ALASKA MENTAL HEALTH BOARD

FRANK H. MURKOWSKI, GOVERNOR 431 N. Franklin, Suite 200

STATE OF ALASKA Juneau, Alaska 99801

Office: (907) 465-3071

Fax: (907) 465-3079

August 23, 2004

Friends and Colleagues:

The Alaska Mental Health Board will meet September 23-24, 2004 at the Princess Hotel in Fairbanks. The draft agenda contains the meeting schedule and will be available online at www.amhb.org soon. Meeting highlights will include:

¨ A September 24 public discussion of the January 2004 Fairbanks Memorial Hospital mental health unit review.

¨ A consumer forum the evening of September 23.

¨ A joint meeting with the Advisory Board on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (ABADA) that will address shared and individual goals, responsibilities, and processes.

¨ Public comment sessions take place at 3:30 p.m., September 23 and 1:30 p.m., Sept. 24.

¨ The leadership of the five boards representing Alaska Mental Health Trust beneficiaries will meet the evening of September 23 to discuss issues of mutual concern.

This agenda represents change in the AMHB way of doing business. In response to the need to institute efficiencies, the AMHB has opted for a 2-day meeting schedule. This means that most committee meetings will take place via teleconference between full board meetings. We will also ask agencies (with limited exceptions) to provide written reports to the Board rather than oral reports at the meeting. We will also typically share a portion of our agenda with ABADA to address behavioral health issues that cross boundaries between the two boards.

The details of our agenda may change somewhat as the meeting nears. We ask for your understanding and flexibility concerning such changes.

The Board encourages and appreciates your interest in mental health in Alaska and your involvement during this time of transition. We invite you to attend all or part of the AMHB meeting and related activities.

Sincerely,

Richard Rainery

Richard Rainery

Executive Director