The Alaska Community Foundation and Alaska Children’s Trust are proud to again partner with the State of Alaska to promote community-based efforts to support youth suicide prevention. The Alaska Community Foundation provided a dollar for dollar match to the state appropriation for this important grant program. Special thanks to Wells Fargo and the Rasmuson Foundation, who also contributed to this program.
In March, the Teen Suicide Prevention Grant Program awarded 12 grants totaling $56,998 across the state. Applicants were encouraged to align projects with strategies from the Alaska State Suicide Prevention Plan.
Trevor Storrs, Executive Director of Alaska Children’s Trust says, “We were excited to awards grants in White Mountain, Barrow, Unalakleet, Juneau, Gakona, Whittier, Ketchikan and other communities for local projects to directly enhance community-based efforts to prevent teen suicide.”
Several grantees have completed their projects since they received confirmation of funding. The North Star Community Foundation used the grant to support the Winter Bear 2016 tour to six communities in the Kuskokwim region. Project Director Anne Hanley states, “We were welcomed with open arms by resilient, resourceful people who have the will to come up with creative solutions to the problems facing our young people.” Said a 15 year-old audience member about the play, “It really helped me thinking about who really loves me. I’m going through a tough time right now and was questioning my life. This helps a lot! Thank you!”
Camp Fire Alaska – Youth Mental Health First Aid – $4,559
Cheesh’Na Tribal Council – Suicide Prevention – $5,000
Chugach School District – Whittier Community Schools Outreach – $4,559
Communities in Schools of Juneau – Juneau Trauma Informed Education Project – $4,998
Lower Yukon School District – Neryuniuq – $5,000
Ninilchik Traditional Council – Resilient Alaska Youth – $4,559
North Slope School District – Aullaaq -To Go Out Camping – $5,000
North Star Community Foundation – The Winter Bear Project – $5,000
Seldovia Village Tribe – Community Connections Project – $3,823
Sunshine Community Health Center – Healthy Life Color Run – $5,000
The Native Village of Unalakleet – Youth Cultural Strengthening – $5,000
Women in Safe Homes – Ketchikan Peer Education Group – $4,500
For more information about suicide prevention efforts and resources in Alaska please visit StopSuicideAlaska.org.