Thea Agnew Bemben is a principal and co-founder of Agnew::Beck Consulting, a planning, policy and community development firm based in Anchorage, Alaska. Thea has 26 years’ experience working with statewide and community organizations to bring about real improvements in the health and social conditions of the people they serve. Thea couples her expertise in health and human services planning with strong experience working with Alaska Native communities and Tribal organizations. Thea is an experienced facilitator of decision-making dialogue on a wide range of public policy issues. She has worked with many Tribal health corporations and statewide and community organizations to expand services for Elders, people with behavioral health issues and disabilities, and to strengthen vulnerable families.
Thea led the 2015-16 effort to develop Recommended Medicaid Redesign + Expansion Strategies for Alaska, which informed SB74, passed in June 2016, to reform Alaska’s Medicaid program. In 2018, she led the teams for the Forensic Psychiatric Feasibility Assessment and the ASHNHA Acute Behavioral Health Improvement project. She worked closely with the board and leadership of the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium to update their strategic plan. She is working closely with the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority to help Alaska communities implement Crisis Now Services. She also supported the Anchorage Health Department with launching a community committee to advise on equitable and effective COVID-19 vaccination allocation. This led to the formation of the Anchorage Equity Committee of the Assembly, which Thea co-chairs. Since 2021, Thea has been supporting Providence Health and Services with the development of a Crisis Stabilization Center to serve Anchorage. She recently began a similar engagement with Bartlett Regional Hospital in Juneau to develop behavioral health crisis care on their campus. Thea also works with Alaska communities to address the needs of people with complex needs who are experiencing homelessness and to build safe and supportive communities for children and families. Thea is committed to building healthy and equitable communities where all Alaskans can thrive.