Wasilla, Alaska — The Mat-Su Health Foundation board of directors recently approved the awarding of $1,752,000 to eight organizations working to improve the health of Mat-Su residents. The funds will go to the Alaska Youth and Family Network; CCS Early Learning, the City of Wasilla Library; MYHouse; Onward and Upward, Inc.; Sunshine Community Health Center; the University of Alaska Anchorage Mat-Su College; and, Wasilla Area Seniors (WASI). The awards were part of the Foundation’s Healthy Impact grant program, and the grants are earmarked for the following projects:

• The Alaska Youth and Family Network (AYFN) Mat-Su office was awarded $375,000 over two years to provide convening space and additional staff to scale the number of families and children the organization assists in the Mat-Su. AYFN identifies, serves and stabilizes families of children and youth experiencing behavioral health challenges. Engaging these families increases the likelihood of preserving or reuniting, builds resiliency, and promotes recovery.

• The City of Wasilla Public Library received a grant for $25,000 to purchase health-related materials for the new library currently under construction.

• CCS Early Learning was awarded $50,000 for its Road to Resilience project to provide training to staff and families about the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), peer support, and mental health counseling.

• MYHouse received a grant of $75,000 to help fund a street outreach coordinator, data coordinator, and outreach program support for this organization, which works with homeless youth and young adults to help them become contributing, self-supporting members of the community.

• Onward and Upward, Inc. was awarded $347,500 over three years to build program capacity for its strength-based curriculum designed to support positive development and academic enrichment for at-risk youth in the Mat-Su.

• Sunshine Community Health Center received a grant of $168,840 to supplement a total project cost of $409,474 to establish two new positions: An LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) and a Behavioral Health Nurse Case Manager. These new positions would be added to the existing workforce to further expand and integrate behavioral health services into the existing primary care programs at its locations in Willow and Talkeetna.

• The University of Alaska Anchorage Mat-Su Campus received a grant of $195,864 to expand a pilot project for the delivery of mental health care services to students through a contract with Mat-Su Health Services. Additionally, the grant will support implementation of a healthy lifestyle education program for students and will provide professional development opportunities for faculty and staff.

• Wasilla Area Seniors (WASI) was awarded $500,000 through a PRI (Program Related Investment) to purchase land adjacent to its campus in Wasilla. WASI provides a variety of programs and services to seniors residing in the Mat-Su and the land it is purchasing allow it to supplement those services as the Valley’s senior population grows.

The Foundation will announce the recipients of its next round of Healthy Impact grants in the Spring of 2016.