Partners for progress: Tribal councils partner with Mat-Su Health Foundation

WASILLA — Cook Inlet Tribal Council tribal chairman Ivan Encelewski has gone through his own journey of addiction and recovery.

Encelewski and the CITC have made another step by helping more people in Southcentral Alaska who face similar struggles.

CITC recently joined forces with the Chickaloon Village Traditional Council, the Knik Tribal Council and the Mat-Su Health Foundation to expand the Mat-Su Recovery Services and overall “continuum of care” in the Mat-Su Valley.

“This is absolutely monumental,” Encelewski said. “As Alaska Native People, we lament the loss of our cultural identity… it has affected our people.”

He said that his efforts supporting his surrounding community reflect the 12 steps in Alcoholics or Narcotics Anonymous.

He said that drugs and alcohol have affected the “systemic familial unit”

“I can tell you that peer to peer support, that one alcoholic and addict helping another is without parallel. This is an opportunity to come together and help our people,” Encelewski said.

This merger between two Valley-based tribal councils, a far-reaching Anchorage-based tribal council melded with the financial weight from a long-standing foundation crossed this historic moment to help everyone, CITC officials said.

The four partners say they share a single vision — an integrated gauntlet of care to treat mental health, the most prevalent health concern across the board. On June 14, the four partners gathered in Wasilla to christen their union and start the next chapter of tackling substance abuse and other mental health issues.

Now, Mat-Su Recovery Services will provide assessment, treatment and peer support services to Mat-Su residents from the Lakeview Professional Building.

Mat-Su Recovery Services is a compressive substance abuse program made possible through the collaboration between the four partners and a $1 million dollar grant awarded by MSHF. This collaboration is another attempt to “fill the gaps” in mental health treatment, particularly those affected by substance abuse.

This collaboration added new substance abuse services for those 18 years old and above, complementing existing works here in the Mat-Su Valley. Services include assessment, pre-treatment, outpatient treatment, intensive outpatient, intensive case management, co-occurring services, peer-based support for individuals and families, prevention workshops, and cultural support groups.

Rebecca Ling, Senior Director of Recovery Services for CITC, said she went through her journey to recovery in Wasilla, her hometown. She said that she was moved by the compassion in the room, during the June 14 meeting, looking at the, “smiley, teary eyed faces.”

Ling announced she would try to speak from her head, not her heart otherwise she wouldn’t get anywhere. She choked up several times anyway, reaching for tissues like a fair amount of other emotional people.

“We have a strong peer network here in the Valley,” Ling said.

Richard Porter, Executive Director of the Knik Tribal Council introduced himself in the traditional, Dena'ina language during the meeting. He explained his language was from “the original people.” The Dena'ina are the original inhabitants of the Southcentral Alaska region ranging from Seldovia in the south to Chickaloon in the northeast, Talkeetna in the north, Lime Village in the Northwest and Pedro Bay in the Southwest.

“My elders always said that we need to revisit our matriarchal roots we need to trust our women leaders,” Porter said.

He looked to his left and right, over at the panel of speakers, which was mostly women, and everyone laughed. He saluted the women leaders in the room for all of their hard work.

“It’s been an amazing ride,” Porter said. “All hands are going to be on deck.”

Lisa Wade, Director of Health, Education and Social Services for the Chickaloon Village Traditional Council also introduced herself in Ahtna Athabaskan. She recalled the, “death, violence, and pain that so many people have dealt with in this room.”

“Messy or not, this is one giant step forward and we still have more steps to take,” Wade said.

“Today, for me this really represents a coming home, the people of Alaska together in a way that they haven’t in the past ,” said Michelle Overstreet, Executive Director of MyHouse.

Overstreet said that 2016 was a brutal year for MyHouse. Thirteen of those involved in the program died. Eleven overdosed, one committed suicide and one was murdered.

“We’re at a point now where this is life or death and we have to start keeping people alive instead of allowing them to die,” Overstreet said.

She said that she needed a “game changer” to combat these young deaths, looking for peer support and on-site assessments. Initially, Alaska Family Services provided a counselor, but Overstreet said that didn’t work out. Two years ago, Overstreet found Ling, an old friend. They formed a partnership and through that, Overstreet was able to find an on-site counselor that was passionate and “perfectly suited” for the job.

Overstreet said that MyHouse has only lost one person involved in their program in 2017 and so far, none in 2018.

“The way we do that it in this community is that we partner and that we break down barriers,” Overstreet said.

Monika Patrick, CITC Recovery Services alumna and Substance Use Counselor, said she is an example of how these types of programs help.

“I’m what can happen when recovery works,” Patrick, a councilor at the same facility she received treatment four years ago.

Michael Carson, Vice President of MyHouse and founder of the Opioid Task Force was one of about 30 guests, wanting to witness this milestone and meeting of similar hearts and similar minds during the June 14 meeting.

“When you’re in the field, you’re in the field,” Carson said. “You’re never alone in the field, surrounded by people fighting the good fight.”

According to Elizabeth Ripley, Chief Executive Officer of MSHF, the top 11 health issues found in a recent survey were all related to mental health, calling the numbers a “profound statement.”

“These problems are really complex problems with no single bullet solution. We need to work together to solve them,” Ripley said.

Ripley said that the MSHF has given out more than $1 million dollars in grant money to “brick and mortars” but this was the first time so much has been allocated to anything “program related.”

“We should always be growing… There is hope for recovery; we can recover. Thank you for leaning in, thank you for stepping up.” Ripley said.

Contact Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at Jacob.mann@frontiersman.com.