Press Release – Page 14 – Mat-Su Health Foundation

Category: Press Release

MAT-SU HEALTH FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS INCREASE TO MORE THAN $770,000

Wasilla, Alaska –The Mat-Su Health Foundation (MSHF) recently awarded 128 academic scholarships totaling $721,400 to Mat-Su students pursuing college degrees in health and wellness. In addition, the foundation awarded 23 vocational scholarships totaling $48,636 to residents pursuing health-related training and certificate programs. Together, the academic and vocational scholarship programs awarded $770,036 – almost double the $389,227 awarded the previous year.

“Workforce development is the key driver of our scholarship program,” said MSHF Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth Ripley. “Of the 25 occupations expected to grow the most in Alaska, 18 are related to health care. As Mat-Su grows, so does our need for a highly trained and educated health care workforce, and this scholarship program can help fill that need with local residents.”

The Mat-Su Health Foundation offers scholarships in two categories: academic scholarships for students pursuing college degrees with health or wellness majors, and vocational scholarships to assist students with the cost of training and certifications for jobs in health and wellness fields. Scholarships are awarded based on how well each applicant meets MSHF’s eligibility criteria, which includes financial need, demonstrated interest in health care, and selection of a career choice that matches the workforce needs of the Mat-Su. MSHF academic scholarships are awarded one time annually, while vocational scholarships are awarded throughout the year.

New in 2017 is the Mat-Su Scholars Award, which is not based on financial need, but instead is awarded based on the applicant’s career goal, an essay, and an interview. Mat-Su Scholars awards are for $10,000 each and were awarded to students who meet specific criteria:
The Annie Demming Scholarship for a current high school student: Deborah Johnston
• The Vivian “Babe” Shaver Scholarship for a behavioral health major: Michael Consalo
• The Ya Ne Dah Ah /K’tl’egh’i Sukdu Scholarship for a graduate-level applicant: Christina Bernier
• The Jessica Stevens Scholarship for a physician assistant major: Hilary Stark
• The Darlene Reed Scholarship for a nursing major: Heather Hanes

The following people received 2017 MSHF academic scholarships; individual awards ranged from $500 – $20,000:

Josephine Amaktoolik
Kelsea Armstrong
Alan Bartelli
Christina Bernier
Hailey Boatman
Christen Bohl
Braden Booker
Kelsey Boss
Stormy Boylan
Daniel Brunnhoelzl
Heather Buchanan
Thomas Buckley
Colleen Bue
Alex Buness
Teresa Capo
Mariya Chavez
Joshua Christensen
Kathryn Cocker
Michael Consalo
Moriah Cordell
Sarah Crowley
Jessica Czechowicz
Bryan Dahms
Kaitlin Daly
Adinda Demske
Alexis Dilley
McKenzie Docherty
Ashlyn Dorn
Keegan Dossett
Daniel Dryden
Jessica Duke
Gregory Eisenhower
Laurel Eliason
Terri-Jo Ewing
Parker Flaming
Troy Foley
Simona Fonov
Samantha Gibson
Seneca Glenn
John Gregory
Heather Hanes
Heather Harlow
Celeste Harrell
Haley Hershman
Marika Hintz
Kyra Hoenack
Matthew Horner
Lydia Howard
Tyler Howlett
Sierra Imoe
Mackenzie Jenkins
Harrison Jennings
Deborah Johnston
Sabrina Jurasek
Angela Kesler
Paige Kessler
Sierra Kistler
Mary Klapperich
Madeline Ko
Jennifer Kolb
Kerston Krull
Rachel Laws
Jared Layton
Katherine Little
Sheva Loncle
Robert Lyons
Richard Manrique
Blake Marks
Ruby Matthews
Candace Mauldin
Shiloh McRae
Lindsay Messenger
Carol Mitchell
Christopher Mobley
Andrea Moore
Zoe Morris
Sean Morris
Hayden Niekamp
Vicki Nisonger-Maack
Melissa Oathout
RuVonne Parson
Lauryn Pealatere
Rebecca Petersen
Deven Pfister
Sydney Poorbaugh
Maria Power
Caitlin Prichett
Beverly Ray
Jessica Reisinger
Kiera Richardson
Brecken Riekean
Michelle Rountree
Nathaniel Savel
Brayden Schachle
Lynnsay Scott
Mackenzie Seims
Kaleb Self
Lynda Selk
Leyla Sinyawski
Alesya Sinyawski
Isabel Snell
Karl Soderstrom
Rebecca Sorensen
Valerie Spotto
Hilary Stark
Alexa Starr
Katherine Stochosky
Molly Sullivan
Sarah Svedin
Luke Tegeler
Yolanda Thomas
Taylor Tracy
Kiana Verplancke
Samantha Vetter
Jorene Volkheimer
Whitney Wang
Annie Wang
Adam Ward
Michelle Warner
Steven Webb
Megan Webb
Alana Wheaton
Heidi Wheeler
Kevin Williams
Macaela Wolfe
Annette Woodard
Kirsten Woodard
Maryann Zmuda

