Information Insights conducted research and facilitated development of a health care plan for the Mat-Su Borough. Substantial research was conducted to determine the needs and desires of local residents related to health care access. Data collection involved a telephone survey of 400 residents selected randomly from all residential phone numbers in the area that were not on the do not call list. Survey results were analyzed in SPSS. Twenty-eight community meetings were conducted in each community in the Mat-Su. The meetings were primarily held in conjunction with other community meetings in order to capitalize on interest and turn out. Finally, 40 key informants were interviewed. Those interview responses were coded and entered into Nvivo, a qualitative software analysis tool. The project concluded in March 2006 with adoption of the plan by the Mat-Su Borough Assembly.
Executive Summary – Mat-Su Borough
Primary Healthcare Plan 2005-2015
In 2006 Information Insights collaborated with Macleod Institute, HDR Engineering and other partners on a Strategic Environmental Assessment for an Alaska Canada Rail Link. Information Insights assessed the social and economic impacts of linking Alaska’s rail system to existing railroads in Canada and the U.S. The assessment forms part of an initial scoping of issues that need to be understood by policy-makers and affected communities before deciding whether to move forward on the proposed Alaska-Canada Rail Link.
From 1999 to 2002, Information Insights worked with the Division of Senior Services to redesign the regulations for Medicaid funded personal care services. Information Insights facilitated two planning groups charged with re-designing the agency-based and independent PCA programs and provided analysis of current regulations and draft wording for the proposed revisions. Design team members include state staff, agency representatives and advocates.
EPA asked Information Insights to create and facilitate a process for increasing tribal involvement in addressing issues of global transport of food contaminants. Information Insights organized tribal participation in the planning for, and production of, a conference track on contaminants, and on follow-on documentation of the tribal involvement process.
As a subcontractor for Lockheed Martin to the Alaska Department of Military and Veterans Affairs in 2005, Information Insights provided data collection and documentation of current emergency communications systems in Alaska, followed by analysis and recommendations based on findings for actions that should be taken by the State of Alaska. Information Insights is again being contracted for implementation work in 2006.
This 2004 project assisted the borough in a comprehensive study of borough service delivery. Information Insights presented study results in every community of the North Slope Borough, accompanied by Borough Mayor George Ahmaogak.
In 2001, the Department of Health and Social Services contracted with Information Insights to conduct and in-depth study of its workforce using a planning model developed for the US Department of Health and Human Services. The study included an analysis of the current workforce, identifying Department objectives and the workforce competencies needed to achieve them, comparing present workforce competencies to those needed in the future, and developing recommendations for the transition of the present workforce to the future workforce. The project included analysis of workforce and financial information, policies and procedures, and more than 20 focus groups with Department employees throughout Alaska.
This 2008 study determined direct and indirect economic impacts of Alaska Native organizations through their employment payroll, spending, and investments on the economies of the Fairbanks North Star Borough and Interior Alaska. The study was completed for Doyon Limited, Tanana Chiefs Conference, Interior Regional Housing Authority, Fairbanks Native Association, and Denakkenaaga, Inc. It updated a 2000 study completed for three of the five sponsor organizations.
Recruited participants from the general public and public employees and conducted numerous focus groups in two cities about public employee retirement benefits.
Created a strategic plan for the statewide WIC program. Collected data from local grantees through key informant interviews and an online survey.