Legislature(2013 - 2014)BUTROVICH 205
03/27/2013 01:30 PM Senate HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Overview: Child Protection Worker Safety Issues in Alaska - | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE
March 27, 2013
1:34 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Bert Stedman, Chair
Senator Peter Micciche, Vice Chair
Senator Kevin Meyer
Senator Pete Kelly
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Johnny Ellis
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
OVERVIEW: CHILD PROTECTION WORKER SAFETY ISSUES IN ALASKA -
IDENTIFICATION OF THE PROBLEM AND NEEDS MOVING FORWARD.
- HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
CHRISTY LAWTON, Director
Office of Children's Services (OCS)
Department of Health and Social Services
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented information on Child Protection
Worker Safety Issues in Alaska.
TRAVIS ERICKSON, Field Administrator
Office of Children's Services
Department of Health and Social Services
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented information related to Child
Protection Worker Safety Issues in Alaska.
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:34:42 PM
CHAIR BERT STEDMAN called the Senate Health and Social Services
Standing Committee meeting to order at 1:34 p.m. Present at the
call to order were Senators Micciche, Kelly, and Meyer, and
Chair Stedman.
^OVERVIEW: Child Protection Worker Safety Issues in Alaska -
OVERVIEW: Child Protection Worker Safety Issues in Alaska -
Identification of the Problem and Needs Moving Forward
1:35:42 PM
CHAIR STEDMAN announced that the only order of business would be
a presentation by the Office of Children's Services.
CHRISTY LAWTON, Director, Office of Children's Services (OCS),
Department of Health and Social Services, presented information
on "Child Protection Worker Safety Issues in Alaska." She
introduced members from the Office of Children's Services and
stated its mission: The Office of Children's Services works in
partnership with families and communities to achieve safety,
permanency, and well-being for children, youth and families.
MS. LAWTON gave an overview of OCS. She related the primary
legal mandates and role of OCS: prevention and early
intervention, safety, permanency, and well-being. These mandates
are outlined by the federal government
1:40:46 PM
MS. LAWTON listed the regions and staff of OCS: Anchorage has
168 staff, South Central has 97 staff, Western has 36 staff,
Northern has 90 staff, Southeast has 49 staff, and the state
office has 58 total staff. She noted the most challenged area is
the Western region.
1:44:04 PM
MS. LAWTON reported on the service population. She related that
in 2012 there were 16,297 reports of children that were alleged
to be maltreated. Of those, 8,463 children and their families
were subject to an assessment for child safety. On any given
month there is an average of a little over 500 investigations to
initiate that will require case workers to be in the field and
in the homes of families across the state.
1:46:10 PM
She related that there are approximately 1,900 children who are
being served through a formal state intervention on any given
day in Alaska. The bulk of these children are living in out-of-
home care with relatives, licensed foster parents, or in
therapeutic/residential settings.
She said every month workers from urban and remote offices
drive, fly, or snow machine out to make required monthly contact
with kids in their placements, as well as separately with their
parents wherever they might be living. In 2012, workers made
more than 14,761 visits to children and 13,639 visits to their
parents.
1:47:48 PM
MS. LAWTON described the families that are served. She stressed
that parents love their children and often have their own
history of trauma and/or come from dysfunctional families. Many
are experiencing domestic violence, mental illness, or
addiction. The parents are often angry, emotional, frustrated,
and desperate. Often they are new parents with young children
and have complicated relationships. Most are not first time
clients of an OCS intervention. They want to be better parents
and do what's best for their children and improve their lives.
1:50:18 PM
MS. LAWTON turned to the subject of worker safety and why that
is a topic today. She said there is an increase in threats to
workers so there is a need to increase the focus in this area
and raise awareness.
SENATOR MICCICHE noted that Alaska is number one in domestic
violence, sexual assault, and suicide. He said he heard Ms.
Lawton say that things are not improving. He wondered how that
is measured.
MS. LAWTON explained that there are a number of national and
state measurements. One is the increasing number of protective
services reports. Some might say that is because of the emphasis
on better reporting of domestic violence and sexual assault,
which she agreed is a contributing factor. Alaska is also
measured by national centers that rate states according to
reported data.
1:52:43 PM
CHAIR STEDMAN asked if the problem is related to drug issues.
MS. LAWTON said drugs are a factor and, while not the main
issue, are in the top 10. An increase of the use of
methamphetamine is also a factor.
She emphasized that OCS jobs are dangerous. She compared social
workers to Village Safety Officers (VSO's), but without any
means to defend themselves.
1:55:16 PM
MS. LAWTON reported on what is happening in this area on a
national front. Violence is rampant and child welfare is
increasingly dangerous all over the country. States are, like
Alaska, trying to find ways to increase efforts to ensure safety
for staff.
She shared recent national headlines related to crimes involving
Child Protection Workers.
She noted a 36 percent turnover rate in OCS, which is partly due
to the dangerous environment.
1:58:08 PM
SENATOR MICCICHE asked if that is a 36 percent annual turnover.
MS. LAWTON said yes. For front-line workers, there is a 12
percent vacancy at any given time.
MS. LAWTON discussed rural versus urban worker safety concerns.
She said rural areas have isolated locations and require travel
by plane. Rural areas have less access to law enforcement and
have little supervision. The technology is limited and there are
weapons in every home, often unsecured.
2:02:54 PM
TRAVIS ERICKSON, Field Administrator, Office of Children's
Services, Department of Health and Social Services, presented
information related to Child Protection Worker Safety Issues in
Alaska. He shared recent examples and concerns of dangerous
situations experience by OCS workers during 2012 and 2013. He
noted there has only been one minor injury to an OCS staff
member.
