Building Relationships and Careers to Support the Native Community
By Public Relations Specialist Erik Judson
Kristina Okamoto at her office in Behavioral Services Division Administration.
Kristina Okamoto was preparing to return to Alaska after college. Starting her professional life in Anchorage, she wanted to better understand health care options, so she called her mother to ask about services on the Alaska Native Health Campus.
“She got so excited and she’s like, ‘Let me tell you all about it,’” Okamoto said.
Okamoto, Athabascan from Fairbanks, grew up immersed in her culture — visiting her grandfather’s trap line that was a two-day dog sled ride out of Holy Cross, participating in the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics, and numerous Alaska Native events her family attended.
“My mom grew up in foster homes, and, back then, her culture was kind of pushed out. So, throughout my childhood, she worked really hard to bring her culture back in and show us her culture,” Okamoto shared.
While empaneling with Southcentral Foundation, Okamoto met Dr. Patty Ko, who explained the Nuka System of Care. This conversation about SCF values and community stayed with her.
“I would want to work somewhere like this,” she recalled thinking.
When Okamoto found herself looking for a career change 15 years later, she called SCF recruitment and joined the Administrative Support Training Program to begin her employment journey with SCF.
“Participating in ASTP set the foundation for my passion to work with the Native Community,” Okamoto shared. “This is where the mission to achieve wellness through health and related services was initiated in my heart and mind.”
During New Hire Orientation, Okamoto met Improvement Advisor Wanda Holzer. After sharing backgrounds and talking for a while, Okamoto expressed interest in working together. A year later, a check-in with Holzer led to Okamoto becoming a program coordinator in the Behavioral Services Division Administration. A single mom of four at the time, her kids grew up around SCF during her years at BSD Administration.
“You have all these people who made such an investment in my children,” she shared. “They were very welcoming.”
Okamoto moved to a supervisor position in Behavioral Health Fireweed and Adult Outpatient Services, then an executive coordinator position for Intergovernmental Affairs and the Employee and Community Assistance Fund, before returning to BSD Administration.
She is now pursuing a second bachelor’s degree in psychology, hoping to work as a parenting coordinator and mediator. She would like to bring this work to SCF to share with the Native Community.
“I really appreciate the relationships that have been built here over the years,” Okamoto said. “This is my second family.”
For more information about career opportunities at SCF, visit www.southcentralfoundation.com/careers.