The following individuals received MSHF vocational scholarships during the time period of May, 2016 through April, 2017. Individual awards ranged from $650 – $5,000.

Francine Bennis
Hope Dahl
Rachel Gobbell
John Hubbard
Jennifer Johnson
Tawnya Luppino
Samantha Mckown
Mary Medinas
Benjamin Norton
Alesya Oleynik
Balassia Olsen
Ruth Pearcy
Rebecca Petersen
Elona Petrienko
Hailey Pierce
Laura Porter
Kathryn Rose
Angela Spencer
Breanne Sterner
Danette Totten
Robert Wensel
Michelle West
Macaela Wolfe

About MSHF: Mat-Su Health Foundation is the official business name of Valley Hospital Association, Inc., which shares ownership in Mat-Su Regional Medical Center. In this capacity, the MSHF board members and representatives actively participate in the governance of Mat-Su’s community hospital and protect the community’s interest in this important healthcare asset through board oversight. The MSHF invests its share of Mat-Su Regional’s profits into charitable works that improve the health and wellness of Alaskans living in Mat-Su. More information is available online at www.healthymatsu.org/.

MAT-SU HEALTH FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE; NEW MAT-SU SCHOLARS AWARD ANNOUNCED

Wasilla, AK — Mat-Su residents interested in pursuing education in health and wellness-related fields are invited to apply for Mat-Su Health Foundation (MSHF) scholarships totaling more than $350,000. Individual awards may be as high as $20,000 to cover tuition, books, and required fees at accredited schools in Alaska and Outside. Applications are accepted online at www.healthymatsu.org, and the deadline to apply is February 24, 2017.

“Health care workers are in high demand, and the scholarship program helps us ‘grow our own’ in the Mat-Su,” said MSHF Executive Director Elizabeth Ripley. “Of the 25 occupations expected to grow the most in Alaska, 18 are related to health care. There are critical needs that can only be met with a highly trained and educated workforce.”

Mat-Su Health Foundation scholarships help defray the cost of higher education in degree programs that emphasize health or wellness, including mental health and substance abuse. Scholarships are also available for pursuit of degrees in nonprofit management. Awards for traditional MSHF scholarships are based on each applicant’s stated career goal and financial need as demonstrated by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The maximum amount awarded per student for these scholarships is $20,000. New for 2017 is the Mat-Su Scholars Award, which is also based on the applicant’s stated career goal, but not on financial need. Mat-Su Scholars Awards require an essay and interview as part of the online application process and may be for as much as $10,000 each for up to six applicants who meet specific criteria:

MAT-SU HEALTH FOUNDATION SEEKING GRANT APPLICATIONS

Wasilla, AK— The Mat-Su Health Foundation (MSHF) has opened a funding opportunity through its Healthy Impact grant program. The application period for this semi-annual program goes through January 15, 2017. Healthy Impact grants fund projects over $15,000 that improve the health and wellness of people living in the Mat-Su Borough.

MSHF uses a two-part application process for Healthy Impact grants. The first phase of the process is the Project Pitch. The Project Pitch is completed online at www.healthymatsu.org and includes information about the organization that is applying and a description of the proposed project. The Foundation reviews all pitches and invites forward to full application projects that most closely align with its mission and focus areas.

