Juneau Alliance for Mental Health Inc. has a new facility because of the $870,000 Sen. Lisa Murkowski allocated for the project in her federal omnibus spending bill.
The project, according to the organization, will allow them to serve more youth in a growing mental illness crisis that has led to a waitlist.
Rachel Gearhart is the head of operations at JAMHI. This organization provides care for those with severe mental illnesses. She believes the urgent need exists.
span style=”font weight: 400 If you are asking for services now, it is not asking for them a week, three or four weeks later. Gearhart stated that you want services immediately. Gearhart stated that once you are ready to get started, you will want to strike while it is still hot .”
In December, the Department of Justice revealed findings that Alaska was failing to provide youth with behavioral health services in “settings appropriate to their needs”. This has led to children being placed in institutions who don’t need to be. Gearhart is in agreement that patients who are unable to get the treatment they require in their local area may need to travel to Anchorage or the Lower 48 to receive inpatient care.
The new facility, which will be located in the former Juneau Youth Services Building on Jordan Avenue, should assist with this. The new facility will have more offices for providers to see individual patents, as well as larger rooms for play therapy and group therapy such as yoga. JAMHI will keep its Glacier Avenue location for administrative offices.
Gearhart said that the organization is determined to ensure they don’t outgrow their new building.
She said, “We’re spending time right now to collaborate with the architect and JAMHI’s providers and leadership to decide what this building should look like.”
Gearhart stated that she is not sure when the money will arrive at JAMHI’s doors, but that renovations should be complete by the summer.
