Behavioral health focus of Mat-Su Health Foundation grants [AlaskaPublic.org]

As state lawmakers prepare to grapple with a tight state budget, one non-profit is gearing up to deal with health needs in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough. The Mat-Su Health Foundation is stepping in to provide funding for behavioral health services in the face of expected cuts. One program benefiting from grant money is aiming to curb the earliest sources of drug and alcohol abuse with a focus on Adverse Childhood Experiences awareness.

.....Minard says a third report to be released in January will address prevention at the earliest stages. To that end, the Health Foundation has awarded grants to a number of organizations that are working to address Valley health concerns.  Earlier this month the Health Foundation awarded $1.7 million in “Healthy Impact” grants, and one of the recipients is CCS Early Learning, the Head Start provider in Chugiak and the Valley. CCS executive director Mark Lackey says the organization serves some 320 students under age 5 — the majority from low income homes.

“I think we have always been very aware of the fact that a lot of our kids have trauma, and that trauma impacts their lives over the long term.”

To continue reading this article by Ellen Lockyear, go to: http://www.alaskapublic.org/20...h-foundation-grants/