Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Dr. Rivera represents Justice Center at UA Behavioral Health Alliance meeting

Dr. Marny Rivera, Justice faculty, represented the Justice Center at the December 2 meeting of the University of Alaska Behavioral Health Alliance.

The Behavioral Health Alliance is a statewide University of Alaska inter-disciplinary task group formed to identify issues concerning behavioral health programs in the UA system, and to work to enhance communication, coordination, and collaboration between and within academic disciplines.  The Alliance works with behavioral health industry providers in seeking ways to meet needs in behavioral health professional education across the state.

The Alliance was formed in 2007 with a focus on "the need to train people in behavioral health occupations where they live."   Among recent accomplishments, the task group has integrated cross-cultural knowledge and understanding across behavioral health disciplines, and increased capacity for effective distance education in behavioral health programs. All 3 major academic units - UAA, UAF, and UAS - rely on distance education to make courses available statewide.

The next meeting will be February 24, 2012 at UAA.