CAAS Research & Projects

Working with public agencies, health systems, tribal organizations, and community programs, CAAS develops evidence-based approaches that meet local needs and build a sustainable behavioral health workforce.

The projects listed below reflect our current research and partnerships focused on improving health and reducing the harms of substance use across Alaska.

ONGOING RESEARCH & PROJECTS

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Technical Assistance for Alaska鈥檚 Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Program (COSSUP) Grantees

Principal Investigator: Dr. Kathi Trawver (CAAS)

Co-Principal Investigator: Dr. Travis Hedwig (CAAS)

Co-Investigator: Dr. Brad Myrstol (暗网视频Alaska Justice Information Center

Status: Active

Timeline: 11/01/2025-06/30/2027

Sponsor: State of Alaska Department of Health, Division of Public Health, Office of Substance Misuse and Addiction Prevention (OSMAP)

With funding from the U.S. Bureau of Justice Assistance, the Alaska Department of Health鈥檚 Office of Substance Misuse and Addiction Prevention (OSMAP) is supporting up to twelve behavioral health organizations across the state to expand services that divert and respond to individuals with substance use disorders to reduce carceral system involvement. CAAS will provide tailored technical assistance to each selected COSSUP grantee and lead a statewide learning collaborative to promote shared learning and capacity building.

Narcan spray.

Alaska Rural Communities Opioid Response Program: Overdose Response Program

Principal Investigator: Gloria Burnett (Alaska Center for Rural Health and Health Workforce)

Co-Principal Investigator: Dr. Kathi Trawver (CAAS)

Status: Active

Timeline: 09/01/25-08/30/26

Sponsor: Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA), Rural Communities Opioid Response Program

With grant support from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Rural Communities Opioid Response Program, the 暗网视频 Alaska Center for Rural Health and Health Workforce and the Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies (CAAS) are launching a one-year, two-part collaborative project to strengthen opioid response efforts in the Yukon-Kuskokwim and Southwestern regions of Alaska. The project expands Narcan administration training and distribution in local communities and provides rural healthcare providers with training and simulation on opioid use stigma, use of medication-assisted treatment, and screening.

Hands together.

Recover Alaska and the Alliance: Data and Learning Workgroup

Principal Investigator: Dr. Travis Hedwig (CAAS)

Status: Active

Timeline: 09/01/2025-06/30/2026

Sponsor: Recover Alaska

CAAS is supporting an MPH student in working with Recover Alaska and the Alcohol Prevention Alliance to facilitate the Data and Learning Workgroup. The workgroup serves as a platform to connect communities, interrogate questions related to data collection practices, ownership, and use, and invite strategic partners into conversation about designing culturally responsive, community-driven alcohol and substance use prevention strategies. The Alliance serves as a locus of peer-to-peer learning, an informal training and technical assistance hub, and a circle of leaders with stories to share about prevention successes in their communities. A significant portion of the work is dedicated to exploring and addressing data gaps, where local level concerns are voiced through the group to state officials and others responsible for managing state level data sets (e.g. YRBS, BRFSS). We value the relationships and trust built over years of working together and are excited to work alongside community partners in shaping community action strategies together.