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'So much hope': Alaskans say peer support can make recovery possible

Anne Hillman

November 24, 2021 |

Alaska Public Media |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Alaska

Alaska has begun certifying peer support specialists with a free 40-hour training. Peer support specialists use their own experiences with mental health conditions or substance use to guide others dealing with similar issues. The state has certified 43 people, including 12 Indigenous traditional peer support specialists. Trainings teach peer supporters about different coping skills and how to help clients deal with a mental health diagnosis and set healthy boundaries. They also cover legal and ethical issues in peer support. The specialists model recovery and offer support without telling people what to do.

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Thousands of Alaskans are considering suicide. You can learn to help them choose life.

Anne Hillman

November 03, 2021 |

Alaska Public Media |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Anchorage, Alaska

To address Alaska’s high suicide rates, especially among youth, programs like the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training teaches people how to safely and confidently talk about suicide. The two-day training provides steps people can use to talk with others about suicide, dispel any shame around the topic, and develop a safety plan with them. The main idea is not to solve all of their problems, but to keep the person safe now. The training combines conversations, videos, PowerPoints and roleplaying to teach the steps, based on a global model developed by LivingWorks 35 years ago in Canada.

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Taking action to reduce substance misuse

Anne Hillman

January 04, 2019 |

Alaska Public Media |

Podcast |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Anchorage, Alaska

Alaska has created a living document to begin tackling the state's addiction epidemic as they attempt to become "more proactive and less reactive." This model of integration has the potential to serve as a model for other states in the nation as government officials work to partner with community members and other organizations in order to build relationships.

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When a step back into prison is really a jump forward on the road to recovery

Anne Hillman

December 06, 2018 |

Alaska Public Media |

Radio |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Alaska

In Alaska, programs promote long-term rehabilitation and intensive treatment for people with addictions who are involved in the criminal justice system. Part of the way the program has been successful is by allowing participants to return to intensive treatment if they fall off the wagon - providing them the tools to eventually return to their homes, healthier and happier.

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U.S. Surgeon General: Use partnerships, end stigmas to stop opioid epidemic

Anne Hillman

September 23, 2018 |

Alaska Public Media |

Radio |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Alaska

U.S. Surgen General Jerome Adams speaks out about the significance of reducing stigma around substance abuse and mental health to normalize the illnesses and open doors for sufferers to seek help. Dispensation of Naloxone, an overdose reversing drug, went up 40% since he issued a Surgeon General's advisory on its use.

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How little organizations make a big difference through collaboration

Anne Hillman

September 05, 2018 |

Alaska Public Media |

Multi-Media |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Alaska

In Alaska, tribal governments are teaming up to eliminate programming redundancies, avoid competing for the same grants, and provide necessary community resources. Their collaboration allows the smaller tribal governments a flexibility and local impact that other governments aren't always able to maintain while still growing their programming.

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Community health aides: Alaska's unique solution for rural health care

Anne Hillman

August 29, 2018 |

Alaska Public Media |

Radio |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Alaska

In Alaska, the Community Health Aide Program is helping to connect people in remote, rural parts of the state to medical care. The program, started decades ago in collaboration with the Indian Health Service, local government, and congress, has helped to keep people healthy despite high expectations and turn-over.

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Working together to prevent child abuse

Anne Hillman

August 17, 2018 |

Alaska Public Media |

Radio |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Anchorage, Alaska

In order to address child abuse and neglect community members got together to form: R.O.C.K Mat Su, a collaborative organization composed of several organizations that has “teamed up with government agencies, schools and judges to develop a comprehensive solution.” So far, they have been able to train 10 schools to become trauma informed schools, trained over 2,000 people in the community, and created an alternative judicial court for children that prioritizes family reunification.

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Philanthropic horticulturists and other prison community leaders

Anne Hillman

August 01, 2018 |

Alaska Public Media |

Multi-Media |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Seward, Alaska

At Spring Creek Correctional Center, profits from the prison store are shared among seven prison clubs. The clubs operate like nonprofits, bringing educational opportunities, music, plants, and more to inmates and donating extra funds to organizations on the outside. The system improves quality of life and offers leadership opportunities.

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When prisoners own the store, everyone profits

Anne Hillman

July 25, 2018 |

Alaska Public Media |

Text |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Seward, Alaska

A unique setup at Spring Creek Correctional Institution means that inmates get to work at the prison’s store, and profits get reinvested into the prison. The arrangement benefits those who work at the store as well as those who have access to buy items. Having the chance to buy quality goods is a way to empower inmates, as well.

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