The VISTA member will work to improve public health for Maniilaq Association clients which include all of the communities in the Northwest Arctic Borough and the community of Point Hope through improving access to traditional foods, affecting regulatory changes, and improving indoor air quality.
Service Activities
Promote awareness about Maniilaq’s Traditional Food Initiative to local, state and tribal (nationwide) audiences. Through the work under the Traditional Foods Initiative, the VISTA will help improve access to safe traditional foods at Maniilaq’s Long Term Care Center in Kotzebue, and families from the surrounding low income communities. As a positive externality, the VISTA’s work will promote a model for other institutions across Alaska and the Nation to improve access to safe nutritious/local traditional foods.
Develop at least two Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) food safety plans for new traditional food items desired by the Long Term Care Center. These HACCP plans will allow The Sigluaq to serve Maniilaq Association’s resident Elders more of the culturally appropriate and nutritious foods they have enjoyed harvesting and consuming throughout their lives, but have been prevented from consuming as residents of an assisted living facility.
Assist and facilitate the expansion of ANTHC’s Healthy Homes Consultation Study in the Maniilaq Service Region. This project aims to educate, motivate, and empower children’s caregivers to improve environmental behaviors and indoor air quality in the home environment.
Assist the Supervisor in working to develop an infrastructure to expand Maniilaq’s other health initiatives such as Naturally Occurring Asbestos Medical Surveillance Program and Rabies Prevention program with an overarching objective to educate the communities about these health initiatives and ensure that the appropriate health services are provided to those in low incomes communities who are negatively affected by these issues.
Community Need Addressed
In the far north, where wild fish, game and plants are dietary staples and where store-bought foods are sometimes prohibitively expensive, food insecurity is a complex, but widespread problem for indigenous peoples.
The VISTA member will address food security by improving access to people of the Northwest Arctic to indigenous food.
Position Outcomes
- The VISTA's service will lead to happier and healthier elders at the long term care center in Kotzebue by improving their access to indigenous food.
- Increase the supply of indigenous food at the soup kitchen that feeds families in need.
- grow awareness of food safety and food security in the Northwest Arctic Borough
-Improve institutional and regulatory buy in for culturally appropriate indigenous foods.
Benefits
Childcare assistance if eligible, Education award upon successful completion of service, Health coverage, Housing, Living allowance, Non-competitive eligibility (federal jobs), Relocation allowance (if applicable), Stipend, Student loan forbearance
Education Benefits
College Degree
Skills you will gain
public speaking, advocacy, time management, public health
Competencies You Will Develop
Communication
Demonstrate sensitivity and empathy, Listen to and consider others' viewpoints, Maintain open lines of communication with others, Speak clearly, in precise language and in a logical, organized and coherent manner, Turn taking, Write cleary and effectively
Creativity & Problem Solving
Able to identify and define the problem, Capable of generating possible solutions, Communicate the problem to appropriate personnel, Improvise
Teamwork
Derive consensus, Develop constructive working relationships and maintain them over time, Establish a high degree of trust and credibility with others, Interact professionally and respectfully with supervisors and co-workers, Stay positive and outcome oriented, Use appropriate strategies and solutions for dealing with conflicts and differences to maintain a smooth workflow
Decisions
Accepts responsibility, Anticipate the consequences of decisions, Identify and prioritize the key issues involved to facilitate the decision making process
Tools
Carefully consider which tools or technological solutions are appropriate for a given job, Consistently choose the best tool or technological solution for the problem at hand, Operate tools and equipment in accordance with established operating procedures, safety standards, and ethical guidelines, Seek opportunities to improve knowledge of tools and technologies that may assist in streamlining work and improving productivity
Planning
Able to prioritize various competing tasks, Create environment of contribution, Create plan of action, schedule tasks so that work is completed on time, Demonstrate the effective allocation of time and resources efficiently, Effectively delegate tasks, Facilitate group planning, Set goals
Service
Be pleasant, courteous, professional and respectful when dealing with internal and external customers or clients, Evaluate customer or client satisfaction, Honor the privilege of being able to work with and for those being served, Provide personalized, prompt, and efficient service to meet the requirements, requests and needs of customers, Recognize the importance of maintaining privacy and confidentiality of those being served, Understand and anticipate the needs of others, Understand the importance of one's role in the functioning of the organization, Understand the significance of maintaining a healthful and safe environment