In this Newsletter:
  • Holiday Clinic Hours & resources
  • Meet our new psychiatric providers
  • Thank you, volunteers!
  • Ways to help this holiday season
  • Thank you, donors!
Holiday Hours
Our outpatient clinics will be closed on December 23, 24 and 31 for the holidays. Clinics are open regular hours all other days.

We know the holidays can be tough. Crisis help IS available when we are closed.

Alaska Careline: 1-877-266-4357
Anchorage Psychiatric ER Line: 907-563-3200
Fairbanks Psychiatric ER Line: 1-888-371-1309
Feeling stressed about the holidays?

It may help to think through potential stressors and plan ahead. Check out these suggestions:



Meet our new Psychiatric prescribers!
We are so excited to be growing our psychiatric provider staff in both Anchorage and Fairbanks! Over the last six months, we have more than doubled our psychiatric staff, allowing us to clear waitlists and begin accepting new clients, both children and adults. Meet some of our new providers!
Rachel Langerman, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC
Rachael Langerman MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, grew up around Anchorage, Alaska. She left the state for six years and returned for the mountains in 2017. She enjoys hiking and family activities. Her nursing background was primarily in pediatrics, and she enjoys working with both children and adults as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner.
Shannon Buckner, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC
Shannon has a Masters in Nursing with a focus on health care leadership and a Post Masters Certificate in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. She is interested in psychiatric mental health care across the lifespan, with particular interest in depression, anxiety, schizophrenia disorders, and bipolar disorders. She loves outdoor adventures, from fishing to traveling, and loves music and singing.
Joseph DeLong, MPAS
Joe is a Physician Assistant working out of our Fairbanks clinic. He is interested in adult, pediatric, and peripartum mental health. Joe moved to Alaska for the opportunity to work in mental health as a PA, and for the outdoors. He enjoys spending time with his dog, cooking and getting outside as much as possible. His new mukluks are easing his adjustment to winter weather in Fairbanks!
Our psychiatric providers work closely with Chief Medical Officer Dr. Curt Wengel and Director of Nursing Dr. Jessica Estes. Learn about the team here.
Thank you, volunteers!
Toiletry Bags for Youth
Toiletry items are one of the biggest needs for youth utilizing the POWER Center, our youth drop program currently co-located with Alaska Seeds of Change. Long-time Seeds volunteer Margaret Timmerman made these lovely bags for youth to use for toiletries and sanitary products. This is the kind of thoughtful gesture that shows our youth the community cares about them. Thank you so much, Ms. Margaret!
Farewell, Sam!
For the last year, AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer Samuel Alexander has been working at Alaska Seeds of Change!!

Over the year, Sam built up some powerful digital tools that help the team organize, including a case management dashboard, our “Torch” activity tracker, the Evies Brinery budget and performance tracker, and more!
In every project, from grant writing and assistance down to his last project - organizing our hydroponic bits and pieces - Sam has always been thoughtful, thorough, and a pleasure to work with! Thank you, Sam!
Thank you for the support!
Our sincere thanks to everyone who has donated to Alaska Behavioral Heath in 2021 -- whether through your United Way workplace giving campaign, Pick. Click. Give., or by direct donation. We'd especially like to acknowledge:
  • Bering Straits Native Association for supporting Alaska Seeds of Change!
  • Anchorage Alumni Association for supporting services in Fairbanks!
  • The Harnish Group
  • Premera for the year-end support
  • Meg Mielke, Cathy Giessel, Paul Daggett, Suzanne Fairbanks and Irene Gobeli
Support mental health care for all Alaskans!
Our outreach teams seek out people who are homeless and may benefit from mental health services. Over time, they build trust and help connect people to services.

The teams are collecting new or gently-used socks, hats, mittens and coats to use during outreach.

Items can be dropped at 1423 Peger Road in Fairbanks or 1432 Ingra St in Anchorage, or delivered to the holiday trees in any lobby through December 22!
Alaska Behavioral Health is excited to be part of the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) for the first time this year!

The CFC is the official workplace giving campaign for federal employees and retirees.

This year, CFC donations to Alaska Behavioral Health will support The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic, ensuring no-barrier access to care for veteran and military families.

Our CFC # is 80467. Pledge through December 31!
It's almost time to file for your Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend!

PFD Applications open January 1, 2022 through the myAlaska portal. After completing the application, you'll have a chance to choose to donate a portion of your permanent fund dividend to an Alaska-based nonprofit.

Alaska Behavioral Health uses donations to help cover costs of mental health care for clients using our sliding fee scale, and to provide dry socks, snacks and other items during outreach and for clients in need.