Every human being has the right to be safe and free from violence in their own homes,
in their relationships, and in their community. Intimate partner violence and sexual
violence are endemic problems. Since 2010, the Alaska Victimization Survey (AVS) has
provided comprehensive statewide and regional data on violence against Alaskan women
to guide planning and policy development and to evaluate the impact of prevention
and intervention services.
The AVS is conducted by the UAA Justice Center for the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (CDVSA). We thank each of the approximately 13,000 women in Alaska who have participated
in these surveys. Because of your courage, we know more about the impact of violence
and are better prepared to respond to and prevent it across our state.
At UAA, computer science Professor Shawn Butler has been using machine learning to debunk COVID-19 misinformation on social media. Butler’s efforts are part of the Division of Population Health Sciences and Department of Journalism and Public Communication’s mission to combat COVID-19 misinformation on public-facing Facebook pages with scientifically accurate information from credited sources through its ongoing Alaska Public Health Information Response Team project.
Founding members of the Alaska Public Health Information Response Team submitted a book chapter proposal, entitled "Addressing Health Misinformation in the Infodemic Era: The Alaska Public Health Information Response Team," in the early spring of 2021 for consideration in a forthcoming book, "Building Health Misinformation Immunity: A Professional's Guide to Helping the Public," which was recently published.
In February 2022, a team at the University of Alaska Anchorage led by Dr. Jennifer Meyer deployed a statewide survey to assess respondents' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to COVID-19 prevention strategies and specifically Long Covid or Post COVID conditions.
On June 30, the Alaska Black Caucus held the Covid & Beyond: Black Health & Wellness Town Hall at the Wendy Williamson Auditorium at the University of Alaska Anchorage. Amana Mbise, Ph.D., an assistant professor with the School of Social Work under the College of Health, presented eye-opening findings from the first-ever Black Alaskans Health Status report.