CEO Notes
In mid-March, I spent some time in Juneau, fulfilling my role as a member of the Advisory Board on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse. I am the immediate past chair, having served on this board since 2004. The Advisory Board on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse shares staff with the Alaska Mental Health Board. We meet jointly as many of the issues we address cross over between the boards.

Alaskans are blessed to have boards such as these, written into statute, that allow the members to focus on how we spend Alaskan dollars, what vulnerabilities the Alaskan people are facing, and to advocate for Alaskans around mental health and substance abuse matters. Board members apply via the Boards and Commissions department and are appointed by the governor. They fill various seats, such as attorney, provider, consumer and public. Members come from all areas of the state and meet three times per year in person, and multiple times virtually. The spring meeting is always in Juneau, so that we may meet with legislators, after reviewing the budget items that affect vulnerable Alaskans. Other meetings are held around the state so that board members can visit service providers and gather public comment from those areas. Robust planning by the staff, allows us to learn about current issues affecting those communities, as well as, their successes. 

In March, the presentations included a panel from the Alaska Association of Children’s Homes, which was also meeting in Juneau. We heard from some local providers of substance abuse and mental health services and visited several of the provider sites. The advocacy piece of this work takes us to the Capitol of Juneau, to meet with the legislators. As advisory boards, our mission is to help elected officials understand the needs of Alaskans and the funding required to support necessary services. I had the opportunity to meet with several legislators in person, participate in a couple of meetings with legislative staff, and drop off more than a dozen information packets to those whom I did not have a chance to meet with. This is important work. One of the topics we discussed during our meetings was the Crisis Now-Continuum of Care initiative. This multi-pronged approach to crisis intervention is already saving dollars by supporting people in crisis with a fast-response mobile unit and not an ambulance (unless needed) or law enforcement resources. 

I continue to volunteer for this work because it is important for communities around our state. It’s a way I can give back to the state in which I have built my business. Sometimes the stories are harsh and hard to hear. Other times, we can celebrate that we have closed a loop and made an improvement for Alaskans who need some assistance. You can learn more about the Advisory Board on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (ABADA) by visit the State of Alaska website. Or, give me a call at 907.247.1431 and let’s talk about how you might become a board member on one of the various boards and commissions of the State of Alaska.