Legislature(2023 - 2024)BUTROVICH 205

01/25/2024 03:30 PM Senate HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES

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03:31:05 PM Start
03:31:34 PM Presentation: Department of Family and Community Services Legislative Overview
04:36:51 PM Adjourn
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ Presentation: Department of Family and TELECONFERENCED
Community Services Overview
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
                    ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                                  
      SENATE HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE                                                                    
                        January 25, 2024                                                                                        
                           3:31 p.m.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
                             DRAFT                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Senator David Wilson, Chair                                                                                                     
Senator James Kaufman, Vice Chair                                                                                               
Senator Forrest Dunbar                                                                                                          
Senator Cathy Giessel                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Senator Löki Tobin                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
PRESENTATION: DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES                                                                       
LEGISLATIVE OVERVIEW                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     - HEARD                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
No previous action to record                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
WITNESS REGISTER                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
KIM KOVOL, Commissioner                                                                                                         
Department of Family and Community Services                                                                                     
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Co-presented a legislative departmental                                                                   
overview.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MARIAN SWEET, Assistant Commissioner                                                                                            
Department of Family and Social Services                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT: Co-presented a legislative departmental                                                                   
overview.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CLINTON LASLEY, Deputy Commissioner                                                                                             
Department of Family and Community Services                                                                                     
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION  STATEMENT:  Co-presented   a  legislative  departmental                                                             
overview.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
ACTION NARRATIVE                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
3:31:05 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DAVID WILSON  called the Senate Health  and Social Services                                                             
Standing Committee meeting  to order at 3:31 p.m.  Present at the                                                               
call to order  were Senators Dunbar, Giessel,  Kaufman, and Chair                                                               
Wilson.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
^Presentation:  Department  of   Family  and  Community  Services                                                               
Legislative Overview                                                                                                            
                         PRESENTATION:                                                                                      
          DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES                                                                       
                      LEGISLATIVE OVERVIEW                                                                                  
                                                                                                                              
3:31:34 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  WILSON  announced  the   consideration  of  a  legislative                                                               
overview by the Department of Family and Community Services.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:31:58 PM                                                                                                                    
KIM  KOVOL,  Commissioner,  Department of  Family  and  Community                                                               
Services  (DFCS),  Anchorage,  Alaska,   moved  to  slide  2  and                                                               
provided  the  mission of  the  department  and its  four  direct                                                               
service division and a newly organized component:                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
[Original punctuation provided.]                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
      To provide support, safety, and personal well-being                                                                       
     for vulnerable Alaskans                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
        • Alaska Pioneer Homes                                                                                                  
        • Division of Juvenile Justice                                                                                          
        • Alaska Psychiatric Institute                                                                                          
        • Office of Children's Services                                                                                         
        • Coordinated Health & Complex Care                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:32:42 PM                                                                                                                    
COMMISSIONER  KOVOL  moved to  slide  3  and  spoke to  the  four                                                               
guiding principles of DFCS:                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
[Original punctuation provided.]                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     At DFCS we will:                                                                                                           
      Strengthen lives through meaningful connections with                                                                    
     families, communities, Tribes, and providers.                                                                              
     Provide safe, person-centered care with integrity and                                                                    
     dignity to the Alaskans we serve.                                                                                          
     Advance an agency culture that prioritizes the                                                                           
     wellbeing of our workforce.                                                                                                
     Mobilize innovative solutions to complex challenges                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:33:08 PM                                                                                                                    
COMMISSIONER KOVOL turned  the time over to Ms.  Sweet to discuss                                                               
the innovative creation  of the Talent Acquisition  Team that Ms.                                                               
Sweet and Ms. Ferber have spearheaded.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
3:33:29 PM                                                                                                                    
MARIAN SWEET,  Assistant Commissioner,  Department of  Family and                                                               