He highlighted an incident that occurred in December of 2012,
which was key in raising concerns at OCS. He showed an example
that happened in February of 2013 causing concern by OCS staff.
MS. LAWTON pointed out that there are numerous incidents similar
to those mentioned. The agency plans to focus on and track this
violent trend in the coming year.
2:10:56 PM
MS. LAWTON discussed the impact of violence on recruitment and
retention of OCS workers. She said the negative image of OCS
from media focus on lack of safety, and extreme cases,
discourage new applicants. Work comes with inherent risk
already, but if the agency can't articulate how it actively
mitigates what it can control, the applicant is less likely to
sign on. Existing staff morale is negatively impacted and the
anxiety levels rise amongst offices statewide. There are
increased absences, likely to manage effects of stress. Existing
staff are resigning due to the fear of violence.
2:13:40 PM
SENATOR MICCICHE asked if other states have sworn officers in
OCS that could profile offenders and offer protection.
MS. LAWTON said she has not seen evidence of that, but some
states have contracted with security companies.
MS. LAWTON reported on a staff survey from February of 2013
which shows how staff felt about their safety. She said 94 out
of 145 queried front line staff reported feeling unsafe on one
or more occasions while conduction a home visit in the past
year. Also, 47 percent of all staff statewide reported having
been the subject of a verbal or physical threat in the past
year. Finally, 170 of 279 staff of all job types reported having
felt unsafe at least once during the past year while performing
everyday job duties.
She shared worker comments from the staff survey stressing the
lack of safety in the job.
2:17:00 PM
MS. LAWTON shared the plans and goals of OCS moving forward.
There will be an office safety assessment of 3 of the 26
offices, beginning in Anchorage. Currently, three have been
targeted: Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Wasilla. As of May 1, the
Anchorage OCS will have on-site security, more floodlighting,
surveillance, and privacy windows.
She said there is a plan to revise and enhance worker safety
training. There will be a statewide safety committee that will
focus on field safety protocols, policy development, research of
other states to identify cutting edge tools, and an increased
communication with law enforcement to find more ways to partner
between rural and urban areas.
2:21:51 PM
MS. LAWTON concluded with ways the legislature can help. She
said the legislature can support OCS's mission and staff, help
to educate others, and raise awareness as to the challenges of
child welfare and how OCS staff contribute to increased public
safety. The legislature can support possible future funding
requests related to worker safety enhancements.
CHAIR STEDMAN requested a benchmark comparison to other rural
states and how they deal with safety issues.
SENATOR KELLY asked for information about non-lethal devices.
2:24:09 PM
MS. LAWTON agreed that is an area worth exploring.
SENATOR KELLY asked if the changes to OCS offices are being made
only in Anchorage.
MS. LAWTON said, at this time, changes are being made to the
Anchorage office and assessments have been completed in
Fairbanks and Wasilla.
SENATOR KELLY opined there is more danger in the field than in
the offices.
MS. LAWTON said that was true. However, the offices are targeted
locations.
SENATOR KELLY said the Courts Finance Subcommittee put money
toward a security analyst. He asked about the 36 percent
turnover rate in comparison to the police turnover rate.
MS. LAWTON did not know.
CHAIR STEDMAN asked Ms. Lawton to bring data about turnover
rates for various categories of OCS employees.
SENATOR KELLY thought Ms. Lawton had a valid concern. He
concluded that the police have a lower turnover rate; both
police and social workers have dangerous jobs, but police have
means of protection. He said "we have a problem" and the social
worker is not trained to go into dangerous situations to solve
the problem. He suggested "looking way out of the box" to solve
this situation. He said OCS should take serious action to solve
the problem. He suggested looking into non-lethal protection.
2:28:50 PM
SENATOR MICCICHE stated that the families are stressed. He
suggested profiling families as a matter of protocol and then
providing protection for caseworkers. He maintained that OCS is
currently an unhealthy organization because of the high job
turnover and lack of security. He said he would like to find
solutions.
SENATOR MEYER pointed out that the Anchorage Police Department
has backup when responding to domestic violence calls and OCS
has nothing and is extremely vulnerable. He noted that drug-
related calls are also dangerous. He voiced appreciation for OCS
workers and what they do for children.
He asked what happens to the children that are removed from the
dangerous situations.
2:31:57 PM
MS. LAWTON said 50 percent of the kids are unable to return
home. The agency's first priority is to place them with other
family members, next, with foster parents, and then, long-term
care services. A large portion of the kids are placed with
relatives.
SENATOR MEYER agreed that some children have experienced too
much stress and harm. He asked what happens to those kids when
they turn 18.
MS. LAWTON described the alternatives for adult children. Some
have adult guardians or custodians through the Office of Public
Advocacy and some end up in Corrections.
SENATOR MEYER stressed the importance of early intervention. He
voiced appreciation for OCS.
2:34:51 PM
MS. LAWTON agreed with Senator Kelly that the purpose of the
hearing is to push to find solutions before there are injuries
or worse.
SENATOR KELLY said the problem is that the changes will be made
after someone dies. He reiterated that the solution must come
from "outside the box."
CHAIR STEDMAN thanked all the OCS employees for attending the
presentation.
2:37:51 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Stedman adjourned the Senate Health and Social Services
Committee at 2:37 p.m.dentification of the Problem and Needs
Moving Forward."
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Senate HSS Presentation on OCS March 2013.pptx |
SHSS 3/27/2013 1:30:00 PM |
OCS presentation |