00                   SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 21                                                                   
01 Supporting the development of adequate in-state treatment capacity for severely                                         
02 disturbed children.                                                                                                     
03 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                               
04       WHEREAS, on October 1, 2001, Alaska's Medicaid program funded over 300                                          
05 severely emotionally disturbed Alaska children placed in out-of-state residential treatment                             
06 facilities by the Department of Health and Social Services or private parties;                                          
07       WHEREAS the total number of all types of licensed child residential beds in Alaska                              
08 is approximately 561, and only 108 of these beds provide the same level of treatment received                           
09 by severely emotionally disturbed children in out-of-state placements; and                                              
10       WHEREAS the lack of in-state residential treatment beds clearly contributes to the                              
11 number of out-of-state placements; and                                                                                  
12       WHEREAS residential treatment beds are a critical component in the continuum of                                 
13 treatment and care for severely emotionally disturbed children; and                                                     
14       WHEREAS providing residential treatment in Alaska allows for increased                                          
15 involvement of a child's family in the child's treatment, thereby improving the quality of care                         
16 and leading to better outcomes and long-term success; and                                                               
01       WHEREAS subsequent placement in foster care, referral for other treatment, and                                  
02 reintegration of the child back into Alaska communities can be more easily and quickly                                  
03 achieved when a child is discharged from an in-state residential treatment facility; and                                
04       WHEREAS development of residential treatment facilities in Alaska will create local                             
05 construction and institutional jobs;                                                                                    
06       BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature respectfully requests the                                      
07 governor to direct the Department of Health and Social Services to work in conjunction with                             
08 the Alaska Mental Health Board, the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority, and other                                     
09 interested parties to strengthen the full continuum of residential and community-based care in                          
10 Alaska for the treatment of severely emotionally disturbed children; and be it                                          
11       FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature respectfully requests the                                    
12 governor to encourage the Department of Health and Social Services, the Alaska Mental                                   
13 Health Board, the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority, and other interested parties to                                 
14 establish as a priority the development of sufficient in-state residential care to serve severely                       
15 emotionally disturbed children who would otherwise be placed in out-of-state facilities.