College of Health News

Guy Harris Read More

MSW Student Spotlight: Guy Harris

 |  Guy Harris  |  , , , ,

"For all those deciding what to do following high school, I encourage you to find your passion, that spark that brings you joy and motivation. If you don’t quite know what you want to do with your life, that is okay. When you find the path that motivates you, take each small step one by one, but don’t stop growing," said MSW student Guy Harris.

Catherine Haese Read More

Community Connection: School of Nursing student reflects on personal journey

 |  Matt Jardin  |  ,

Psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner alumna Catherine Haese will serve as the graduate student speaker at the spring 2023 commencement ceremony before starting a new position where she will use her personal experience to foster addiction recovery solutions and treat mental health issues.

Michael Riley and Jennifer Pierce standing in front of Mobile Crisis Team vehicle Read More

Driving the future of mental health response

 |  UAA Office of Alumni Relations  |  , , ,

Anchorage’s new Mobile Crisis Team — which includes fire service administration alumnus Michael Riley — responds specifically to mental health emergencies, saving traditional first responders crucial time and resources.

A $1.5 million grant coordinated by Recover Alaska was presented to the University of Alaska Anchorage School of Social Work, which will significantly increase enrollment capacity, establish a pathway to licensure for graduates, add faculty and staffing, and offer continuing education to maintain clinical licenses. Read More

UAA receives $1.5M to increase social worker workforce

 |  Green & Gold  |  , ,

A $1.5 million grant coordinated by Recover Alaska was presented to the University of Alaska Anchorage School of Social Work, which will significantly increase enrollment capacity, establish a pathway to licensure for graduates, add faculty and staffing, and offer continuing education to maintain clinical licenses.

Mateo Jaime Read More

Aging out of Alaska’s foster care system on his own terms

 |  Anchorage Daily News  |  , , ,

Mateo Jaime, a Legal Studies student, arrived at the court hearing that would, finally, end his years in custody of the Alaska Office of Children’s Services in a buoyant mood. At age 21, young adults “age out” of foster care in Alaska if they have not been adopted or reunified with parents. A judge approves it in a hearing that amounts to a grim bureaucratic formality: A child has passed into adulthood without the foster care system laying a path to permanent legal family for them, and now they are on their own.