Since its inception, MSHF has awarded more than 180 Healthy Impact grants, with some awards as high as $1 million. Information about the types of projects that have been awarded in the past can be found online in the foundation’s searchable grants database, also at www.healthymatsu.org.

Prospective grantees must provide services or benefits to Mat-Su residents and be qualified Alaska nonprofit 501(c)3 organizations classified as “not a private foundation” under section 509(a) of the Code. In select cases, MSHF may choose to fund health-related projects undertaken by religious, governmental, educational or tribal agencies seeking partners for health-related initiatives that impact the broader Mat-Su community and extend beyond the traditional purpose and functions of these organizations. All potential applicants are encouraged to visit the foundation’s website at www.healthymatsu.org to learn more about the grant process, who the foundation funds and does not fund, and to review its searchable grants database to see the types of projects that have been awarded in the past.

Although Healthy Impact grant requests must be in excess of $15,000, smaller grant amounts are considered continuously under the Foundation’s Target Wellness grant program. As with Healthy Impact grants, Target Wellness grants are applied for online at www.healthymatsu.org/.

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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, the MSHF board members and representatives actively participate in the governance of Mat-Su’s community hospital and protect the community’s interest in this important healthcare institution through board oversight. The MSHF invests its assets into charitable works that improve the health and wellness of Alaskans living in Mat-Su. More information is available at www.healthymatsu.org/.

MAT-SU HEALTH FOUNDATION TO ACQUIRE FOUR ACRES ADJACENT TO MAT-SU REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER

Wasilla, Alaska – The Mat-Su Health Foundation recently entered into an agreement to purchase four acres of land in front of Mat-Su Regional Medical Center. The land is currently owned by Maple Springs of Alaska. Pending completion of appropriate due diligence, the deal is likely to close in the next 60 days. The foundation has no immediate plans to develop the land.

“This purchase allows us to be a good partner to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center, complementing and enhancing what is clearly the foundation’s most important asset,” said Mat-Su Health Foundation Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth Ripley. “The land is directly in front of the hospital, and adding it to our investment mix is a prudent use of foundation resources.”

The Mat-Su Veterans Wall of Honor is located on the land, and because the foundation has no immediate development plans for the land, the wall will not be affected in the foreseeable future. The foundation is committed to meeting with representatives of local veterans groups as soon as the purchase closes and working closely with them to address any concerns.

The purchase contract is for $1.6 million.

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MAT-SU HEALTH FOUNDATION WELCOMES TWO NEW TEAM MEMBERS

Wasilla, Alaska –The Mat-Su Health Foundation (MSHF) has welcomed Amy Gorn and Elizabeth “Betsy” Smith to its team. Amy is the new program officer for the Healthy Foundations for Families focus area. Betsy is the Upper Susitna Valley community coordinator for R.O.C.K. Mat-Su (Raising Our Children with Kindness).

Amy is responsible for working with the MSHF program team to design and implement strategic initiatives to advance the foundation’s goals and vision. This includes reviewing and approving funding recommendations; providing project and grantee technical assistance; and interacting with other grant-makers, not-for-profit leaders and public and private stakeholders whose work intersects with that of the foundation. The goal of the Healthy Foundation for Families focus area is that all children and families are supported by a community-wide system that prevents maltreatment and promotes family resilience. Amy was previously employed as a community development supervisor at Rural Alaska Community Action Programs, Inc. Her experience also includes working in public radio in Sitka and Nome, and as a juvenile justice officer for the state of Alaska. She earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in English and communication from College of Saint Benedict/St. John’s University.

Betsy is working to advance the mission of R.O.C.K. Mat-Su in the Upper Susitna area, in particular supporting day-to-day communication and administration, community engagement, and data functions in her newly-created part-time position. R.O.C.K. Mat-Su is a cross-sector collaborative working to promote family resilience and reduce child maltreatment in the Mat-Su Borough. Betsy is also employed as the part-time executive director of the Northern Susitna Institute in Talkeetna. She has previously held a variety of positions in program management and environmental education. Betsy earned a Master of Education degree in environmental education from the University of Minnesota and a Bachelor of Arts in biology from College of Saint Benedict/Saint John’s University.

