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Alaska: D

Grading the States 2009 Report Card: Alaska

In 2006, Alaska received a D grade. Three years later, the grade is the same. The state offers a modest vision for moving forward, but results are difficult to assess. The state’s efforts to address co-occurring mental health and substance abuse services exemplify this gap. But from ground level, the reality is still a striking shortage of services, from substance abuse beds and trained dual-disorder professionals to billing limitations. Full narrative (PDF).

Grades by Category Detailed Score Card (PDF)

  1. Health Promotion and Measurement: D 25% of Total Grade
    Basic measures, such as the number of programs delivering evidence-based practices, emergency room wait-times, and the quantity of psychiatric beds by setting.
  2. Financing & Core Treatment/Recovery Services: C 45% of Total Grade
    A variety of financing measures, such as whether Medicaid reimburses providers for all, or part of evidence-based practices; and more.
  3. Consumer & Family Empowerment: F 15% of Total Grade
    Includes measures such as consumer and family access to essential information from the state, promotion of consumer-run programs, and family and peer education and support.
  4. Community Integration and Social Inclusion: F 15% of Total Grade
    Includes activities that require collaboration among state mental health agencies and other state agencies and systems.

Innovations

  • Transparent, Internet-accessible dashboard indicators
  • Peer services
  • Telemedicine efforts to rural areas

Urgent Needs

  • Community-based services, including supported housing
  • Increase access to services
  • Address workforce shortage
  • Suicide prevention

Additional Information and Resources

Full Narrative (PDF) | Detailed Score Card (PDF) | Full Report | Order Hard Copy

NAMI Alaska: Connect with the NAMI nearest you.

Grading the States Online Discussion: Share your comments, reactions, personal stories, and ideas around NAMI's report on the state of America's health care system for serious mental illness.

Grading the States 2006 Report Card: Alaska

"In Fairbanks, all group homes were closed."

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