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OPINION: Alaska Psychiatric Institute, as seen by an Alaska Native social work professional

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OPINION: Alaska Psychiatric Institute, as seen by an Alaska Native social work professional


By Cass Pook

Up to date: 26 minutes in the past Revealed: 26 minutes in the past

Rising up in Southeast Alaska, I first realized about Alaska Psychiatric Institute, or API, about 30 years in the past. With our excessive charges of suicide, despair and psychological well being points, I believe many Alaskans know “of” API. Whenever you simply know “of” a spot, an individual tends to type their opinion of the place based mostly on rumour. That is how my impression of, and what I assumed I knew about API, developed through the years. I’ve at all times envisioned API to be a form of darkish, miserable place that may be like a sterile facility — like a jail. I’m actively pursuing my Grasp in Social Work, or MSW, at College of Alaska Anchorage and I’m set to graduate in Might 2023. My practicum placement is on the Alaska Division of Household and Neighborhood Providers, with Commissioner Kim Kovol as my supervisor. The main focus of my practicum is “advanced care,” the place a staff of stakeholders have the objective of figuring out and addressing the multi-faceted wants of sufferers for optimum care, which frequently could be very pricey. As a part of my research, I not too long ago traveled to Anchorage to do a number of web site visits, and API was on the record of the amenities to go to. I wished to see in individual if API matched what I knew “of” it and I used to be open to seeing what they needed to provide and never rely simply on my long-held private impressions.

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On Nov. 21, I went to go to API and take a tour of the power. The surface of the constructing was not something spectacular. I suppose you may say “don’t choose a e book by its cowl,” as a result of as quickly as I entered the entrance door, the foyer blossomed with stunning paintings. I marveled on the heat surroundings, and I assumed to myself that this should be the work of the Alaska Council of the Arts, commissioning artists to do paintings for state amenities. We went to verify in on the entrance desk and have been greeted by two smiling staff who greeted us with the best stage of customer support. I place a excessive worth on customer support, and so they completely nailed it, an expertise that carried ahead with the remainder of the employees I encountered. After checking-in as company, we began our tour. To the appropriate of the foyer, I grew interested in a room with dim lighting. As I entered, I spotted it was a quiet room to unwind and envelop in a presence of peace. I took within the stained-glass home windows the place the dim gentle entered the room and the large padded benches appropriate for sitting, laying down, or meditating. The tour continued into an space that regarded like a household recreation room with recreation tables like checkers, chess, and backgammon that was painted on the tables. We subsequent explored the full-size gymnasium geared up with a climbing wall with a room on the finish of the gymnasium that was designed for grownup occupational remedy. Every new a part of the power I used to be uncovered to bought me on the place and I favored what I used to be seeing. The subsequent room we went to was a greenhouse for sufferers to work with crops, together with a fish tank, and I assumed how useful it should be for sufferers to work with crops.

Afterwards, we went to a unit the place younger adults resided. We have been greeted by one of many sufferers who gave the impression to be in her personal factor and comfortable. She took a look at us, lowered her stance to “ready-set-go” and took off operating down the corridor, did a swift flip, and returned to her place to begin with an enormous smile on her face. It was heartwarming to see the empathy and compassion the employees had with the sufferers. As we returned to the entrance foyer, we handed paintings alongside the best way that took my breath away. One space had a number of birds that have been individually hand painted and hooked up to the facet of the constructing. In my transient stroll previous, I didn’t absolutely seize the story or which means behind the paintings, however it engaged me.

Previous to visiting API, my first impression of what they needed to provide would have doubtlessly precipitated me hesitation about sending shoppers there. Throughout my go to, I realized that over the previous 4 years, state management has been centered on returning a way of stability to API. Previously two years, API has a stabilized its management staff that features its longest-tenured CEO prior to now six years. Exterior consultants have assisted the staff in assembly regulatory compliance requirements, and the power is once more in good standing with accrediting our bodies. These latest enhancements have elevated capability to 70 beds after a low of 19. One other latest accomplishment consists of reopening the much-needed Chilkat Unit in Might of 2021; this unit serves adolescents in acute psychiatric crises. This unit offers therapeutic programming and security for youth sufferers.

