Chickaloon Village Traditional Council (CVTC) celebrated construction of its new health and wellness building – Ahtnahwt’aene’ Nay’dini’aa den (Aht-nah Hwĭ-tănnă Nie-dĭnny-ah den) Gathering Place, meaning “Ahtna People Chickaloon Place,” – with a large group of elders, tribal leaders, community members, funders and partners at its groundbreaking early April in Sutton. The new 8,100 square foot facility will be located at 21117 E. Myers Avenue and will house an expanded C’eyiits’ Hwnax (kie-eetz haw-nah) Life House Community Health Center as well the Chickaloon Village Traditional Council’s Health and Social Services Department. Construction is slated for completion by December 2015, according to a CVTC press statement.
The Life House Community Health Center, currently located at 16166 North Glenn Highway, Mile 61.5 in Sutton, provides medical services for both Alaska Native and non-Native peoples living in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough communities between Palmer and Eureka, including Chickaloon, Glacier View and Sutton/Alpine. Veterans residing in this service area are able to use the center for Veterans Affairs supported medical services as well. CVTC and Southcentral Foundation operate the Life House CHC collaboratively.
“This project has been in the works for more than 20 years,” said Chickaloon Traditional Chief and Chairman Gary Harrison.
The CVTC Health and Social Services Department, including transportation, Elders’ programs and behavioral health and family advocates, will be located on the second floor.
Located on the first floor, the new Life House Community Health Center will feature several exam and talking rooms, a room for minor procedures and space for radiology, dietician services and telepharmacy. In addition, the lower level will include a wellness center with an exercise area, locker rooms with showers and space for health education classes.
In the new location, Life House Community Health Center will more than triple its size, allowing for more access, quicker response times and better health outcomes. Customer-owners will no longer have to travel to Palmer or Wasilla – or all the way to Anchorage – to get an x-ray, have their blood drawn and processed, fill a prescription or take care of a minor procedure. The new facility allows it to done close to home with providers with whom they already have an established relationship.