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About MSHF: Mat-Su Health Foundation is the official business name of Valley Hospital Association, Inc., which shares ownership in Mat-Su Regional Medical Center. In this capacity, the MSHF board members and representatives actively participate in the governance of Mat-Su’s community hospital and protect the community’s interest in this important healthcare asset through board oversight. The MSHF keeps its share of Mat-Su Regional’s profits in the community by investing into charitable works that improve the health and wellness of Alaskans living in the Mat-Su. More information is available online at www.healthymatsu.org/.

MAT-SU ORGANIZATIONS AWARDED NEARLY $5 MILLION IN GRANTS

Wasilla, Alaska – Fourteen local organizations were recently awarded a total of $4,926,881 in grants from the Mat-Su Health Foundation (MSHF). Grant amounts ranged from $60,000 for Wasilla Area Seniors (WASI) to purchase a new van, to $1,698,000 for a new library and community center upgrades in Willow.

“This is the highest dollar amount ever awarded by the Mat-Su Health Foundation at a single time,” said MSHF Executive Director Elizabeth Ripley. “We were especially pleased to see so many applicants focus on prevention and working upstream to stop problems before they start. The programs and services supported by these awards will make a measurable difference in the health of Mat-Su residents.”

The grants awarded address concerns identified in the Community Health Needs Assessments conducted by the Mat-Su Health Foundation in 2013 and 2016. The 2013 report showed that residents of Mat-Su prioritized the most important health-related issues as alcohol and substance abuse, and child maltreatment. The 2016 report identified transportation as the number one issue affecting health in the borough.

The grants recently awarded are as follows:

Alaska Legal Services: $100,000 to extend the reach of its services with a full-time staff attorney in the Community Resource Center Network being developed in Wasilla as part of the new Mat-Su Health Foundation building.

Beacon Hill: $64,000 over two years to fund expansion of its Safe Families for Children and Heart Gallery projects that provide services to help families in crisis to prevent unnecessary foster care, and to help find permanent families for children in the state’s custody who are eligible for adoption.

Burchell High School: $168,670 over two years to launch a targeted, comprehensive approach to substance abuse prevention.

City of Wasilla: $350,000 over three years to enable two police officers, one from Palmer and one from Wasilla, to join a local (Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force working to reduce the abuse of opioid-based medications in the community.

Cook Inlet Tribal Council: $1,162,032 to fill gaps in adult substance abuse treatment services for all Mat-Su residents.

Hatcher Alpine Xperience (HAX): $500,000 over 18 months to help buy a triple chairlift and fund a part-time executive director for the first phase of a planned alpine ski area in Hatcher Pass.

Mat-Su Borough School District: $126,000 to support a comprehensive approach to social-emotional learning and competency development across the district.

Mat-Su Imagination Library: $82,000 over two years to allow the organization to continue mailing free books monthly to 2,500 Mat-Su families with children under the age of 5.

MYHouse: $101,465 to support their work helping homeless Mat-Su youth.

Onward and Upward: $133,000 over two years to formally assess the impact of its Qayeh curriculum on student health, well-being and resilience.

Student Conservation Association: $100,714 over two years to fund high school crews conducting trail rehabilitation and maintenance on Government Peak and Lazy Mountain.

Valley Transit: $281,000 in match money to ensure that the organization receives its full federal match for sustained operations.

Wasilla Area Seniors (WASI): $60,000 for purchase of a 14-passenger van capable of holding two wheelchairs, to bring older Alaskans from their homes to the senior center to have lunch with others, reducing isolation while providing nutritious meals.

Willow Library Association: $1,698,000 over 30 months to replace and expand Willow’s public library and renovate the adjacent community center.

The Mat-Su Health Foundation has several grant programs available; some accept applications year-round, while others have specific opening and closing dates. Complete information can be found online at www.healthymatsu.org.

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MAT-SU’S SHEPLER SELECTED FOR TOP 40 UNDER 40

Wasilla, Alaska – The Alaska Journal of Commerce has selected Desiré Shepler as one its Top 40 Under 40 professionals for 2018. Shepler is the director of R.O.C.K. Mat-Su (Raising Our Children with Kindness), a community collaborative supported by the Mat-Su Health Foundation that is working to increase family resilience and create a culture that supports children and families.

