Mat-Su Health Foundation
2021 - 2023
Matanuska-Susitna Borough, AK
Overview
The Mat-Su Health Foundation aims to make the Matanuska-Susitna the healthiest borough in Alaska. They recognize the importance of social connections as one of five protective factors and aim to create a more supportive, and welcoming community. They support Connect Mat-Su, a comprehensive health and social services information and referral hub, along with various programs and events. When the Mat-Su Health Foundation approached Healthy Places by Design, they were interested in building and strengthening community-level supports that enable more people to interact and build positive relationships across the region.
Our Approach
Healthy Places by Design facilitated a process to inform philanthropic investments supporting social connections using the Socially Connected Communities: Solutions to Social Isolation report as a framework. The process involved qualitative information gathering, strategy ideation through a series of feedback loops with a variety of key informants, development of strategies to present to the Foundation’s leadership, and guidance on incorporation of social connection elements in the Community Health Needs Assessment and Community Health Improvement plans.
Results & Impact
Healthy Places by Design’s discovery and prioritization process identified existing assets plus new opportunities to advance social connections in the Mat-Su Borough. Our recommendations supported regional goals, honored core values as articulated by key informants, and aligned with Mat-Su’s cultural, ethnic, and geographic diversity.. Examples include recommendations to develop approaches that both welcome newcomers and incentivize people to remain in the region, and that treat the values of independence (a strong desire of many living in rural Alaska) and social connection as mutually inclusive.
The multi-tiered process also unveiled what community stakeholders felt were the five most valued and impactful roles the Mat-Su Foundation can play in community improvement efforts.
- Advocate in providing quantitative and qualitative data, and apolitical recommendations for policy, practice and systems changes.
- Convener in providing neutral, trusted spaces to engage key, new, and non-traditional parties to develop strategies and solutions.
- Connector in leveraging existing relationships and growing networks to increase capacity and impact in the community.
- Agent of Culture Change in amplifying communications and messaging that builds on assets and creates a culture of community unity.
- Investor in targeting investments so that social connectedness crosscuts the Foundation’s focus areas.
This work with the Mat-Su Health Foundation incorporated social connections as a priority and lens through which to guide their strategies and investments in ways that align with the unique context of their community. They are a strong example of the positive impacts philanthropic partners can play in supporting social connections.
Photo credit: Mat-Su Health Foundation