Recognizing the significance of local relationships, we invite those with a passion for recovery and community empowerment to take on this meaningful role. If you or someone you know is ready to make a positive impact, reach out to Stephanie Stillwell at [email protected].

Stephanie is the current Gulf Coast Regional Co-Chair and the Co-Chair Builder for The Alliance. Join us in building a stronger, more connected recovery network in Alaska!

In the new year, as part of our annual evaluation, the Alliance evaluation team will be sending out a survey to all members to learn about your experience in the network. Your feedback will help our network continually improve and work towards our shared goals. If you have any questions please contact Hanna Menefee ([email protected]).

Interested members are also invited to participate in the Evaluation & Learning Workgroup.