Wasilla, Alaska – The Mat-Su Health Foundation (MSHF) has announced that Jessie Burbank has joined the Connect Mat-Su team in the role of community resource specialist and Tracy Kalytiak has been promoted to the position of program officer.

In her role as community resource specialist, Burbank is the first point of contact for Connect Mat-Su, a social services information and referral resource center operated by the Mat-Su Health Foundation. Burbank provides social service navigation and referrals and works to develop and maintain an extensive database of resources available in the community. She brings a wealth of experience advocating for those in need. Most recently, Burbank worked at The Children’s Place where she assisted children and families impacted by child abuse. She graduated from the University of Alaska Anchorage with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and a minor in women’s studies.

Kalytiak was promoted to program officer after having served as program associate for three years. She will continue her work on the foundation’s Target Wellness and Coronavirus Prevention and Response (CPR) grant programs. Kalytiak also oversees MSHF sponsorships and its technical assistance pool for grantees. Prior to being hired by the foundation, she worked as a writer and editor at the University of Alaska Anchorage and at several publications, including Alaska Magazine, Alaska Business Monthly and the Frontiersman. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Central Arkansas.

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About Mat-Su Health Foundation: Mat-Su Health Foundation (MSHF) is the official business name of Valley Hospital Association, Inc., which shares ownership in Mat-Su Regional Medical Center. In this capacity, MSHF board members and representatives actively participate in the governance of Mat-Su’s community hospital to protect the community’s interest in this important healthcare institution. The MSHF mission is to improve the health and wellness of Alaskans living in the Mat-Su and the tools it uses include grantmaking, convening of local partners, and policy change. The foundation’s work has resulted in significant improvements in systems that support the health of Mat-Su residents in areas such as behavioral health, child welfare, crisis response, community connections, workforce development, transportation, housing, and senior services. More information is available at healthymatsu.org.

About Connect Mat-Su: Connect Mat-Su was developed by the Mat-Su Health Foundation and community partners to be a comprehensive and innovative health and social services information and referral resource center serving all residents of Mat-Su. It is a network that is both a physical and virtual resource center linking residents with immediate access to the information, referrals, and direct assistance needed to thrive physically, mentally, socially and emotionally.  More information is available at connectmatsu.org.