health

Unalaska's cash-strapped clinic is one step closer to receiving $500,000 in emergency funds that'll help keep its doors open.

Last week, the City Council unanimously advanced legislation that would provide the nonprofit Iliuliuk Family and Health Services (IFHS) with a loan to be repaid in 10 years.

City Manager Thomas E. Thomas drew up the agreement, with help from the city attorney.

Unalaska's clinic has made another emergency request for city funds — less than a year after the nonprofit community health center was reportedly back in the black.

After a decade of deep budget deficits, Unalaska's clinic is back in the black.

"We closed the fiscal year to the positive — to $26,407," said Director James Kaech of Iliuliuk Family and Health Services. "That's huge when we were projecting a loss of more than $700,000."

Kaech said that turnaround is the result of a year spent revamping the clinic's financial strategy and rebuilding the community's confidence in local health care.

Unalaska and Sand Point residents will soon have the option of receiving substance abuse treatment from home.

People from the Aleutian Islands have always had to leave the region for recovery. But starting Aug. 1, they'll have another choice.

"The idea is that folks can stay in the community, gain or maintain employment, and learn the skills of recovery right where they’d be using them," said Dr. Keri Boyd.