Community  Services,  Juneau,  Alaska,   moved  to  slide  4  and                                                               
discussed issues  and solutions of personnel  recruitment and the                                                               
creation of the Talent Acquisition Team (TAT).                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
[Original punctuation provided.]                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Talent Acquisition Team                                                                                                  
      Dedicated human resources team to improve                                                                           
          recruitment and retention                                                                                             
        • Expedited recruitment and hiring                                                                                    
        • Personal engagement with candidates throughout                                                                      
          process                                                                                                               
        • Specialized on-boarding support and orientation                                                                     
          training                                                                                                              
        • Phased implementation - started with Office of                                                                      
          Children's Services                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
3:37:49 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  WILSON asked  if the  TAT program  is used  by departments                                                               
outside of DFCS.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MS.  SWEET  replied  that  DFCS   spoke  with  staff  from  other                                                               
departments  and expanded  on their  positive outcome  ideas. TAT                                                               
staff  will be  fully  engaged in  the  recruitment process  from                                                               
start to finish. It is DFCS's pilot program.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  WILSON stated  it  seems  like a  good  program for  other                                                               
departments.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:38:54 PM                                                                                                                    
COMMISSIONER  KOVOL said  the idea  for  TAT was  pitched to  the                                                               
administration  after researching  the Child  Protective Services                                                               
program in Oklahoma.  DFCS is excited about the  results they are                                                               
experiencing.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
3:39:15 PM                                                                                                                    
MS. SWEET  moved to slide 5  and said that although  TAT has just                                                               
started,  the  department  received  its  first  job  posting  in                                                               
December  2023.  The  response   time  from  referral  to  hiring                                                               
decreased from 34 days in June  2023 to 10 days in December 2023.                                                               
Several  key performance  indicators  (KPIs)  were identified  to                                                               
track the  project's success. She  expects next year's  update to                                                               
include  data  from the  Division  of  Juvenile Justice.  Success                                                               
comes  through  teamwork  between  Recruitment  Services,  Talent                                                               
Acquisition teams, and division and department leadership.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:40:35 PM                                                                                                                    
COMMISSIONER  KOVOL moved  to  slide 6  addressed  points on  the                                                               
slide regarding internships and practicum placements:                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     Workforce Innovations                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                              
     Internships and Practicum Placements                                                                                     
                                                                                                                              
   • 35 student interns and practicum placements across the                                                                     
     department                                                                                                                 
   • 11 different colleges and universities                                                                                     
   • Pharmacy interns at Pioneer Homes                                                                                          
   • Doctoral and Masters clinical interns at Alaska                                                                            
     Psychiatric Institute                                                                                                      
   • Bachelors and Masters in Social Work practicum                                                                             
     students in Commissioners Office, Office of Children's                                                                     
     Services, and Division of Juvenile Justice                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
3:41:59 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR WILSON asked,  since Alaska doesn't have  many colleges and                                                               
universities,  how   many  of   the  internships   and  practicum                                                               
placements are filled by students from out of state.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
3:42:05 PM                                                                                                                    
COMMISSIONER  KOVOL  replied  there  are  a  variety  of  reasons                                                               
students  come to  Alaska for  their  internships. Some  students                                                               
have  indicated a  desire  to return  to  Alaska after  finishing                                                               
their schooling.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
3:42:27 PM                                                                                                                    
COMMISSIONER  KOVOL moved  to slide  7, illustrating  the support                                                               
the  four  divisions  of  DFCS  receive  from  other  departments                                                               
through the Complex  Care Unit. She highlighted the  success of a                                                               
youth and his family achieved  through collaboration and creative                                                               
problem-solving. She  said this  example is  one of  many complex                                                               
situations  that  have  driven systematic  changes,  including  a                                                               
transitional  youth   pilot  program,  policy  review,   and  the                                                               
adoption of programs to meet Alaska's evolving needs.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
3:45:08 PM                                                                                                                    
COMMISSIONER KOVOL  moved to  slide 8  and further  discussed the                                                               
Complex Care Unit and Transitional Youth Pilot Program:                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
