Building a Better Community
Contributed by Kelly Newman, Employee Enrichment and Outreach Director
Think back to your childhood for a minute, how did you view your community when you were a kid. Did you think your town had a warm, connected feeling? Were the citizens of your community genuinely good people? Did you get to experience the town parade, local tree lighting or participate in hayrides…truly connecting with the people of your community? I did. I was able to experience all of those in my community as I grew up and I would love to have that back in our small towns that make up the Mat-Su Valley!
With the collaboration of our local community agencies, our supportive small businesses and YOU, we can achieve seeing our community through the vision of a kid’s eyes once again. And we will accomplish that through…. LINKS Resource Center’s “Building a Better Community” Campaign!
LINKS Resource Center is extending an invitation for you to participate in our campaign that will reach all members of the community. Our programs have had a tremendous impact in the lives of the young, elderly, people who experience homelessness, people who have stable housing, the poor and who may be individuals considered well off. Our agency supports the entire community who are requiring resources to meet their needs across the spectrum of the social system…no one is excluded from our assistance!
With the support of resolute staff at LINKS Resource Center a family of five have found stable housing who had been homeless for the past year. The kids can now focus on being kids and not have to worry about staying safe and warm. Our ADRC specialists have been able to provide clear, concise information to the people who are needing to apply for Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, etc. The amount of thank you and “you are a lifesaver” has echoed through the halls of our agency for many years! Our agency fields many calls for assistance for something as small as needing a resource to change a lightbulb to shoveling off a roof before it caves for our community members. With the expertise and knowledge of our employees the citizens get the assistance they need!
Links Resource Center has been providing free assistance in finding quality resources to the members of the Mat-Su Valley for over 30 years! The agency consists of four programs that assist the amazing community members of the Matanuska Susitna regions.
The Community Parent Resource Center (CPRC), which was the founding program of the agency, serves communities located within the Matanuska Susitna Borough, including outreach to remote areas and villages. CPRC program provides support and training, information and referral and parent-to-parent connections. These services are provided through one-on-one assistance from the CPRC advocates and individualized workshops for small or large groups. The advocates meet with parents to problem solve, prepare for the Individualized Education Program process, and other special education meetings, and can come with parents to meetings for support and advocacy.
Next is our Aging and Disability Resource program (ADRC) which provides free information and referral services that promote health, well-being, and safety for individuals with disabilities, seniors, and vulnerable adults by connecting them to quality services and supports that foster independence, personal choice, and dignity. The ADRC specialists assist with navigating paperwork for Person-Centered Intakes, Medicare, Medicaid, all types of Social Security along with other resources which include housing, food sustenance and other needed services.
The Veteran Directed Care (VDC) program was started due to the Mat-Su Valley having the highest percentage of Veterans in Alaska needing long-term care services. The program is a partnership between LINKS Resource Center, and the Alaska Veterans Administration (VA). The VDC program goals are to facilitate Veteran’s choice & autonomy- allowing them to remain independent in their homes & community. The Veteran-directed service model empowers Veterans & their families by expanding their degree of choice and control over long-term care services and supports they need to continue living at home. This is achieved within the program by allowing the Veteran greater decision-making authority over their care.
The High Utilizer Mat-Su (HUMS) program assists community members with a variety of social needs in reducing barriers to access proper healthcare, behavioral health services along with other services the individual may need. The program is completely voluntary and serves people who are eighteen and over who has frequent visits to the emergency room. The program is also an integral part of the Community Care Team, a connector program as part of the post crisis portion of the Mobile Crisis Team throughout the Mat-Su Valley. The referrals come from connector and/or any Law Enforcement agencies throughout the Mat-Su Valley. The HUMS team can help with housing, utilities, and basic needs through agencies that collaborate with LINKS in the Mat-Su Valley. The Community Health Workers provide referrals to primary care and specialty doctors, assist with transportation to and from medical appointments along with attend appointments as an advocate and/or chaperone for medical procedures. The CHW can provide referrals other programs within LINKS for assistance with filing for Medicare and SSDI. They also aid with in filling out applications for substance use facilities, detox, behavioral health and mental health referrals, food stamps, rental assistance, and other relief programs.
We want to express that our services are available to all residents of the Mat-Su Valley. Your children, your parents, your grandparents, your neighbors, your customers and YOU! As you can see, LINKS Resource Agency assists the multi-faceted aspects of a person’s life in finding resources for their daily needs! With your support we can continue to help our fellow citizens with the assistance that they need for them to have the resources available!
Would you consider in donating so we can continue our mission of providing resources, advocacy, and connections to improve the lives of our citizens by…… “BUILDING A BETTER COMMUNITY”
Here are ways that you can donate:
- Online at: linksprc.org
- Send a check to: Links Resource Center,777 North Crusey Street, Suite A101, Wasilla, Alaska 99654
- Call our office: 907-373-3632
Thank you…. your donation will make a real impact in the lives of others!