Alaska

Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
801 W. 10th Street, Suite A
Juneau, AK 99801-1894
Toll Free: (800)478-2815
Direct: (907)465-2814
Fax: (907)465-2856

Employment Resources:

Alaskan Aids Assistance Association
"The mission of the Alaskan AIDS Assistance Association is to be a key collaborator within the state of Alaska in the provision of supportive services to persons living with HIV/AIDS and their families and in the elimination of the transmission of HIV infection and its stigma." This organization provides a number of resources for people infected with HIV/AIDS. Supportive services include case management, medical care, dental care, education, support groups, education, and rehabilitation/vocational training.

Community Drum
"The Community Drum feels that it is very important that others living with HIV/AIDS know that they are not alone in their battle. It is our hope to provide this online community as a safe place for Alaska Natives who are living with HIV/AIDS to come together and talk, and to provide HIV/AIDS care information." Forums and information are provided for Alaskans living with HIV/AIDS. This information includes employee and legal rights.

Interior Aids Association
"IAA's mission is to reduce the spread of HIV by providing meaningful and effective education and prevention services to individuals and groups who may be at increased risk; and to improve the quality of life for people living with HIV/AIDS by providing early intervention, case management, and other support services."

Research:

Insurance Benefits, Use of Medical Services and Employment Among Alaskan Injection Drug Users.
Research Objective: Injection drug users comprise a marginalized population. This paper looks at a cohort of injection drug users to assess their use of medical care, employment status, welfare status, and health insurance status.Study Design: We use data collected from 652 injection drug users in Anchorage, Alaska, recruited for a prospective study of Hepatitis B and C and HIV. Three main questionnaires were administered to participants: the Risk Behavior Assessment was administered at baseline interview; the Risk Behavior Follow-Up Assessment was administered at 6- and 12-month follow-up interviews. Both questionnaires elicit demographic information, drug and sexual risk behaviors, and employment and welfare status. The Fpro Questionnaire was administered at baseline and assessed use of medical services, who paid for the services, and insurance status. Chi square tests of association were used to assess the association between employment and health insurance status, and between employment and use of four types of health services (hospital in-patient, hospital emergency room, physician out-patient, and dentistry). McNemar's tests were used to assess changes in employment status and welfare recipient status from baseline to 6- and 12-month follow-up.Population Studied: Injection drug users living in Anchorage, Alaska, who were at least 18 years of age, tested positive for opiates or cocaine metabolites, and exhibited visible signs of injection (track marks). Principal Findings: At baseline, 122 participants indicated that they were employed either full or part-time. Of these, only four indicated that they had Medicaid and 22 indicated that the Indian Health Service covered them. The majority of both employed and unemployed participants indicated that payment for their health services was by Medicaid, the Indian Health Service, the Veterans Administration or indicated "service charge billed to me, but I have not paid it." At 6-month follow-up, 49 participants who were unemployed at baseline had obtained jobs. However, this was offset by 50 of those who had been employed at baseline becoming unemployed at 6-month follow-up (McNamar's Test NS). At 12-month follow-up, 52 participants who were unemployed at baseline had become employed, while 25 who were employed at baseline had lost their jobs (McNamar's Test = 9.47, p=.002), a net gain of 27 employed participants only at 12-month follow-up. Differences in receipt of public assistance between baseline, and 6- and 12-month follow-up were not statistically significant. Conclusions: Employment does not include health care benefits for this population. Public programs such as the Indian Health Service and Medicaid constitute the only health insurance for this population.Implications for Policy: Injection drug users, even when employed, do not have access to health insurance coverage outside of public programs. Funding Source: Grant R01 DA 10181 from The National Institute on Drug Abuse.