Under Shepler’s leadership, R.O.C.K. Mat-Su has grown to a collaborative of over 30 cross-sector partners engaging in 15 strategies spanning the public health prevention spectrum. Some highlights of the work of R.O.C.K. Mat-Su include developing the Palmer Families with Infants and Toddlers (FIT) Court, partnering with the Mat-Su Borough School District to bring trauma-informed practices to 15 schools, and collaborating with the Office of Children’s Services to improve the experience of family contact for parents with children in foster care.

Shepler began working for the Mat-Su Health Foundation in 2013, serving first as program associate, then as a program officer. She was promoted to her current position of director of R.O.C.K. Mat-Su in 2016. In addition to her professional accomplishments, Shepler serves the Mat-Su community as a volunteer yoga instructor, as board secretary of the Mat-Su Trails and Parks Foundation, and as secretary of the Palmer High School Cross Country Team boosters. She earned Master of Public Health and bachelor’s degrees from the University of Alaska Anchorage and an associate degree from Mat-Su College. In 2010, she was the recipient of a Mat-Su Health Foundation academic scholarship, making her the first MSHF scholarship recipient to go on to employment with the foundation.

The Top 40 Under 40 Program annually honors the talents and outstanding efforts of individual Alaskans in their professions and in their community involvement. Shepler was chosen for the award by Alaska Journal of Commerce management out of more than 100 nominations. All 40 awardees will be recognized at an awards reception in Anchorage in April.

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NEW MAT-SU HEALTH FOUNDATION BUILDING NOW OPEN

Wasilla, Alaska— The Mat-Su Health Foundation (MSHF) hosted a ribbon cutting event at its new facility in Wasilla today. The 46,000 square foot facility at 777 N. Crusey St. was designed to help build community by bringing people together in new ways through a number of co-located organizations:

The Mat-Su Health Foundation, which is the official business name of Valley Hospital Association, Inc. and 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 and protect the community’s interest in this important healthcare institution through board oversight.The MSHF invests its assets into charitable works that improve the health and wellness of Alaskans living in Mat-Su. In 2017 the foundation awarded more than $7 million in grants, scholarships, and other community benefit.
Connect Mat-Su, a new network funded by the Mat-Su Health Foundation that links Mat-Su residents with immediate access to the information, referrals, and direct assistance needed for them to thrive physically, mentally, and emotionally.
LINKS/Aging and Disability Resource Center, which has expanded its services to include all Mat-Su residents.
Alaska Legal Services, which has placed a fulltime attorney on site to help clients with legal concerns.
R.O.C.K. Mat-Su (Raising Our Children with Kindness), a collaborative of community members joining together to promote family resilience and reduce child maltreatment. R.O.C.K. works to build social supports, eliminate silos, and influence systems that affect kids and families throughout the borough, all in support of ending child abuse in Mat-Su.

“The goal of this investment in the community was not just to create space for the foundation and its staff, but to bring together organizations that support the health and well-being of the community,” said Mat-Su Health Foundation CEO Elizabeth Ripley. “We believe that this facility will enhance the work we and our community partners do to improve the health status of all Mat-Su residents.”

The art on display throughout the building was produced by Mat-Su artists and chosen in part to represent the geographic diversity of the borough. The building also features an exhibit showcasing the history of health systems in the area. There is a coffee shop in the lobby, and additional tenants will be welcomed to the building in the future.

The project created 201 Mat-Su construction jobs, a $2.4 million Mat-Su payroll during construction, and a total investment of $9 million by the foundation. It was constructed using 100% Alaska workers, with the vast majority — 79% — living in Mat-Su. The architect was Architects Alaska, and the contractor was FE Contracting Inc. PND Engineers, Inc. and RSA Engineering, Inc. were also contracted for work on the project.

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NEW REPORT FOCUSES ON PREVENTION AND RESILIENCE TO COMBAT CHILD MALTREATMENT IN MAT-SU

Wasilla, Alaska — The Mat-Su Health Foundation (MSHF) has released the third and final report of its Behavioral Health Environmental Scan. The new report focuses on prevention of child maltreatment. It offers 17 recommendations to help reach the goal that all Mat-Su children should be well cared-for and safe.