[Original punctuation provided.]                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Complex Care Unit                                                                                                        
   • Identifying solutions to address systemic gaps in care                                                                     
     for individuals with complex needs                                                                                         
   • Data-informed decisions, streamline state system                                                                           
     processes, and improve case outcomes                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     Transitional Youth Pilot Program                                                                                         
   • Limited step-down options for youth discharged from                                                                        
     API                                                                                                                        
   • Home-like setting staffed to support successful                                                                            
     transition                                                                                                                 
   • FY25 budget request                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:48:02 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  DUNBAR   asked  if  the   Complex  Care  Unit   and  the                                                               
Transitional  Youth  Pilot  Program  are  part  of  the  agency's                                                               
response to  reports concerning the North  Star Behavioral Health                                                               
System and,  if so,  he would  like to  know the  agency's policy                                                               
response to the investigation.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:48:45 PM                                                                                                                    
COMMISSIONER KOVOL asked if he is  referring to the report by the                                                               
Department  of Justice  or North  Star as  a private  entity that                                                               
DFCS utilizes.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR DUNBAR said he is  referring to the media report, "Inside                                                               
the Psychiatric Hospital Where Foster Kids are a Gold Mine."                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:49:07 PM                                                                                                                    
COMMISSIONER KOVOL said North Star  is the only high-acuity youth                                                               
hospital in  Alaska, aside from the  Alaska Psychiatric Institute                                                               
(API), which  has 10 youth  beds. North Star currently  has about                                                               
43 beds but is expected to  increase to 60 beds soon. At present,                                                               
the Office of  Children's Services (OCS) has  four youth admitted                                                               
to North Star, which is among  the lowest numbers in its history.                                                               
These four youths are soon  to be discharged. The department uses                                                               
North Star as  a last resort, meaning there is  no other in-state                                                               
service  that could  provide the  necessary level  of care.  This                                                               
also means the  child did not have to leave  the state to receive                                                               
services.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
3:50:10 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR DUNBAR  said he  is not attacking  North Star  but agrees                                                               
that it  should be  a last  resort. He asked  what the  agency is                                                               
doing to expand options and avoid use of the last resort.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER  KOVOL said  the Division  of  Family and  Community                                                               
Services (DFCS)  has worked with  the Department of  Health (DOH)                                                               
on  the behavioral  health road  map and  is identifying  service                                                               
gaps  statewide. The  department  visited five  regions to  learn                                                               
community needs from residents and  providers and determine where                                                               
it can help with regulations and  policies. She said that, from a                                                               
service  delivery standpoint,  DFCS has  the same  custodial care                                                               
needs as parents not involved  with the department. Both DFCS and                                                               
non-OCS  parents   rely  heavily  on  community   providers.  She                                                               
supports identifying and making it  easier for providers to offer                                                               
services. DFCS is using out-of-state  institutions less and tries                                                               
to     keep    youth     in    their     communities,    avoiding                                                               
institutionalization unless as a last resort.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
3:51:55 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR GIESSEL said  that, in the context  of community services                                                               
and  avoiding institutionalization,  it sounds  like these  youth                                                               
could benefit from partial hospitalization programs.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
3:52:06 PM                                                                                                                    
COMMISSIONER KOVOL agreed, noting  that care is always customized                                                               
to  the needs  of youth  with complex  needs. She  explained that                                                               
there  will always  be  some youth  whose  needs exceed  Alaska's                                                               
resources,  such as  those with  eating disorders.  DFCS assesses                                                               
needs on  a case-by-case basis  but aims to explore  more options                                                               
in  a median  area of  step-down care.  This would  support youth                                                               
transitioning into or out of  the community, providing additional                                                               
options.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
GIESSEL stated she absolutely agreed.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
3:52:54 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR WILSON asked for more  details about the Transitional Youth                                                               
Program, such as  the number of kids it would  serve, if it would                                                               
serve discharged kids from API,  and what the potential locations                                                               
are.                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER KOVOL  replied that  the program  is in  its infancy                                                               
and  plans are  being set  up. It  will start  with a  very small                                                               
population. Currently, API  has 10 beds for youth, but  it is not                                                               
at full capacity  due to the high need for  one-to-one or two-to-                                                               
