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Commissioners report site visits and flag service needs across Fairbanks North Star Borough
Summary
Commissioners summarized recent site visits to local nonprofits — including the Interior Alaska Center for Nonviolent Living, Interior Aids Association, Literacy Council of Alaska, Fairbanks Community Food Bank, Stevie's Place, NAMI Fairbanks, Alaska Legal Services, and Fairbanks Resource Agency — and highlighted leadership transitions, funding uncertainty, staff shortages, and program needs.
Commissioners used the Feb. 11 meeting to report on recent site visits and to relay operational and funding issues affecting local nonprofit service providers across the Fairbanks North Star Borough.
Commissioner Pam Wappett reported that the Interior Alaska Center for Nonviolent Living (IAC) promoted Aaron Moradi to executive director (Oct. 2025) and continues to maintain shelter and housing case manager positions after the grant period ended in June 2025, supplementing those services with unrestricted donations. Staff noted affordable housing shortages and federal (HUD) funding uncertainty as continuing challenges.
Commissioner Regina described the Interior Aids Association (IAA) as the only provider of interior medication-assisted treatment (IMAT) in the region; IAA receives HSCMG, MAG and opioid funds, leads opioid work groups, and recently had to rename programs to comply with federal administrative language requirements.
Dr. Walker summarized a visit to the Fairbanks Community Food Bank, which used a matching assistance grant to complete a biodigester project; HSCMG funds primarily support utilities and annual audits. Food bank staff said volunteer and staffing shortfalls, and growing demand, are ongoing constraints.
Commissioner Kelly reported on the Alaska Center for Resource Families (CRF) and on Stevie's Place (the child advocacy/forensic interview center), noting that Stevie's Place receives HSCMG funds for two forensic nurses and serves roughly 200 victims/families; commissioners described coordination with law enforcement and medical providers to reduce trauma for child victims.
Commissioner Pam also reported a site visit to NAMI Fairbanks, which said its helpline served about 163 unique callers in 2024 and expected more than 400 in 2025, and that its Ending the Silence school outreach served about 4,500 students this past year. Commissioner Bernard reported on visits to Alaska Legal Services Corporation (civil legal aid since 1967) and the Fairbanks Resource Agency (disability services); both organizations noted funding and staffing constraints affecting capacity.
Commissioners asked staff to incorporate these observations into future site-visit guidance and discussed adding a June work session agenda item to refine site-visit standards.
