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FNA opens behavioral health office at UAF

Fairbanks Native Association has opened a behavioral health services outreach and screening office on the Troth Yeddha’ Campus of the University of 91��Ƶ Fairbanks.

The office, located in UAF’s Student Health and Counseling Center at 1007 N. Chandalar Drive, is open to students, faculty, staff and all members of the Fairbanks community. Hours are from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, but the office will close during UAF and FNA closures. The phone is 907-474-7043.

“This is a shared commitment between FNA and UAF to address campus and community behavioral health needs with in-person, confidential care,” said Harry Conway, FNA Behavioral Health Services director. “The campus office is another option for people to find FNA support that might be more accessible.”

The office will provide information and initial screening for FNA services, including the following.

• Outpatient and residential services
• Substance use disorder services
• Crisis intervention
• Youth, young adult, family and adult-specific services
• Peer support
• Recovery services
• Referrals for other care

Many of these services are covered by insurance or grant funding, but FNA does not turn anyone away due to inability to pay, according to Conway.

“UAF has again demonstrated its commitment to their community’s well-being, and to Fairbanks, by providing office space, free of charge, to FNA Behavioral Health Services,” said Melissa Charlie, FNA executive director.

Valerie Gifford, SHCC director, said UAF is grateful to partner with FNA to bring these services to campus.

“Having FNA’s outreach and screening office here expands the support available to our students and employees, and it strengthens our ability to connect people with culturally informed, community-based behavioral health care,” Gifford said.

ADDITIONAL CONTACTS: Valerie Gifford, vmgifford@alaska.edu, 907-545-1974; Harry Conway, hconway@fairbanksnative.org, 907-452-6251

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