one  care  ratios,  which  reduces  the  census.  Initially,  the                                                               
program  will serve  fewer  than  a handful  of  youth with  very                                                               
complex needs to prevent institutionalization.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  WILSON asked  if DFCS  is seeking  funding in  the current                                                               
fiscal year's budget process for the transitional program.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER KOVOL replied yes.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
3:53:55 PM                                                                                                                    
MS. SWEET moved to slide 9:                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
[Original punctuation provided.]                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Technical Innovations                                                                                                         
   • Data Lake                                                                                                                  
   • Mobile Device Management Standardization                                                                                   
   • Artificial Intelligence (AI)                                                                                               
   • ImageSource                                                                                                                
   • ILINX                                                                                                                      
   • Electronic Health Record                                                                                                   
   • Tiger Connect                                                                                                              
   • WiFi in Facilities                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MS.  SWEET  said  DFCS  is  committed  to  using  data  to  drive                                                               
decisions   and  increase   collaboration   with  divisions   and                                                               
stakeholders. The  department is  leveraging technology  for this                                                               
purpose, partnering  with Microsoft  to pilot  a program  for the                                                               
complex care  unit. This initiative  will integrate  data sources                                                               
within the organization  to help pull analytics  on complex cases                                                               
and identify  service gaps in  Alaska. DFCS is  also implementing                                                               
ImageSource  software in  several  programs.  The Alaska  Pioneer                                                               
Homes  launched  an  online   waitlist  application  through  the                                                               
ImageSource contract  on October  31, and an  electronic document                                                               
management  system  for  historical   files  is  in  development.                                                               
Additionally,  the  Office  of Children's  Services  launched  an                                                               
electronic   document  management   system  for   the  subsidized                                                               
adoption and guardianship program on January 9.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MS.  SWEET  highlighted  the   implementation  of  mobile  device                                                               
management (MDM)  for secure access  to mobile devices  for state                                                               
employees, enhancing  field operations. DFCS is  standardizing IT                                                               
applications  and technology  across  facilities. The  department                                                               
implemented    TigerConnect,     a    HIPAA-compliant    clinical                                                               
collaboration  platform, at  API, Pioneer  Homes, and  within the                                                               
complex  care unit.  This  platform  allows secure  communication                                                               
with  internal and  external partners  to  share information  and                                                               
collaborate on patient needs.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MS.  SWEET  said  the department  is  also  exploring  artificial                                                               
intelligence (AI) to build efficiencies  and processes, forming a                                                               
governance  committee   to  guide  its  use.   DFCS  successfully                                                               
implemented the  MCO Wi-Fi system  at all Pioneer Homes  and API,                                                               
providing  residents  and  patients   with  internet  access  for                                                               
communication  and   rehabilitation  support.  Lastly,   DFCS  is                                                               
implementing  two   electronic  health  record   systems  through                                                               
Netsmart, with  the Pioneer Homes  system expected to go  live in                                                               
February and the API system in August.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
3:57:45 PM                                                                                                                    
CLINTON  LASLEY, Deputy  Commissioner, Department  of Family  and                                                               
Community  Services,  Juneau,  Alaska,  moved  to  slide  10  and                                                               
provided an  overview of  significant achievements  within DFCS's                                                               
four   divisions  over   the  past   year.   He  emphasized   the                                                               
department's  commitment   to  meaningful   connections,  person-                                                               
centered care, innovation, and staff support:                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
[Original punctuation provided.]                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Pioneer Homes                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                              
   • Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia Services                                                                                  
   • Safety and Wellness                                                                                                        
   • Wi-Fi in Facilities                                                                                                        
   • Electronic Health Record                                                                                                   
   • Online Admission and Waitlist Enrollment                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MR.   LASLEY  highlighted   that  Alaska   Pioneer  Homes   serve                                                               
individuals   with   higher   acuity   needs   and   co-occurring                                                               
conditions,  noting that  approximately 50  percent of  residents                                                               
are diagnosed with dementia, with  75-85 percent showing signs of                                                               
the  condition. To  address this,  Pioneer Homes  have adopted  a                                                               
national model  of a  positive approach to  care. Since  2017, 36                                                               
staff  members have  been trained  as  trainers, enhancing  staff                                                               
awareness  and  care  for  elders  with  dementia.  The  dementia                                                               