Fortunately, visiting API precipitated a whole about-face for me by experiencing the welcoming surroundings from the minute I walked within the door. Now that I’ve a extra thorough understanding of the tradition and choices of API after the location go to, I’d not hesitate to refer sufferers in want of psychological well being assessments and care to API. I’m glad that I had the chance to go to API and type my very own educated opinion. As an Alaska MSW pupil with commencement within the close to future and coming into the workforce, I really feel higher figuring out there are amenities like API in Alaska to refer sufferers and shoppers to for care.

Cass Pook, BSW, is learning for a Masters diploma in Social Work on the College of Alaska Anchorage. She beforehand served for almost 20 years on the Sitka College Board and previously labored as a counselor for Southeast Alaska Regional Well being Consortium.

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The views expressed listed below are the author’s and should not essentially endorsed by the Anchorage Every day Information, which welcomes a broad vary of viewpoints. To submit a chunk for consideration, electronic mail commentary(at)adn.com. Ship submissions shorter than 200 phrases to letters@adn.com or click on right here to submit by way of any net browser. Learn our full pointers for letters and commentaries right here.





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Alaska

Alaska Airlines Flight Attendant Gets Fired For Twerking On The Job

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Alaska Airlines Flight Attendant Gets Fired For Twerking On The Job


A flight attendant’s viral TikTok video ended up costing her job. Nelle Diala, who was working as a flight attendant with Alaska Airlines for over six months was reportedly fired from her job after recording a twerking video while at work, the New York Post reported. After losing her job for “violating” the airline’s “social media policy”, Diala set up a GoFundMe page for financial support. The twerking and dancing video, posted by Diala on her personal social media account, went viral on TikTok and Instagram. The video was captioned, “ghetto bih till i D-I-E, don’t let the uniform fool you.”

After being fired, Diala reposted the twerking video with the new caption: “Can’t even be yourself anymore, without the world being so sensitive. What’s wrong with a little twerk before work, people act like they never did that before.” She added the hashtag #discriminationisreal.

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According to Diala’s GoFundMe page, she posted the “lighthearted video” during a layover. The video was shot in an empty aircraft. She wrote, “It was a harmless clip that was recorded at 6 am while waiting 2 hours for pilots. I was also celebrating the end of probation.”

“The video went viral overnight, but instead of love and support, it brought unexpected scrutiny. Although it was a poor decision on my behalf I didn’t think it would cost me my dream job,” she added.

Also Read: To Wi-Fi Or Not To Wi-Fi On A Plane? Pros And Cons Of Using Internet At 30,000 Feet

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Talking about being “wrongfully fired”, she said, “My employer accused me of violating their social media policy. I explained that the video wasn’t intended to harm anyone or the company, but they didn’t want to listen. Without warning, they terminated me. No discussion, no chance to defend myself-and no chance for a thorough and proper investigation.”

The seemingly “harmless clip” has led Diala to lose her “dream job”. She shared, “Losing my job was devastating. I’ve always been careful about what I share online, and I never thought this video, which didn’t even mention the airline by name, would cost me my career. Now, I am trying to figure out how to move forward.”






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Federal funds will help DOT study wildlife crashes on Glenn Highway

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Federal funds will help DOT study wildlife crashes on Glenn Highway


New federal funds will help Alaska’s Department of Transportation develop a plan to reduce vehicle collisions with wildlife on one of the state’s busiest highways.

The U.S. Transportation Department gave the state a $626,659 grant in December to conduct a wildlife-vehicle collision study along the Glenn Highway corridor stretching between Anchorage’s Airport Heights neighborhood to the Glenn-Parks Highway interchange.

Over 30,000 residents drive the highway each way daily.

Mark Eisenman, the Anchorage area planner for the department, hopes the study will help generate new ideas to reduce wildlife crashes on the Glenn Highway.

