Cordova Times: Opinions gathered to shape Cordova’s health care
By JENNIFER GIBBINS
The highly anticipated Cordova Health Services strategic planning process is under way.
Over the past several weeks, community surveys and focus groups have helped to establish baseline data in preparation for an upcoming two-day, community-wide forum on Sept. 27 and 28.
“The community as a whole needs to own a sense of wellness,” says consultant Kitty Farnham of Catalyst Consulting.
Farnham, who has 20 years of experience consulting and conducting strategic planning, has the role of facilitating the work of the health services task force, the consulting team and the community.
The task force is comprised of Sandra Aspen (Health Services Board), Noel Pallas (Ilanka Community Wellness Advisory Council), Keren Kelley (CMCC and Ilanka Community Health Clinic), Angela Arnold (NVE), Dave Reggiani (City Council), Mark Lynch (City of Cordova), and Mark Hoover (NVE Tribal Council).
At an upcoming forum, Farnham intends to let us all out of the health care box we’ve been stuck in.
Farnham set up a call with Peter Block, a well-known author and consultant on empowerment, stewardship, chosen accountability, and the reconciliation of community. Among his many articles and books, Block co-authored with John McKnight a book relevant to the process under way in Cordova titled “The Abundant Community: Awakening the Power of Families and Neighborhoods.”
“No miracle is going to happen. Get beyond the events and stories,” said Block.
“This is not about denying the past. This is about shifting the narrative to create space for a future that is distinct from the past.”
“We own our own health and we citizens have rights and some responsibility.”
After my numerous challenges and objections phrased as “bottom-line realities,” Block responded.
“There are some people who just want to win, want to be right. Stop giving them the attention. This methodology has worked all over the world in places like South Africa that did not want to be imperial and didn’t want just a new king.”
It reminded me of the something I read recently in an old Smithsonian magazine about millionaire-turned-human-rights-advocate Gregg Carr that described him as believing in the concept of “laws higher than kings, and rights higher than laws.”
Block’s concepts have liberating permission to toss aside the kings and put your ideas, resources and energy into a framework of holistic community well-being, with the community sharing responsibility for creating and protecting it.
“Start talking about the promises we are willing to make to each other” said Block.
When the call finished, I was feeling good. A little on the groovy side, but good.
Craciun’s research
The following day I met the next member of Cordova’s consulting team Jean Craciun of Craciun Consulting. We chatted at the airport while Craciun was getting ready to board her flight to Anchorage.
Craciun has more than 20 years as a research consultant. Her client list is extensive, diverse, global and blue chip. She immediately conveys intelligence and confidence. Just the kind of person you want on the team when wrestling with what seems like an impossible situation that desperately needs to be solved. You get the sense that this lady is smart, fun and most important, for real.
Graduating cum laude from Cleveland State University with a master’s degree in sociology, Craciun’s training focused on research methodology. Her undergraduate degree is in political science (magna cum laude) from the University of Cincinnati.
She did work on a doctoral degree in Human Resources Education from Boston University through a collaborative program at Alaska Pacific University. She teaches graduate-level international marketing and marketing strategy and research courses at Alaska Pacific University.
Over the past several weeks, Craciun Research has called 300 members of the community at random to get the ball rolling and establish baseline research. An eight-page survey tool probed general satisfaction with health care, identification of facilities where treatment has been given, questions about hospital, clinic and community health center services, treatment away from Cordova and city subsidies. At the close of the survey call, respondents were asked if they would be interested in participating in a series of focus groups.
While Craciun analysts are pouring over the survey data, the firm drew a pool of participants from those who indicated a willingness to participate and held focus groups in Cordova last week to probe survey topics further.
“We are getting a lot of good scientific data,” said Craciun, clearly energized by her time in Cordova. “We spent a few minutes talking about past issues, and then zeroed in on the future. It was a really productive discussion.”
The words “scientific” and “data” felt good. Sort of like being able to hang on to the edge of the pool as you start to learn how to swim.
Plan for forum
Craciun will be presenting a report to the community at the upcoming forum being led by Farnham. Community members will also break out into smaller groups to discuss the possibilities for health care in Cordova and probe ideas in further detail.
Farnham says if you are expecting a long rehash of past mistakes, or getting stuck in negotiating one or two concepts of health care and who has control over it, this isn’t that kind of meeting.
“The community’s participation at this point is critical to discovering what’s possible,” said Farnham. “We’re at the stage of exploring options to figure out what ideas make sense to look at in more detail.”
“We need the people of Cordova to come forward and help shape those ideas. We need to learn from the community. What’s the vision? What kind of health services and overall wellness do people want and need? We need to reflect on how everyone can support and advance the vision”
The discussions at the forum will largely inform the process going forward. They begin at 6 p.m. both nights at the Cordova High School with dinner served. The first evening will run from 6-9 p.m. and include setting the context for new possibilities for health care in Cordova, Craciun’s report, small group dialogues and an opportunity to submit comments and suggestions. The second evening will run from 6-8 p.m. and be comprised of more in-depth discussion around themes from the first day.
For more information on the community forum and the health care strategic planning process, contact Keren Kelley at 424-3622.
