Kodiak Island, located in the Gulf of Alaska, has a population that gives birth to around 100 babies a year. The island is home to the U.S. Coast Guard Base Kodiak and the nonprofit organization Kodiak KINDNESS, which provides infant feeding support to parents living on the island.
The organization has a 90% enrollment rate, including Coast Guard families, Alaskan natives, and Hispanic and Filipino families. Kodiak KINDNESS lends out breast pumps and baby scales, and its workers answer questions about infant feeding and solid food introduction.
Program Services Coordinator Jennifer Sheridan said the support provided by Kodiak KINDNESS ties into the physical and mental health of the community. Sheridan, who used the program as a new mom, emphasized the importance of community support on the island.
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Kodiak KINDNESS operates on a $150,000 annual budget, which is contracted with the state of Alaska. The organization’s team, including founder Heather Preece and executive director Stephanie Mason, consists of volunteers with specialized training and certification.
The organization could benefit from the $272 million allocated to Alaska from the federal Rural Health Transformation Program. This program aims to improve care delivery, support providers, and advance new approaches to coordinating healthcare services in rural communities.
Preece said that Kodiak KINDNESS wants to use the funds to expand its outreach, as it currently operates on a limited budget. They hold annual fundraisers, such as a baby race and a milk run, to support their services.
Clients are not charged directly or through their insurance for the services provided by Kodiak KINDNESS. Instead, the organization relies on community fundraising events to support its operations.
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One potential use of the funding is to expand TigerConnect, a HIPAA-compliant platform for calls and messaging through smartphones. This platform is used for outreach.
Kodiak KINDNESS previously operated under Providence Health & Services but became an independent organization in 2021. Preece said that the opportunity for more than one year of funding is exciting, but emphasized that Kodiak KINDNESS will continue to operate regardless of its budget.
Sheridan noted that the support provided by Kodiak KINDNESS is support to families and that the organization’s health professionals meet people where they are, whether in their homes or coffee shops. This approach allows them to provide flexible and community-based support to families on the island.
The Rural Health Transformation Program is a five-year funding program that aims to help states implement strategies to improve care delivery and support providers in rural areas. Alaska received the second-highest state allocation from the program, after Texas.
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Preece and the state are still in discussions about the allocation of funds from the program. While the funding could have a positive impact on Kodiak KINDNESS and other rural healthcare organizations, there are also concerns that it could lead to downsizing in some areas.
For now, Kodiak KINDNESS will continue to operate and provide support to families on the island, regardless of the outcome of the funding discussions. The organization’s commitment to community-based care and its flexible approach to meeting the needs of families make it a valuable resource for the community, and they will keep providing essential services.
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