Journal of Innovations

Vol. 2, Issue 5&6

Bridging Isolation with Crisis Support: Lessons from the Maniilaq Family Crisis Center in Kotzebue, Alaska

AUTHOR(S)

Shylena R. Lie

ABSTRACT

The Maniilaq Family Crisis Center, founded by volunteers in 1984, has evolved over decades to become a pivotal Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault emergency shelter serving individuals aged 18 and older across remote Alaskan communities. Relocating to its dedicated facility in Kotzebue in 1998, the center provides critical support to 11 outlying villages, including Ambler, Kobuk, Shungnak, Noatak, Selawik, Kiana, Noorvik, Kivalina, Deering, Buckland, and Point Hope. This paper offers a unique perspective on the center's expansion, informed by the author’s nine years of managerial experience in a region where access to crisis services is extremely limited. It explores the substantial growth in service scope, staff roles, and employee retention, along with the challenges and innovations required to deliver these services in isolated, culturally diverse communities. By presenting comparative statistics on domestic violence and sexual assault across Alaska, Texas, and California, the paper contextualizes the distinct challenges faced in Alaska's rural areas. It further addresses the leadership approach that has been essential in managing the center effectively, emphasizing the strategic balance of cultural sensitivity and operational sustainability. Concluding with future objectives for maintaining and advancing resources in this remote region, the paper underscores the indispensable role that the Maniilaq Family Crisis Center plays in safeguarding the welfare of some of Alaska's most geographically and socially isolated communities. 

DOI

https://doi.org/10.62470/1e248458 

CITE THIS ARTICLE 

Lie, S. R. (2024). Bridging Isolation with Crisis Support: Lessons from the Maniilaq Family Crisis Center in Kotzebue, Alaska. Journal of Innovations, 2(5&6), 1-17. DOI: https://doi.org/10.62470/1e248458