Interactive Virtual Learning Lab
Authentic Relationships as the Foundation for Integrated Care: Learning from Southcentral Foundation’s Nuka System of Care
An interactive virtual Learning Lab delivered by the International Foundation for Integrated Care (IFIC) in partnership with Southcentral Foundation/Nuka, exploring how authentic relationships can be intentionally developed, supported and embedded in health and care systems.
8:30am Alaska | 12:30pm Toronto | 5:30pm London | 6:30pm Madrid
Overview
Core Concepts Learning Lab - Strengthening relationships for integrated care
Relationships are central to integrated care, but building and sustaining them across teams, organisations, professions and communities takes more than goodwill.
This three-hour interactive Learning Lab, delivered by the International Foundation for Integrated Care (IFIC) with Southcentral Foundation/Nuka, introduces selected principles from Core Concepts, the relationship-based learning approach developed as part of the Nuka System of Care.
Participants will work directly with Southcentral Foundation/Nuka faculty to explore how relationships can be strengthened in practice and what this means for leadership, teamwork, communication and partnership working.
What are Core Concepts?
Core Concepts is a relationship-based learning approach developed by Southcentral Foundation as part of its Nuka System of Care.
Southcentral Foundation is an Alaska Native customer-owned health care system serving approximately 70,000 Alaska Native and American Indian people in Alaska's Cook Inlet region. Its Nuka System of Care was designed and built with the people it serves, with long-term relationships between care teams and customer-owners at its centre.
Core Concepts was developed in partnership with the Alaska Native community and is provided to all Southcentral Foundation employees. It helps staff understand how their own experiences, communication styles and assumptions influence the way they relate to others. The training also develops practical skills for listening to and responding to story, communicating about difficult issues, working effectively within teams and understanding different relational styles.
These skills are used both to strengthen relationships with customer-owners and to help colleagues support one another, contributing to workforce wellbeing and a positive working culture.
This three-hour IFIC and Nuka Learning Lab introduces selected elements of Core Concepts and considers their relevance to integrated care in other settings.
At a glance
Date
Tuesday, 10 November 2026
Duration
3 hours
Format
Interactive Online Learning Lab
Fee
€195 per participant
Places
Maximum 50 participants
Registration closes
Tuesday, 27 October 2026
Contact us
If you have any questions please get in touch
Why does this matter for integrated care?
Integrated care depends on people being able to work well across professional, organisational and sectoral boundaries and to build meaningful partnerships with people and communities.
That requires more than new structures or models of care. Teams need to be able to listen well, understand different perspectives, challenge their own assumptions and work through difficult conversations. These skills also matter for workforce wellbeing, particularly where teams are working under sustained pressure.
Southcentral Foundation has deliberately built these relational skills into its organisational culture and workforce development. Core Concepts supports staff to develop strong, long-term relationships with the people they serve and with one another.
The Learning Lab gives participants an opportunity to experience some of this approach and consider how it could strengthen leadership, teamwork, workforce support and partnership working in their own setting.
What is an IFIC Virtual Learning Lab?
An IFIC Virtual Learning Lab is an interactive session built around participation, reflection and practical application.
Rather than listening to a series of presentations, participants work with facilitators and with each other to explore ideas, discuss their own experience and consider how the learning can be applied in practice.
Participants will hear directly from Southcentral Foundation/Nuka faculty and then work in small Learning Circles of approximately five people to discuss the ideas in relation to their own experience. The Circles are an established part of the Core Concepts approach and will be facilitated by experienced Southcentral Foundation Learning Circle Leaders.
A significant part of the session will be spent in discussion rather than presentation, giving participants time to learn from both the Nuka faculty and colleagues working in different health and care settings.
Learn
Input from Southcentral Foundation/Nuka faculty
Reflect
Consider the ideas in relation to your own experience
Discuss
Work in small, facilitated Learning Circles
Apply
Identify what you can take back into your own setting
Learning Objectives
During the session, participants will:
- understand why relationships are central to Southcentral Foundation's Nuka System of Care and how Core Concepts has been embedded across the organisation;
- explore how personal experience, assumptions and relational style influence the way we listen, communicate and work with others;
- consider how sharing and responding to story can strengthen relationships with people receiving care and between colleagues;
- experience selected communication tools used within Core Concepts to support more thoughtful and productive dialogue;
- reflect on how relational approaches can support teamwork, workforce wellbeing and collaborative working; and
- consider how the learning can be applied within their own teams, organisations, partnerships and communities.
What will you take away
A clearer understanding of the relational skills that support integrated care, together with one or two practical actions you can apply in your own work.
Audience
The Learning Lab is designed for people working across health and care who are involved in leading, delivering or supporting integrated care, including:
- health and care leaders and executives;
- clinicians, care managers and service designers;
- quality improvement and patient experience professionals;
- policy makers and system transformation leads;
- workforce development professionals; and
- educators and researchers working in health and care.
You do not need previous experience of the Nuka System of Care or Core Concepts to take part.
Format and Session Structure
This is a three-hour interactive Learning Lab designed for active participation. The session will combine expert input, practical application, facilitated discussion and small Learning Circles, giving participants space to reflect on authentic relationships in the context of their own teams, organisations and communities.
1. Welcome and introduction
Setting the context for authentic relationships and integrated care
2. Learning from the Nuka System of Care
Looking at the role of relationships within Southcentral Foundation's approach to care, workforce and organisational culture.
3. From theory to practice
Considering how relational approaches can be deliberately developed and supported in everyday work.
4. Learning Circles
Small-group discussion focused on participants' own experiences, challenges, teams and communities.
5. Reflection and practical takeaways
Bringing the learning together and identifying what participants can take back into their own work.
Small Group Learning
Learning Circles will include approximately five participants and will be supported by experienced Southcentral Foundation Learning Circle Leaders.
A significant part of the Learning Lab will be spent in discussion and reflection rather than presentation.
Taking the learning into practice
The Learning Lab is designed to help participants connect the ideas directly to their own setting.
The final part of the session will focus on what the learning could mean for leadership, team development, multidisciplinary working, workforce support, community partnership and service transformation.
Participants will be encouraged to identify one or two realistic changes they can take back into their work. These might relate to how they lead conversations, listen to colleagues and communities, support teams or build stronger relationships across organisational boundaries.
Those who want to develop their learning further can explore the complete Core Concepts training offered by Southcentral Foundation.
What will you take back to work?
One or two realistic actions that you can apply within your own team, organisation, partnership or community.
Registration
€195 excluding VAT / VAT applied where applicable
Places are limited to a maximum of 50 participants so that the session can remain genuinely interactive and allow meaningful discussion within the Learning Circles.
Registration closes Tuesday, 27 October 2026.
Bursary places
A limited number of bursary places are available, including for people with lived experience.
If cost would prevent you from taking part, please contact IFIC before registering to enquire about eligibility and availability.
ENQUIRE ABOUT A BURSARY
Email academy@integratedcarefoundation.org
About the Nuka System of Care
Southcentral Foundation’s Nuka System of Care places relationships at the centre of how health and care services are designed and delivered.
The approach is grounded in strong partnerships between people, families, communities and care teams, with authentic relationships treated as a foundation for service delivery, workforce development and organisational culture.
Learn more here.
Register for this course
Contact the team
Fiona Lyne
International Foundation for Integrated Care (IFIC)
Dr Edelweiss Aldasoro
International Foundation for Integrated Care (IFIC)
