College of Health News

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UAA researchers are defining what ‘hot weather’ means in Alaska

 |  Chynna Lockett  |  , , ,

Alaska is prepared to handle harsh winter weather, but climate change has triggered a new threat – heat. Micah Hahn with the Institute for Circumpolar Health Studies (ICHS) is teaming with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Alaska branch to develop the state’s first hot weather warning system based on the local temperature threshold.

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Racial disparities for Alaska Native and American Indian inmates: A troubling picture

 |  KNBA  |  , , ,

UAA Justice Center Professor and Alaska Justice Information Center Director, Brad Myrstol, spoke with KNBA about the disproportionally high number of Alaska Native and American Indian inmates in the Alaskan and U.S. prison system.

Donna Aguiniga, Matthew Cuellar and Mary Dallas Allen smiling, standing in front of trees Read More

UAA’s School of Social Work $1.2 million Department of Education grant will fill school social worker shortage in Alaska

 |  Catalina Myers  |  , , , ,

UAA's School of Social Work received a $1.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to address the need for Alaska social workers in a K-12 setting. The School-Based Social Work Education and Network Development program (SSWEND) aims to graduate a cohort of 31 fellows by 2026 who will increase the amount of school-based mental health service providers in high-needs schools.

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Hometown, Alaska: Discussing mental health awareness and suicide prevention

 |  Alaska Public Media  |  , ,

Master of Social Work student Shana Cooper works with the Alaska Native Justice Center. She joined the Hometown, Alaska podcast to talk about mental health and suicide prevention in the state.

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Researchers identify new tick species Alaska

 |  Chynna Lockett  |  , , ,

Historically, ticks haven’t been a problem in Alaska. But factors like climate change and tourism have created a welcoming environment for new species that can transmit illnesses to humans. Micah Hahn with the Institute for Circumpolar Health Studies is tracking them. “Our work over the past six years is to understand the baseline–where we are with the ticks that exist in Alaska.”