Are you looking for a meaningful and rewarding career that allows you to make a real
difference in your community? Behavioral health is the connection between behavior
and well-being, encompassing a wide range of emotional, psychological and social issues
that affect a person's mental and physical health and well-being.
By pursuing a career in behavioral health, you have the opportunity to positively
impact the lives of those in your community. Whether you choose to become a therapist,
counselor, social worker, psychiatrist or psychologist, you will be providing critical
support and guidance to individuals and families who need it most. By helping to address
the root causes of mental health disorders and substance abuse, you can also help
to build stronger, healthier communities. You can help to break the cycle of addiction
and trauma, and promote a brighter future for all, as we build a better Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ.
Discover the demand for behavioral health professionals in Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ through this series
of videos sponsored by Premera, featuring the inspiring stories of our UAA alumni
who are actively contributing to our communities.
UAA would like to thank Premera Blue Cross for their generous support to inspire students to consider careers in
behavioral health.
Transform lives & communities
"A very simple explanation of human services is people that want to help people. What
I learned in the human services program corresponds directly to what I do now...
I don't think I ever had a kid who didn't have some kind of trauma in their lives.
So to work in probation and have an opportunity to help a kid or to help their family
process some of that, it really does help the rest of the community."
Vicha Puwasurintra Probation Officer UAA Human Services Alumni
"What I do is find the essence of a person. My message and my mantra is, 'never take
away a person's hope because it might be all they have.'
UAA prepared me for working in the behavior health field by offering a variety of
classes that basically teach you the fundamentals."
Holly Scott Care Coordinator UAA Human Services Alumni
Help meet alaska's behavioral health workforce needs
The prevalence of domestic violence, economic instability, unemployment, and substance
abuse in households across Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ underscores the critical need for behavioral health
services.
Over 100,000 adults in Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ have a mental health condition, and 28,000 adults have
a serious mental illness.Over 40% of incarcerated Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æns experience a serious mental illness.
Nearly 25% of Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æns face serious challenges from substance use and there are not
enough treatment options to respond to this need.
The demand for behavioral health care professionals is on the rise in Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ, with
an anticipated workforce growth of over 10% over the next 10 years.
Here are just a few of the ever-growing behavioral health jobs available in Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ
and across the country:
As a neonatal nurse practitioner at Providence Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ Children’s Hospital and adjunct faculty member for the UAA School of Nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice alumna and graduate student hooding ceremony speaker for the fall Class of 2025 Stacy Brunquist weaves education into everything she does — training new caregivers, guiding parents learning to care for their newborns, and sharing knowledge with professionals from UtqiaÄ¡vik to Sitka.
On Nov. 13, the College of Health hosted a legislative event highlighting the Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ Comprehensive Forensic Training Academy (ACFTA) in the Health Sciences Building. Co-led by Nursing Professor Angelia Trujillo, D.N.P., and Social Work Professor Kathi Trawver, Ph.D., the event brought together health care professionals, community partners, and legislators to learn more about ACFTA’s mission.
Laura Aspelund is a second-year medical student in the Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ WWAMI program. As a medical student mentor in the Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ Native into Oncology (ANION) program, she helps guide Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ Native high school and college students exploring careers in medicine.
School of Nursing alumna Kristen Alcorn turned clinical expertise into entrepreneurial success. In this spotlight, Kristen shares a few of the experiences that shaped her journey in nursing, the things she loves about her job, and how her education at UAA helped her achieve her goals.
The UAA Justice Center celebrated its 50th anniversary with a special legislative citation presented by Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ state legislators. The citation recognized decades of impactful research, education, and public service in Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ.
Find a program
We offer educational programs that range from three months to six years. An admissions counselor is ready to talk to you about the programs that fit your needs as well as financing
and scholarship opportunities.