Research has shown strong connections between negative experiences in childhood and adult emotional health, physical health, and mortality. According to data from the State of Alaska Office of Children’s Services, there were 2,240 reports of child maltreatment in Mat-Su in 2015, of which 243 were substantiated. The Centers For Disease Control estimates that the average lifetime cost of a non-fatal child maltreatment is $228,000 per individual, which equates to $55.4 million in the Mat-Su. This estimate is based on the cost of short- and long-term health care, loss of earnings, child welfare, criminal justice and special education.

“While resilience offers an opportunity to diminish the experience of long-term exposure to childhood adversity, prevention is the first line of action,” said Elizabeth Ripley, Mat-Su Health Foundation Chief Executive Officer. “Exposure to some adversity during childhood is normal and necessary for healthy development, but sustained or repeated exposure to severe adversity without supportive relationships can be detrimental for children.”

The new MSHF report focuses on five evidence-based protective factors that are key to the development of a system that keeps children safe and well cared-for. It further identifies recommendations within each of the five protective factors that can help create a system in Mat-Su that keeps children well cared-for and safe. The entire community has a role in this system, including employers, churches, schools, medical providers, and individuals, and the entire community benefits as well.

Among the recommendations are the following: creating a community where it is easy for all parents to build supportive relationships with other parents, seniors, and other residents; promoting affordable, high quality child care, afterschool care, and home-visiting programs; supporting the development of parenting classes; filling the gaps in the behavioral health system and increasing access to information and existing programs through a central resource center; promoting integrated physical and mental health care; supporting universal access to early learning and preschool programs; and promoting social emotional learning for all Mat-Su children.

The five evidence-based protective factors around which the report is organized are as follows:

1. Social connections – Parents need people who care for them and their children, who can be good listeners, who they can turn to for advice and who they can ask for help in solving problems. These people may include supportive family members, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and other community members.

2. Knowledge of parenting and child development – All parents, guardians, and Child-Care Providers need accurate and timely information on child development and age-appropriate expectations for children’s behavior. Developing brains need proper nutrition, regular sleep, physical activity, a variety of stimulating experiences, and caregivers who respond to their needs in a nurturing way to form a secure attachment between the child and the adult.

3. Parental resilience – Parents are resilient when they can handle personal challenges and those of their children, manage adversity, heal from the effects of trauma in their own lives, and thrive given the characteristics and circumstances of their family. Also, by managing stressors, parents are more able to provide their children with nurturing attention and a secure emotional attachment, which is important for children to develop their own resilience.

4. Social and emotional competence of children – When a young child has positive interactions with others, self-regulates his or her behavior, and effectively communicates his or her feelings, this has a positive impact on that child’s relationship with family, other adults and peers, and on their ability to learn in school. When the strengths of adolescents are fostered through the intentional and deliberate process of providing supportive relationships, experiences and opportunities, they develop into healthy, responsible adults who have the capacity to give back to their community. While social-emotional learning is important for all children, it is crucial for the emotional development of children who have experiences Adverse Childhood Experiences that may significantly affect their emotional development.

5. Concrete supports in times of need – To thrive, families’ basic needs must be met. Adequate concrete supports, (e.g., housing, income, and transportation) must be in place to provide stability and help for families in need. These services should be provided in ways that ensure parents’ dignity and do not increase parental stress. Services should help parents identify their assets and strengths, and become active participants in negotiating their support system and independence.

The Mat-Su Health Foundation and its community partners are currently evaluating the report’s 17 recommendations to determine next steps to implementation. The complete report and an executive summary are available here.

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About MSHF: Mat-Su Health Foundation is the official business name of Valley Hospital Association, Inc., which shares ownership in Mat-Su Regional Medical Center. In this capacity, the MSHF board members and representatives actively participate in the governance of Mat-Su’s community hospital and protect the community’s interest in this important healthcare asset through board oversight. The MSHF invests assets into charitable works that improve the health and wellness of Alaskans living in the Mat-Su. More information is available online at www.healthymatsu.org/.