Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation (YKHC) is a non-profit Tribal health organisation founded in 1969 to address a critical healthcare crisis in rural Alaska. It administers a comprehensive healthcare delivery system for nearly 30,000 Alaska Native residents across 58 federally recognised Tribes in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, a service area roughly the size of Oregon. The corporation operates as a co-signer to the Alaska Tribal Health Compact, overseeing community clinics, sub-regional clinics, a regional hospital, and services including dental, optometry, behavioural health, and environmental health.
A key component of its model is the Community Health Aide Programme, which places village-based aides in remote communities to deliver care closer to where people live. This structure reflects YKHC's commitment to culturally relevant healthcare that respects Native self-determination, integrating traditional values and Elder Knowledge with modern medical practice.
The organisation's stated values include optimism, compassion, pursuit of excellence, personal growth, the importance of family, and trust. Its mission is "Working Together to Achieve Excellent Health," and its vision is to be the healthiest people through Native Self-Determination and Culturally Relevant Health Systems.
