Initial Report and Recommendations - Alaska Department of Law

and follow-up contacts. Since it was started in 1989, Raven’s Way has served atotal of 891 youth (60 annually in cohorts of 10 students), representing 134communities. The program has been accredited by the Commission for theAccreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF).• Therapeutic Village of Care, Ernie Turner Center, an adult residential treatmentprogram operated by Cook Inlet Tribal Council, is also CARF accredited (as an“exemplary program”). The Ernie Turner Center began as the Alaska NativeAlcoholism Recovery Center in the late 1980s and has gone through severaltransformations over the years. Initially a 12-step program, it has now become aTherapeutic Community modeled after life in an Alaska Native village, with theclients given some authority in controlling the program through a “TribalCouncil,” supported by clinical and administrative staff. Treatment can last aslong as 180 days and includes a large number of different components, includinga strong emphasis on education and employment. As part of the therapeuticcommunity, the clients take part in the operations and management of “CohoCup” espresso stands, a gift shop, and an art gallery. The 32-bed facility islocated in Anchorage across the street from the Anchorage Native Primary CareCenter and the Alaska Native Medical Center. It is funded by IHS, ADHSS, andthrough third-party reimbursement.• Dena A Coy, an Athabascan phrase meaning “the people’s grandchildren,” is aresidential substance abuse and mental health treatment program, started as a wayto prevent Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, operated in Anchorage bySouthcentral Foundation. Initiated in 1989 by funding from the IHS, CSAT, andADHSS, this 16-bed program serves pregnant, parenting, and non-pregnantwomen suffering from substance abuse/addiction and/or mental health problems.Once they complete the residential phase of the treatment, clients are placed in atwo-year outpatient aftercare program. Services are also available for infantsduring their parents’ treatment through Southcentral Foundation’s Early HeadStart program. Services include drug/alcohol education, 12-step recovery, relapseprevention, spiritual involvement, talking circles, anger management, grief/lossdepression, building self-esteem, countering domestic violence and sexual abuse,and an array of services relating to parenting, dealing with parental stress, andfamily activities focused on building and maintaining mutually supportiverelationships. This program is also accredited by CARF.As the reader can discern, there are several successful programs that are already inplace serving rural Alaska. The Commission recognized these as it deliberated its chargeand used elements of these successful programs in crafting the recommendations toCongress and the Alaska Legislature that are presented in this report.Alaska Rural Justice and Law Enforcement Commission - Page 29