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Kenaitze Indian Tribe

Kahtnuht’ana Dena’ina

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Shadowing the Pros

April 13, 2016

Students walk a day in the shoes of Dena’ina Wellness Center employees

Hannah Phillips and Jessica Segura learn about health careers

Hannah Phillips and Jessica Segura learn about health careers this morning at the Dena’ina Wellness Center during the Kenai Chamber of Commerce Job Shadow Day for Kenai Central High School students. Kenaitze Indian Tribe was one of more than 50 businesses to host 122 students for several hours.

“Do what you love.”

“Be open.”

“Keep your grades up.”

Those were a just a few of the nuggets of advice employees at the Dena’ina Wellness Center recently offered to a group of young, aspiring medical professionals.

In March, the tribe participated in a job-shadow event organized by Kenai Central High School and the Kenai Chamber of Commerce. More than 120 students visited area businesses and organizations to receive useful tips and on-the-job training. Ten of those students, all 11th-graders, visited the Dena’ina Wellness Center.

Participants toured the facility, met employees and had an opportunity to ask questions. The students’ career interests ranged from physician assistant to clinical psychologist to surgical technician to nurse practitioner, and more.

Traditional Healer Estelle Thomson talks with Breanna McConnell and Keyshawn McEnerney

Traditional Healer Estelle Thomson talks with Kenai Central High School juniors Breanna McConnell, right, and Keyshawn McEnerney during the Kenai Chamber of Commerce Job Shadow Day.The event is an excellent opportunity for the tribe to demonstrate one of its core values to visiting students: to pass down cultural knowledge and traditions, while supporting formal education.

“Not only do we want to educate our un’ina (those who come to us), but also anyone who is interested in our programs, so it’s good to participate in this,” said Dr. John Molina, Director of Health Systems.

The students participated in a range of activities during their visit. Some spent time in the Traditional Healing area. Others toured the Primary Care area. One visited the Behavioral Health Department.

Cassidy Holmes, who has pondered different career paths but ultimately sees herself in the medical field, said the visited helped her realize the vast number of paths available in the health industry.

Before the job-shadow event, Holmes was most interested in becoming a physician assistant. Afterward, realizing the different available options, she wasn’t as certain.

“The biggest thing that jumped out was all the different career fields that are in medical,” Holmes said. “I wasn’t aware of all those different fields.”

Abby Beck, who is interested in the behavioral sciences, spent part of the day shadowing a clinical psychologist.

Beck said she received valuable advice and useful information about the industry, including local contacts and suggested reading material.

What stood out to Beck most, however, was the reception she received from tribal employees.

“It was really nice that they were so welcoming and friendly,” Beck said. “I was really nervous that it was going to be a stiff, awkward environment and it really wasn’t. They made me feel like I was supposed to be here.”

Meanwhile, Emily Halstead said the event helped her better understand the education and training required in the medical field.

Nurse practitioner Geoff Lanfear and Jen Jarvis speak to Kenai Central High School juniors

Nurse practitioner Geoff Lanfear and Jen Jarvis speak to Kenai Central High School juniors visiting the Dena’ina Wellness Center on Wednesday morning as part of the Kenai Chamber of Commerce Job Shadow Day. Ten students had the opportunity to learn about health careers from professionals working for the tribe.

Halstead envisioned being a surgeon before participating in the job-shadow event, but by the time it ended, she also was interested in becoming an oncologist or surgery technician.

“There’s all these different occupations I can pick in the medical field that I wouldn’t have thought of,” she said.

The chamber and high school began putting on the event in 1994, and it continues to grow.

Chamber President Johna Beech said 52 business participated this year and that everyone involved took away something useful.

“It showcases our employment opportunities here in the Kenai and Soldotna area,” Beech said. “It also helps the students decide if this truly is the career for them.”

Molina, who shared his career path and offered tips and advice, said he hoped the event gave students a sense of the human element of health care.

For Halstead, the sentiment rang clear.

“It was amazing to see how health care providers see people, and seeing the love they have for the tribe and the Dena’ina,” Halstead said. “It was just really neat to see.”

Filed Under: Stories

Kenaitze Indian Tribe

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Kenaitze Administration • (907) 335-7200
Dena'ina Wellness Center • (907) 335-7500
Early Childhood Center • (907) 335-7260
Yaghanen Youth Programs • (907) 335-7290
Tyotkas Elder Services • (907) 335-7280
Na’ini Family and Social Services • (907) 335-7600
Kenaitze Tribal Court • (907) 335-7219

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Heidi King, NCAC II, CDCS

Recovery Support Manager/Counselor
Heidi has eight years of experience in the chemical dependency field. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology, with a minor in Women’s Studies, from the University of Alaska. She is a nationally accredited Chemical Dependency Clinician, and a state accredited Chemical Dependency Clinical Supervisor.

Heidi has a background in providing residential chemical dependency counseling. She is certified as a Conflict Resolution and Relapse Prevention Trainer with the National Association of Addiction Counselors. She is also a certified Peer Supports Trainer and Supervisor through the Alaska Commission of Behavioral Health Certification.

When she’s not serving un’ina, Heidi teaches yoga as a certified and registered instructor. She also enjoys hiking, fishing, and spending time with her child, spouse, and numerous pets, camping all over Alaska.

Heidi provides chemical dependency counseling services in group settings and individual sessions.

Heidi can personally relate to chemical dependency and is passionate about helping those seeking recovery supports. For Heidi, healing is community, and community is an important part of connection with one’s self. She sees the positive ripple effect that healing can provide throughout the community.

Fridrik Rafn Gudmundsson, MSW, LCSW

Recovery Support Manager
Fridrik has earned his master’s degree in Social Work and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. He studied massage therapy in Iceland, and became fascinated with the mind-body connection. He completed his undergraduate degree in philosophy with a psychology minor.

Fridrik has had the opportunity to live in four countries and to travel to many others. He counts finding and marrying the love of his life and adopting his son among his greatest accomplishments. He is grateful to be able to live in this beautiful and sacred part of the world and to serve the Tribe and un’ina, “those who come to us.”

When he’s not serving un’ina, Fridrik loves spending time with his family, hiking, kayaking, camping, fishing, traveling, and having fun. He enjoys learning, listening to music, and taking time for spiritual practice.

Fridrik provides assessments and individual, family and group psychotherapy at Chuq’eya Qenq’a, Birch Tree House.

For Fridrik, coming to the Kenaitze Indian Tribe felt like coming home. The more he learned about the Tribe and its history, as well as the history of the Alaska Native people, the more he knew he had found a place to be of service.

Teresa A. Ford, MSW, LMSW

Behavioral Health Clinician
Teresa earned her bachelor’s degree in Social Work at Limestone University in South Carolina, and her master’s degree in Social Work from Campbellsville University in Kentucky. Teresa’s experience includes serving homeless and other disadvantaged populations, as well as work in outpatient rehabilitation, hospice, chemical dependency, adult and adolescent counseling, and prevention.

Teresa appreciates the Kenaitze Indian Tribe’s traditional values. She sees them as a driving force in how we treat ourselves and others, and how we serve those in need of help.

When not serving un’ina, “those who come to us,” Teresa spends her time bonding with her family, creating and traveling. She also enjoys learning about Alaska Native culture, exploring new hobbies, and gardening.

Teresa provides individual, family, and group therapy services. Teresa takes a variety of approaches to therapy, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma Focused Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy, Person-Centered Therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy.

Teresa has always been a helper at heart. Being able to overcome the things she experienced growing up in South Carolina empowered and inspired her to help others navigate through their life journeys.