The University of Alaska Behavioral Health Alliance
FY12 report & FY13 proposal
Summary:
The UA Behavioral Health Alliance was established in 2007 with a focus on “the need to train
people in behavioral health occupations where they live” and has grown to serve as the
coordinating body to plan and implement a considered response to the Distance Education
legislative audit for behavioral health programs throughout the University of Alaska system.
Those summarized recommendations from the audit are:
1. UA President ensures that the distance education recommendations are implemented.
2. Develop incentives for MAUs to collaborate on distance education initiatives.
3. Faculty receives sufficient distance education training and technical support.
4. Develop, implement and enforce use of standard distance education course parameters and
uniform course description information.
Outcomes of FY12:
1. Three meetings held:
a. Fairbanks, December 2, 2011
i. 19 attendees
b. Anchorage, February 24, 2012
i. 23 attendees
c. Fairbanks, April 6, 2012
i. 14 attendees
2. Highlights of the meetings: all meeting minutes available at
http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/hpd/bha.cfm
a. Determined structure of the UA Behavioral Health Alliance
b. Developed new method of communication via BHA list serve for events, conferences,
funding opportunities, educational offerings for students and faculty
c. Updated BHA website under OHPD; developing “virtual office” for ease of access to
documents and reports
d. Three focus areas determined for FY12: suicide prevention, substance abuse, and
domestic violence
3211 Providence Drive, DPL 204, Anchorage, AK 99508-4614
e. 1 credit course developed: “Critical Behavioral Health Issues in Alaska” psychology
A490/690. Video conferenced to UAS, UAF and approved as elective credit for UAA
Social Work, Justice, Human Service, and MPH; UAF Social Work, Psychology, and
Master of Education in Counseling; UAS Psychology (flyer attached to email)
i. This course provides an overview of the critical behavioral health issues in
Alaska, including domestic violence and sexual assault, substance abuse, and
suicide
ii. Units taught by state experts
iii. Provides an interdisciplinary perspective on the issues
iv. Offered synchronously May
f. Behavioral health programs cross MAU’s reviewed for funding opportunities, including
through the AMHTA and via legislative requests.
i. Other funding opportunities identified and pursued as applicable
ii. Programs developing courses for distance are the priority for the BHA in FY13
g. Program updates platform allowing collaboration across MAU’s. On average, two hours
of each meeting are designated “program updates and collaboration time”. This allows
representatives to discuss needs, faculty issues, new courses, etc.
h. Behavioral Health research opportunities: this is a new area the BHA members are
discussing and intending to enhance participation in at some point in the future.
Spearheaded by the Institute for Circumpolar Health at UAA and most likely will become
a subcommittee to the BHA
i. Sponsoring via providing speakers at two conferences:
i. 1st Annual Elders Summit in Anchorage (in partnership with the UAA TTC and
the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority) – May 8 & 9, 2012
ii. The National Association for Rural Mental Health Conference – May 15- 17,
2012
Proposed Outcomes for FY13:
1. Host three (3) one-day in-person meetings (locations TBD) for curriculum review and
enhancement, with an emphasis on determining programs to convert to e-learning and
opportunities for collaboration
2. Increase communication among all UA Behavioral Health Programs via list serve and
website
3. Coordinate, review, and approve FY14 proposals for program development and
expansion to the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority
3211 Providence Drive, DPL 204, Anchorage, AK 99508-4614
4. Identify opportunities for collaboration in course development and grant proposals that
advance UA Behavioral Health programs
Behavioral Health Alliance Co-Chairs for FY 13:
Christine Cook, UAF School of Education Counseling Program
Lisa Cauble, UAA CHD Trust Training Cooperative
Behavioral Health Alliance Coordinator:
Sheila Soule, Assistant Vice Provost, Health Programs
UAA Office of Health Programs Development, sjsoule@uaa.alaska.edu, 907-786-4853
3211 Providence Drive, DPL 204, Anchorage, AK 99508-4614