Katie Fitzjarrald, Intake Coordinator

I grew up in Montana and Wyoming, and enjoyed camping, hiking and canoeing with my family. In college, I obtained a Bachelor’s degree in French Studies with a minor in English, intending to become an ESL (English as a second language) teacher. Once I began working for Alaska Crossings, my love of the program and my job redirected my career goals, so I have a rather unexpected educational background for an intake coordinator of a wilderness behavioral health program.  

I began working for Alaska Crossings in 2008 seasonally during college, and when I graduated decided to return to the community. It is very important for me to be doing something meaningful in my work, and I cannot think of a job that more perfectly embodies that than helping youth and their families to get connected to services. The mission and practices of Alaska Crossings allow me to challenge myself while maintaining my own core values of respect, empathy and integrity.

As an intake coordinator, I help families and professionals to navigate the multi-step application process required for admittance into the program. I do everything I can to make the process clear and simple for everyone involved; whether that be calling around a community to find an office that will receive a fax for a family, or filling out a form so that all that it needs is a signature, I am happy to help in any way that I can.

I enjoy craft projects, such as sewing clothing and stuffed toys. Music was a big part of my childhood and continues to be a big part of my life now; my most recent project is a guitar/voice lullaby album of original compositions. I like to camp and hike with my husband, and I can’t get enough of preparing and sharing dinners with good friends.  You are also likely to find me curled up the wood stove with a good book on a chilly winter evening.