In this Newsletter:
  • Celebrate youth at the Block ParTAY August 18!
  • New Group for Parents in Fairbanks
  • Peer Support Training in Juneau
  • August Education Focus: Early Childhood Mental Health & Getting Ready for Back-to-School
  • Upcoming trainings & events
Celebrate youth at our Block ParTAY in Anchorage!
Alaska Seeds of Change and the POWER Center are hosting their second annual Block ParTAY!

We’re excited to have many community partners joining us to share resources and opportunities with young people, including:

Cook Inlet Tribal Council
Anchorage Youth Court
American Lung Association
Anchorage Health Department
MHATS

Plus food trucks, games, and live music by Witty Youngman!

More than 40 door prizes have been donated by Bear Tooth Theatre Pub, Kaladi Brothers and GCI!

August 18, 2:00 - 5:30 pm
corner of 26th & Spenard in Anchorage
New Group for Parents in Fairbanks
New "Fireproof Parenting" group starts August 29!
Fireproof Parenting is a skill development group open to all caregivers and led by AKBH clinicians at our 1423 Peger Road location in Fairbanks.
  • Tuesdays, 5:00 – 6:30 pm
  • 12 weeks
  • Participants must be current AKBH clients or complete an intake to participate in the group.

Unfortunately, we are not able to offer childcare during the group. A Wednesday evening session will begin in late September.

For more information, please contact the clinic at 907-371-1300. Learn more.
Peer Support Training in Juneau!
Peer Support Training
Peer Support Professionals are individuals who identify themselves as in recovery: living with a mental illness diagnosis, history of trauma, and/or history of addiction. Our intro level Peer Support Training is a 40-hour training that qualifies peers for paid positions in the mental health field.

We're excited to be hosting an IN PERSON training in Juneau with Juneau Alliance for Mental Health, August 14-18th!

August Education Focus: Early Childhood Mental Health
This August as families get ready to go back to school (or start for the first time!), we're focusing on mental health for young children.
School-age kids may be starting to feel anxious about the new year and it may show up in unexpected ways: upset stomach, grouchiness, loss of appetite. One key factor, especially in Alaska, is helping kids adjust their sleep schedules and get enough zzz's. (Lack of sleep is associated with higher rates of anxiety and depression.)
Follow along on our social media in August as we share information and resources about infant and early childhood mental health and back to school tips for school-age children, like the video below produced by one of our early childhood clinicians. Links at the bottom of the e-mail!
Upcoming Events!
It's Back to School Time!
AKBH and Cohen Clinic staff are busy helping families get ready for the school year. Staff helped hand out school supplies at the World's Biggest Backpack event in North Pole last Saturday, and will be at Anchorage Health Department's Back to School Health & Safety Fair this Friday, August 11!
12-6 pm
Fairview Rec Center in Anchorage

We'll be handing out erasers and stress balls, and sharing resources for addressing mental health challenges.

Come join us!
ARC Training
August 21-22

The Attachment, Self-Regulation and Competency or ARC framework is a flexible, components-based intervention for children and adolescents
(3-18) who have experienced complex trauma, along with their caregiving systems.

 ARC is designed as an individual level clinical intervention and as an organizational framework

The 2-day training is offered in person in Anchorage at no charge. Travel costs are the responsibility of participants.
Mental Health First Aid® (MHFA) August 24!

MHFA is a full day course that teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. The training gives you the skills you need to reach out and provide initial help and support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem or experiencing a crisis.

Two hours of pre-work is required. This virtual training is presented at no-cost to participants.