The chief executive officer of the SouthEast Alaska regional healthcare consortium SEARHC, Charles Clement has a long history of working with Alaska Native populations on a variety of healthcare issues. SEARHC was established under the provisions of the Indian Self-Determination Act and continues to provide services as one of the largest and oldest Native-operated health organizations in the United States. In addition to his responsibilities at SEARHC, Charles Clement holds active membership in multiple Native American organizations including the Alaska Native Health Board (ANHB). Established in 1968, the ANHB operates as a leading advocate of Native health issues within the state of Alaska. Building upon the prominent role that it plays in helping to shape public policy, the ANHB offers a range of public resources to Native Americans directly. A leading ANHB tribal resource is the Alaska Tribal Health System (ATHS), a multifaceted system of healthcare providers that represents the diversity of Alaska Native people. Over the past 30 years, the ATHS has grown in size and scope to support an annual budget of approximately $800 million. Because they are spread across roughly 586,400 square miles of largely roadless land, members of Alaska’s 229 federally recognized Native American tribes often have difficulty obtaining quality medical care. In many cases, tribal health organizations such as those of the ATHS are the only healthcare providers in the area.
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As the CEO of SEARHC in Juneau, Alaska, Charles Clement works with a board of directors to develop long- and short-term goals for the organization. Outside of work, Charles Clement makes time for outdoor pursuits like bicycling.
Harvard Health supports bicycling as an effective form of exercise that provides several different benefits for the body, especially muscles and bones. Cycling uses the glutes, calves, and thighs and builds these muscles. It also requires use of the abdominal muscles to remain upright while moving, and strong abdominal muscles help the legs and core look more defined. Because bicycling involves pedaling, it builds bones. The constant pedaling motion works and pulls the muscles, and the muscles pull the bones, increasing bone density and making the bones less likely to break. Finally, cycling is ideal for individuals with joint problems, as sitting and pedaling takes the stress of exercise off the legs. The president and CEO of the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC), Charles Clement has been working in the healthcare field for nearly two decades. Holding an MPA from the University of Alaska, Charles Clement is responsible for managing SEARHC’s $125 million healthcare operation, developing infrastructure, and executing new initiatives. The State of Alaska recently awarded SEARHC two grants to fund behavioral health efforts. These grants came from the Administration for Children and Families, Family Violence Prevention and Services and from Indian Health Service, Methamphetamine, and Suicide Prevention, and are provided over the course of two and four years, respectively. Indian Health Service’s grant totals $800,000 and will be given in $200,000 increments. Meanwhile, the Administration for Children and Families’ grant totals $750,000 and will be given in $375,000 increments each year. The organization plans to use these funds to broaden early intervention strategies through its Wisdom for Life program. The program promotes positive youth development and reduces various risk factors for substance abuse and suicidal behavior. It accomplishes this through a unique blend of evidence-based practice and Alaska Native wisdom. Further, the funding will be used to address the high rates of domestic violence seen among Alaska Natives in Southeast Alaska. SEARHC will increase the capacity for its Behavioral Health Division staff in Juneau and rural health clinics, while also providing domestic violence services with AWARE. As the president of the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC), Charles Clement works to improve public health services for Native communities locally. Charles Clement is also active in the state's commercial fishing industry, and continues to follow fishing conditions each year. Recent cuts to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG) budget have begun to impact commercial fishing in the state. This year's herring harvest has been most heavily affected. Herring fishermen are permitted to catch up to 20 percent of the total biomass in a region any given year. The ADFG typically uses aerial surveys and abundance estimates to determine the size of the herring population. These tools were limited under new budget constraints, and researchers were unable to properly confirm the size of this season's herring population. The end result is that even though this year's herring population is said to be of a healthy size, commercial fishing will be limited by an extra 15 percent to 25 percent. Some stakeholders worry that this trend will affect more valuable fish in the coming years if budgetary problems continue to worsen. |
AuthorCharles Clement holds an undergraduate degree in economics and political science from Northern Arizona University and completed a masters of public administration at the University of Alaska. He also attended Harvard Business School’s executive leadership program. Archives
January 2018
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