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“That’s one of the things we’re hoping to get out of this is to also have the study look at what’s been done, not just nationwide, but maybe worldwide,” Eisenman said. “Maybe where the best spot for a wildlife crossing would be, or is a wildlife crossing even the right mitigation strategy for these crashes?”

Eisenman said the most common wildlife collisions are with moose. There were nine fatal moose-vehicle crashes on the highway between 2018 and 2023. DOT estimates Alaska experiences about 765 animal-vehicle collisions annually.

In the late 1980s, DOT lengthened and raised a downtown Anchorage bridge to allow moose and wildlife to pass underneath, instead of on the roadway. But Eisenman said it wasn’t built tall enough for the moose to comfortably pass through, so many avoid it.

DOT also installed fencing along high-risk areas of the highway in an effort to prevent moose from traveling onto the highway.

Moose typically die in collisions, he said, and can also cause significant damage to vehicles. There are several signs along the Glenn Highway that tally fatal moose collisions, and he said they’re the primary signal to drivers to watch for wildlife.

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“The big thing is, the Glenn Highway is 65 (miles per hour) for most of that stretch, and reaction time to stop when you’re going that fast for an animal jumping onto the road is almost impossible to avoid,” he said.

The city estimates 1,600 moose live in the Anchorage Bowl.



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Flight attendant sacked for twerking on the job: ‘What’s wrong with a little twerk before work’

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Flight attendant sacked for twerking on the job: ‘What’s wrong with a little twerk before work’


They deemed the stunt not-safe-for-twerk.

An Alaska Airlines flight attendant who was sacked for twerking on camera has created a GoFundMe to support her while she seeks a new berth.

The crewmember, named Nelle Diala, had filmed the viral booty-shaking TikTok video on the plane while waiting two hours for the captain to arrive, A View From the Wing reported.

“I never thought a single moment would cost me everything,” wrote the ex-crewmember. TikTok / @_jvnelle415

She captioned the clip, which also blew up on Instagram, “ghetto bih till i D-I-E, don’t let the uniform fool you.”

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Diala was reportedly doing a victory dance to celebrate the end of her new hire probationary period.

Unfortunately, her jubilation was short-lived as Alaska Airlines nipped her employment in the bum just six months into her contract.

The fanny-wagging flight attendant feels that she didn’t do anything wrong.

Diala was ripped online over her GoFundMe page. GoFundMe

Diala has since reposted the twerking clip with the new caption: “Can’t even be yourself anymore, without the world being so sensitive. What’s wrong with a little twerk before work, people act like they never did that before.”

The new footage was hashtagged #discriminationisreal.

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The disgraced stewardess even set up a GoFundMe page to help support the so-called “wrongfully fired” flight attendant until she can land a new flight attendant gig.

“I never thought a single moment would cost me everything,” wrote the ex-crewmember. “Losing my job was devastating.”

“Can’t even be yourself anymore, without the world being so sensitive,” Diala wrote on TikTok while reacting to news of her firing. “What’s wrong with a little twerk before work, people act like they never did that before.” Getty Images

She claimed that the gig had allowed her to meet new people and see the world, among other perks.

While air hostessing was ostensibly a “dream job,” Diala admitted that she used the income to help fund her “blossoming lingerie and dessert businesses,” which she runs under the Instagram handles @cakezncake (which doesn’t appear to have any content?) and @figure8.lingerie.

As of Wednesday morning, the crowdfunding campaign has raised just $182 of its $12,000 goal.

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Diala was ripped online for twerking on the job as well as her subsequent GoFundMe efforts.

“You don’t respect the uniform, you don’t respect your job then,” declared one critic on the popular aviation-focused Instagram page The Crew Lounge. “Terms and Conditions apply.”

“‘Support for wrongly fired flight attendant??’” mocked another. “Her GoFund title says it all. She still thinks she was wrongly fired. Girl you weren’t wrongly fired. Go apply for a new job and probably stop twerking in your uniform.”

“The fact that you don’t respect your job is one thing but doing it while in uniform and at work speaks volumes,” scoffed a third. “You’re the brand ambassador and it’s not a good look.”

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