Company Profile
Southcentral Foundation
Company Overview
We offer a wide range of health and wellness services for Alaska Native and American Indian people living in Anchorage and the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, and nearby villages. We also provide regional support to residents of 55 rural villages in the Anchorage Service Unit, a geographical area stretching 107,400 square miles across Southcentral Alaska – extending from the Canadian border on the east to the Aleutian Chain and Pribilof Islands on the west.
Company History
Southcentral Foundation History
Southcentral Foundation is an Alaska Native-owned, nonprofit health care organization serving nearly 65,000 Alaska Native and American Indian people living in Anchorage, Matanuska-Susitna Valley and 55 rural villages in the Anchorage Service Unit.
Incorporated in 1982 under the tribal authority of Cook Inlet Region, Inc., Southcentral Foundation is the largest of the CIRI nonprofits, employing more than 2,000 people in more than 80 programs.
Southcentral Foundation’s vision is a Native Community that enjoys physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellness; its mission is to work together with the Native Community to achieve wellness through health and related services. The organization has developed and implemented comprehensive health-related services to meet the changing needs of the Native Community, enhance culture and empower individuals and families to take charge of their lives.
Southcentral Foundation’s first compact agreement, per Public Law 92-638 Bureau of Indian Affairs Alaska Area Native Health Service, began in 1984. The compact agreement provided dentistry, optometry, community health representatives and injury control services. A funding request to provide substance abuse treatment service was added in 1987.
Gradually, Southcentral Foundation increased its compact agreement capacity within the Anchorage Service Unit so that by late 1994 it was administering nearly half the primary care services for Alaska Native people.
The Alaska Native Medical Center opened its doors in May 1997. Earlier that year, Congress had passed Public Law 105-83, which included a section that enabled Alaska Native people to obtain ownership and management of all Alaska Native health care services.
In 1998, Southcentral Foundation completed the assumption of ownership and management of primary care and other programs located in the Anchorage Native Primary Care Center. Since the beginning of the assumption of services, Southcentral Foundation instituted significant philosophical changes and other changes in the design and administration of these programs. Southcentral Foundation instituted a total system-wide transformation of care, increasing the quality and adaptability of programs —and more importantly—the accountability of providers and customers alike. Alaska Native people are in charge of designing and delivering health care.
Notable Accomplishments / Recognition
Anchorage School District Spirit of Tomorrow Award (2014)
Level III, Patient Centered Medical Home™ three-year recognition – for SCF’s Anchorage Native Primary Care Center (2009-2012, 2012-2015, 2015-2018), Benteh Nuutah Valley Native Primary Care Center (2015-2018), McGrath Regional Health Center (2015-2018) and Nilavena Subregional Clinic (2015-2018). McGrath and Nilavena are rural Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) from the National Committee for Quality Assurance. The Patient Centered Medical Home standards emphasize the use of systematic, patient-centered, coordinated care that supports access, communication and patient involvement.
Indian Health Service Director’s Award (2012)
Alaska Cultural Humanitarian Award (2012) – presented by the Alaska Psychological Association
Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award (2011)
Cerner Consulting Project Excellence Award (2011)
League of American Bicyclists’ Bicycle Friendly Business Award (2010)
Alaska Performance Excellence (APEX) Award (2009)
U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services SAMHSA Science & Service Award (2009) for behavioral health/primary care integration
Joint Commission accreditation (ANMC hospital and primary care center) a nationally recognized symbol of quality
Magnet® status for nursing excellence (ANMC hospital) an honor bestowed to only 5 percent of U.S. hospitals