02/28/2007 01:30 PM Senate HEALTH, EDUCATION & SOCIAL SERVICES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB40 | |
| Presentation: Strengthening Families Initiative | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| = | SB 40 | ||
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE
February 28, 2007
1:34 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Bettye Davis, Chair
Senator Joe Thomas, Vice Chair
Senator John Cowdery
Senator Fred Dyson
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Kim Elton
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 40
"An Act relating to reapplications for the Alaska longevity
bonus program; and providing for an effective date."
MOVED CSSB 40 (HES) OUT OF COMMITTEE
PRESENTATION: Strengthening Families Initiative
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SB 40
SHORT TITLE: LONGEVITY BONUS REAPPLICATIONS
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) WIELECHOWSKI
01/16/07 (S) PREFILE RELEASED 1/5/07
01/16/07 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/16/07 (S) HES, STA, FIN
02/07/07 (S) HES AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
02/07/07 (S) Heard & Held
02/07/07 (S) MINUTE(HES)
02/28/07 (S) HES AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
WITNESS REGISTER
Senator Bill Wielechowski
Alaska State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of SB 40.
Tamara Cook, Director of Legal Services
Office of Legislative Affairs
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on SB 40
Stacie Kraly, Attorney
Department of Law
Alaska State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on SB 40
Claudia Shanley, Systems Reform Administrator
Department of Health & Social Services
POSITION STATEMENT: Participated in presentation
Shirley Pitts, Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems Coordinator
Strengthening Families Initiative
POSITION STATEMENT: Participated in presentation
Lupita Alvarez, Director
Juneau Montessori School
POSITION STATEMENT: Participated in presentation
ACTION NARRATIVE
CHAIR BETTYE DAVIS called the Senate Health, Education and
Social Services Standing Committee meeting to order at 1:34:08
PM. Present at the call to order were Senators Thomas, Dyson,
Cowdery, and Chair Davis.
SB 40-LONGEVITY BONUS REAPPLICATIONS
CHAIR DAVIS announced SB 40 to be up for consideration.
1:35:09 PM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI, sponsor of SB 40, said that certain
technical changes had been made to the bill in order for the
Department of Health and Social Services to administer it. He
restated the goal of the bill regarding reapplication for the
longevity bonus.
1:36:43 PM
TAM COOK, Director of Legal Services for the Office of
Legislative Affairs, called the committee's attention to lines
10, 12, and 13 of the bill, which contain the changes in the
bill pertaining to eligibility for reapplication.
She added that the changes addressed the committee's previous
concerns completely.
1:38:43 PM
SENATOR COWDERY asked if a person who left the state during the
period when the bonus was canceled could return and apply for
it.
MS. COOK said that is correct, as long as they have remained a
state resident without a continuous absence of more than three
years.
SENATOR COWDERY asked for the sponsor's idea for the source of
funding.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI replied that the bill will use general
funds.
STACIE KRALY, Attorney for the Department of Law, commented that
the department agrees with the changes.
1:40:51 PM
SENATOR THOMAS asked if the definition of a state resident is
the same as that for Permanent Fund Dividend eligibility.
MS. KRALEY replied that it is.
SENATOR COWDERY said that he has received the bonus in the past,
and asked if the previous practice of signing a receipt for the
check will be continued.
MS. KRALEY said that the practice will continue.
1:42:51 PM
SENATOR COWDERY moved to adopt the proposed committee substitute
to SB 40, labeled 25-LS0354\E, Version E, as the working
document of the committee. There being no objection, the motion
carried.
He then moved to report CS for SB 40 from committee with
individual recommendations and accompanying fiscal notes and
asked for unanimous consent.
There being no objection, CSSB 40(HES) moved from committee.
^PRESENTATION: STRENGTHENING FAMILIES INITIATIVE
1:47:09 PM
CHAIR BETTYE DAVIS announced the presentation of the
strengthening families initiative.
CLAUDIA SHANLEY, Systems Reform Administrator for the Department
of Health and Social Services (DHSS), said that the
Strengthening Families Initiative (SFI) is essentially about
child abuse prevention. Early intervention is the most important
factor in proper development and setting a foundation for good
behavior and health. When protective relationships aren't
available for children, brain and social development can be
inhibited.
She explained that there are three levels of stress: positive,
which is moderate and short-lived; tolerable stress, which could
disrupt development but is usually buffered by supportive
relationships; and toxic stress, which is intense, prolonged,
and not offset by relational support. 35 percent of Protective
Service Reports are done on children under five years of age.
