Connecting those in need with what they need

A multitude of health and social services resources can be meaningless to the community if nobody knows they are available or who and how each resource can assist a person or family in need.

Connect Mat-Su was developed to address that gap. In existence since 2018, the nonprofit organization is a comprehensive health and social services information and referral hub.

Ashley Peltier, the organization’s director, said Connect Mat-Su’s goal is to streamline the process of referring people to the services they need by eliminating the barriers that prevent people from living their healthiest and most fulfilling lives. This is done through collaboration with service providers to understand the system of care and serve, ultimately, as a bridge to those services for Valley residents who need them.

“Our resource database includes over 1,700 community resources,” Peltier said. “Our staff ensure that those resources are updated frequently to accurately reflect what resources are available.”

Connect Mat-Su provides more than just information. Whether potential clients call, text, reach out through social media, or schedule an appointment for an in-person visit, service provided by trained and knowledgeable local staff is personal and individualized to each client’s specific situation.

“At Connect Mat-Su, we don’t just provide a telephone number and address for the resource you need, we assist with establishing the connection,” Peltier said.

The organization’s website is also available for do-it-yourselfers to search the resource database on their own. A program of the Mat-Su Health Foundation, Connect Mat-Su works steadily to keep the resource database updated, maintained and as comprehensive and accurate as possible.

The Health Foundation has been a force in community health and wellness since 2008. As part owner of the Mat-Su Regional Medical Center, the Foundation has invested more than $130 million of its profits into the community in the more than 17 years of its existence.

Connect Mat-Su success stories are numerous, Peltier said. Recently, a veteran with a traumatic brain injury was referred to the Alaska Warrior Partnership for case management services that provided support and assistance with employment and housing needs.

Another recent case involved an individual in sober living who inquired about possible assistance getting to and from work. Connect Mat-Su staff were able to tap into the organization’s basic needs support fund to provide transportation options.

One project Peltier said Connect Mat-Su is particularly proud of is an electronic referral partnership with the Sunshine Community Health Center, near Talkeetna. By enabling clinic staff to send referrals for the social needs of their patients, like housing and transportation, they have more time to do what they do best.

“We're helping residents in the Upper Su connect to resources and allowing clinical staff to focus on addressing health concerns and issues,” Peltier said. “We see ourselves as a safety net for people who may fall through the cracks otherwise.”

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www.connectmatsu.org