Myra Munson

Myra Munson was interviewed by Bill Schneider on September 7, 2010 at Elmer E. Rasmuson Library on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus. She is an attorney with the law firm of Sonosky, Chambers, Sachse, Endreson and Perry in Juneau, Alaska. She was Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) from 1986-1990, and prior to that was Assistant Attorney General in the Alaska Department of Law primarily representing DHSS cases. In this interview, she talks about the evolution of mental health services in Alaska, the community mental health movement, the state's role in funding and delivering mental health services, and the integration between mental health and substance abuse treatments. In addition, she discusses the mental health trust lawsuit and settlement and why it was not resolved during the administration of Governor Steve Cowper.