She explained that a two-pronged approach is needed to promote
healthy development: supporting families with early
intervention, and more targeted intervention to help children
already affected.
1:53:30 PM
SHIRLEY PITTS, Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems Coordinator
for the SFI, said that in 2001 the Center for the Study of
Social Policy (CSSP) developed a systematic approach to early
intervention, focusing on child abuse prevention. At-risk
families are targeted in particular, but intervention and
prevention for everyone is best. Child daycares are used as
points of education and to help identify early warning signs.
She explained the center's preventative measures, including
teaching parental resilience, knowledge of parenting and child
development, support in time of need, and social and emotional
competence in children. Early education programs help facilitate
emotional development and strengthen parenting skills, and staff
respond to early signs of child abuse and neglect. 38 percent of
children in Alaskan child care programs have exhibited
behavioral issues.
She added that in 2004 Alaska was selected to receive two years
of federal technical assistance for its early learning programs.
2:01:10 PM
MS. SHANLEY said that Alaska used the assistance to develop a
leadership team to run the project in the state. They were
charged with enhancing the collaboration between child care
resource and referral networks. The Alaska programs selected for
participation were the Boys & Girls Club, Open Arms, the Juneau
Montessori School, the Rural CAP Child Development Center, and
the Bristol Bay Head Start Program. Each program completed self-
assessments, developed implementation plans, attended
orientations and conferences, and received mini-grants of
$10,000, the funding for which came from the Alaska Children's
Trust, Title VI, and Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems.
She added that the data from the pilot program hasn't been
analyzed yet, but explained how all five programs showed
progress in different areas.
2:08:07 PM
LUPITA ALVAREZ, Director for the Juneau Montessori School, said
that many of the assessment program criteria were areas for
improvement for her school. The program also helped parents
network and make suggestions for the school, the sense of
community was strengthened, and school activity attendance has
gone up. Parents now have a better understanding of the
importance of developing relationships with the teachers and
other parents. The grant has also been used for mental health
services for students in need.
2:14:03 PM
MS. SHANLEY said that the pilot programs were offering different
options with their grant money, like free family dinners,
parenting navigation programs, and cultural nights; many of
these changes were small but significant. The pilot sites are
also partnering with protective services, and students studying
social work are also beginning to intern with the various
programs. The initiative also presents its work to various
groups statewide, and is looking at how to expand the model
statewide.
2:20:26 PM
CHAIR DAVIS asked Ms. Shanley to talk about the conference in
Illinois that the group recently attended.
MS. SHANLEY said that Illinois has had a very effective early
education program, serving hundreds of children from infancy to
adulthood throughout the state, and she explained some aspects
of that state's success.
2:23:06 PM
SENATOR COWDERY asked if there is a difference in child
development between rural and urban settings.
MS. SHANLEY replied that nutrition is a big problem in rural
settings.
SENATOR COWDERY related a personal story about child-rearing.
2:25:44 PM
SENATOR THOMAS asked how such early education programs could be
brought to people who do not, or can not, put their kids in
child care.
MS. SHANLEY replied that this sort of education is mobile, and
can be brought to different types of programs or locations where
families are often found, like medical offices and schools.
SENATOR THOMAS commented that changes in school curriculum are
often hard to come by.
2:29:57 PM
MS. ALVAREZ said that program efficacy is a matter of clarity
and consistency of application, and with some families a little
extra work is needed to make a connection. Also, extra staff
time is needed, which leads to a financial constraint.
She added that young children are very impressionable, and
television and media can cause behavioral issues.
SENATOR COWDERY related two personal stories.
2:37:16 PM
CHAIR DAVIS thanked the presenters, and asked if the initiative
is at the end of its pilot program.
MS. SHANLEY replied that the Alaska program has come to an end,
and that different states are now participating. Alaska will
continue to meet with the other states, however, and participate
in conferences.
CHAIR DAVIS asked about the National Children's Trust Fund.
MS. PITTS said that Alaska is a member of this organization, and
participates in national meetings.
CHAIR DAVIS asked if there will ever be a time when the
initiative will ask for money from the legislature.
MS. ALVAREZ replied that money is always needed to reach the
children who need treatment the most.
CHAIR DAVIS commented on the good timing of the presentation and
said that other programs in the state are working along the same
lines.
MS. SHANLEY said that the initiative does work closely with
other programs in Alaska, and that they are all looking for
creative ways to further the work they do.
She added that the initiative needs to be connected to quality
child care and family support.
CHAIR DAVIS thanked the presenters and, seeing being no further
business to come before the committee, adjourned the meeting at
2:43:56 PM.
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