Coordinated Health & ​Complex Care Unit

The Coordinated Health and Complex Care Unit plays a vital role in working in partnership with the divisions of the Department of Family and Community Services (DFCS) to support Alaska’s most medically and behaviorally complex individuals, ensuring they receive care under each division’s statutory authority.

Complex Care Initiative Civil Commitment
Older woman holding younger woman's hands

Coordinated Health & ​Complex Care Unit

The Coordinated Health and Complex Care Unit plays a vital role in working in partnership with the divisions of the Department of Family and Community Services (DFCS) to support Alaska’s most medically and behaviorally complex individuals, ensuring they receive care under each division’s statutory authority.

Complex Care Initiative Civil Commitment
Older woman holding younger woman's hands

This unit accepts referrals from DFCS's internal divisions, including the Office of Children's Services, Alaska Psychiatric Institute, Division of Juvenile Justice, and Alaska Pioneer Homes. Additionally, we partner with the Department of Health (DOH) to coordinate services for individuals who qualify for or are currently receiving DOH services and may have complex needs. Through these partnerships, we work to strengthen and enhance Alaska' systems of care.

Complex Care Initiative Chart

Makayla Viray

​Deputy Director

The Department of Health is comprised of the Divisions of Behavioral Health, Senior and Disabilities Services, Public Assistance, Public Health, and Health Care Services. The Department of Family and Community Services is comprised of the Alaska Psychiatric Institute, Alaska Pioneer Homes, Office of Children's Services, and Division of Juvenile Justice.

The Coordinated Health and Complex Care Unit's primary roles in complex care are:

To liaise between divisions and departments to coordinate resources to identify and address gaps in Alaska's system of complex care.

To research feasible and Alaskan-centered responses to identified gaps in complex care systems in Alaska.

Foster constructive relationships between departments, divisions, and all stakeholders in Alaska's complex care system.

To support our DFCS divisions with individuals who are in their custodial care and may experience complex needs.​​

Complex Care Venn Diagram with Behavioral Health Conditions, Medical Conditions & Disabilities, and Other Factors all overlapping

DES/DET

Designated Evaluation and Stabilization (DES) / Designated Evaluation and Treatment (DET) Coordination ​

The DET/DES Coordinators act as part of the Complex Care Systems Unit. The DET/DES Coordinators facilitate and proactively develop Alaska's system of emergent responses to acute mental health and behavioral crises to ensure that vulnerable Alaskans with acute mental and behavioral health events get the care they need, where they need it, in a timely and safe manner. The DET/DES Coordinators manage Secure Transport Services for DFCS divisions and Title 47 filings, case tracking, and data management. The DET/DES Coordinators also use their knowledge and expertise in these fields to inform internal and external stakeholders on these processes.

DES/DET Care Coordination

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