New Center Offers Modern Health Care To Native Families

Southcentral Foundation held a blessing ceremony for and opened an expanded Anchorage Native Primary Care Center at a special ceremony on April 25, and thanked the CIRI board and Carl Marrs for assistance in making this project a reality.

"This building was designed and constructed to provide a safe and healthy haven to address Alaska Natives' health concerns," said Katherine Gottlieb, president and chief executive officer of Southcentral Foundation. "The Primary Care Center is a living representation of our culture and traditions."

To meet ever-increasing patient demand, the Anchorage Native Primary Care Center recently completed a Phase II expansion. As a result of the expansion and its commitment to customer care, Southcentral Foundation operates the largest primary care system in Alaska in conjunction with the Alaska Native Medical Center (ANMC). The Primary Care Center now encompasses 100,000 square feet of outpatient clinic space, and serves a population of 45,000 Alaska Native families in Southcentral Alaska.

ANMC moved into its state-of-the-art, 150-bed facility in May 1997. The Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium and Southcentral Foundation jointly manage ANMC, which today offers comprehensive medical care to 100,000 Alaska Natives and Native Americans residing in more than 200 villages statewide.

But before ANMC even opened its doors, it became apparent the facility could not meet the number of outpatient visits it was receiving. In response to a rapidly increasing need for services, Southcentral Foundation, with financial assistance from CIRI, built a 40,000 square-foot outpatient clinic to augment the hospital and provide additional needed services. In June 1997, the Anchorage Native Primary Care Center opened its doors.

The design of the Phase II expansion of the Primary Care Center was inspired by Native design elements, village life, and Alaska's natural environment. The center contains a large health information center, nutritionists, health educators, Native traditional healers, and social and other services. Expanded medical services include Family Medicine, Pediatrics, Women's Health, Mental Health, Pharmacy, Radiology, and Laboratory. A new department called Complementary Medicine includes acupuncturists, chiropractors, and massage therapists.

The CIRI Foundation thanks CIRI shareholders who responded to The CIRI Foundation survey, which was mailed to each voting shareholder in February. The survey response rate was more than 40 percent, which is considered unusually high. The CIRI Foundation looks forward to sharing the survey results with shareholders later this year when the analysis by the McDowell Group is complete.

Three of the survey respondents were selected to win prize drawings as a "thank you" for participating in the survey. The information respondents provided, including comments, will be used by the Foundation for continuous improvement purposes including future scholarship and grant allocation policy and for educational/heritage project planning purposes. This education survey provided baseline data that the Foundation will continue to measure in the future. This will ensure that the Foundation continues to have a positive impact on the lives of beneficiaries through education.

Because of survey confidentiality, The CIRI Foundation is unable to respond to personal requests that some shareholders made in the comments section. However, shareholders may contact a member of The CIRI Foundation team to request specific information by calling The CIRI Foundation at (907) 263-5582 and 800-764-3382 toll-free.

Was your heating bill sky high this past winter due to an inefficient heating system, a poorly insulated attic, or old windows? Do you need a new roof? Is your plumbing or electrical system a safety hazard?

If you're an Alaska Native or Native American age 55 years or older living within the Cook Inlet region, you may qualify for home improvements through the Cook Inlet Housing Authority (CIHA) Safe and Healthy Home Program. CIHA has trained staff and contracted professionals ready and waiting to make accessibility, weatherization, energy efficiency, health and life-safety improvements to your home.

CIHA can provide up to $20,000 worth of repairs for standard single-family homes, $10,000 for condos and townhouses and up to $5,000 worth of improvements for mobile homes.

Eligible applicants may not earn more than 80 percent of the median income, adjusted for family size. For example, a family of four cannot have an income that exceeds $48,000 per year.

For a list of eligible projects and to find out if you qualify, contact CIHA at (907) 276-8822, or stop by CIHA offices at 3510 Spenard Rd., Suite 201, on the corner of 36th Avenue and Spenard Road.

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