Wasilla, Alaska – The Mat-Su Health Foundation (MSHF) has welcomed two new employees: Chelsea Hedrick as Connect Mat-Su community resource specialist and Jeff Winell as R.O.C.K. Mat-Su community engagement coordinator. MSHF has also promoted Jessie Burbank to Connect Mat-Su community resource specialist II.

As Connect Mat-Su community resource specialist, Hedrick is the first point of contact for Connect Mat-Su, a social services information and referral resource center operated by MSHF. She provides social service navigation and referrals, as well as works to develop and maintain an extensive database of resources available in the community. Before accepting her current position, Hedrick held a temporary role coordinating a COVID-19 call line for Connect Mat-Su. She previously worked as a project coordinator with Bozeman Green Build and the Madison River Foundation, as well as an Alaskan Conservation Corp member with the Alaska Department of Natural Resources. She holds an Associate of Applied Sciences in fisheries technology and a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of Alaska.

In his role as R.O.C.K. Mat-Su community engagement coordinator, Winell is responsible for driving strategic work forward by supporting day-to-day communications and administration, community engagement and data functions. He facilitates and coordinates authentic community engagement, informing the collective goal of creating transformative change in the systems that affect children and families in the Mat-Su. Winell brings a great deal of experience in client-facing communications and community programs. Before joining MSHF, he worked as a contact center representative at Matanuska Valley Federal Credit Union and program director with Take2 Ministries Alaska. Winell holds a bachelor’s degree in business management and ministry leadership from Cornerstone University in Michigan.

In her new role as community resource specialist II, Burbank will work closely with the Connect Mat-Su team to develop and maintain a database of health and social services resources within Mat-Su and will engage in outreach to develop and strengthen relationships with social service organizations, providers and programs. She will be responsible for refining, executing, and reporting on the information and referral follow-up process, assuring that consumers receive the services they need and identifying system gaps/areas for improvement. Before joining MSHF in 2020, 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.

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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.