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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).
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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"In Fairbanks, all group homes were closed."
"I see the stress of client overload."
"There are not enough providers who accept Medicaid."