specialty apprenticeship  program, in place for  seven years, has                                                               
provided  additional  training  to Certified  Nursing  Aides  and                                                               
Assisted Living Aides,  resulting in a one-step  pay increase for                                                               
participants.  This program  has had  85 apprentices  since 2017,                                                               
with  71 still  employed,  demonstrating its  effectiveness as  a                                                               
retention tool.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MR. LASLEY  also discussed efforts to  standardize systems across                                                               
the  department, citing  the example  of consolidating  contracts                                                               
for electronic  health records  and other  systems to  save money                                                               
and improve efficiency.  The Netsmart contract, used  in both API                                                               
and Pioneer Homes,  allows IT staff to work  across programs more                                                               
effectively.  Additionally,  the   department  transitioned  from                                                               
paper  applications  to  an electronic  system  for  the  Pioneer                                                               
Homes'  waitlist,  representing  another  innovative  improvement                                                               
over the past year.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
4:02:38 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  DUNBAR stated  he is  glad to  hear Pioneer  Homes offer                                                               
dementia-specific  training. He  asked two  questions. First,  he                                                               
inquired about  any relationship between Pioneer  Homes and Adult                                                               
Protective Services  (APS), specifically  if any  individuals who                                                               
come to the attention of APS  end up in Pioneer Homes. Second, he                                                               
mentioned advocates  who want APS to  have more dementia-specific                                                               
training and  wondered if there are  opportunities to collaborate                                                               
on training  to save money,  or if the  needs of APS  and Pioneer                                                               
Homes are too distinct.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:03:39 PM                                                                                                                    
MR. LASLEY  replied to  the first part  of the  question, stating                                                               
that individuals  who come to  the attention of  Adult Protective                                                               
Services (APS)  do sometimes  end up in  Pioneer Homes.  He noted                                                               
that Pioneer Homes  have a unique system  where individuals enter                                                               
onto a  waitlist, which  is long,  but there  are those  who have                                                               
entered  Pioneer Homes  needing  assistance  from APS.  Regarding                                                               
collaboration with other entities, he  mentioned that while it is                                                               
not  often discussed,  it happens  frequently. The  department is                                                               
committed  to  using  state  resources  to  benefit  the  greater                                                               
community, citing ongoing collaboration  efforts with the API and                                                               
other   departments.   He   emphasized    the   value   of   such                                                               
collaboration.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
4:04:40 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  WILSON asked  about the  status of  the Fairbanks  Pioneer                                                               
Home  and  last year's  discussions  on  the  need for  either  a                                                               
complete renovation or purchasing a  new facility. He inquired if                                                               
the  department has  made  any decisions  and  requested a  brief                                                               
update,  noting that  this  will  be a  subject  in the  upcoming                                                               
subcommittee process.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
4:05:07 PM                                                                                                                    
MR. LASLEY  stated that  a contractor was  hired to  evaluate the                                                               
possibility of either  a complete renovation or  a combination of                                                               
renovation and  new construction for the  Fairbanks Pioneer Home.                                                               
The evaluation  included utilizing part of  the existing building                                                               
and constructing new sections, or  a complete rebuild on the same                                                               
property.  Both options  were  more  expensive than  anticipated,                                                               
with  estimates around  the  $100 million  range.  The report  on                                                               
these findings was submitted to the committee.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MR. LASLEY said  one option considered was to  build new resident                                                               
rooms while  renovating some  common areas  of the  old building.                                                               
However,  he noted  that this  decision is  ultimately up  to the                                                               
legislature.  He suggested  that a  new build  might be  a better                                                               
option if  costs are  similar, as it  would offer  greater energy                                                               
efficiency  and  avoid the  disruption  of  a phased  renovation,                                                               
making it less disruptive for the residents.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
4:06:42 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR DUNBAR asked whether there is  a use for the old building                                                               
if the department does pursue the new build option.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
MR. LASLEY  stated the building is  60 years old, needs  its roof                                                               
replaced, and  has very  small rooms. He  said the  decision will                                                               
ultimately be  based on whether  the building meets the  needs of                                                               
residents and if it is cost-effective.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
4:07:40 PM                                                                                                                    
MR. LASLEY moved to slide 11:                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
[Original punctuation provided.]                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Alaska Psychiatric Institute                                                                                                  
   • Community and Jail Based Restoration Programs                                                                              
   • Discharge Planning and Support                                                                                             
   • Automatic Medication Dispensing Machines                                                                                   
   • Electronic Health Record and Wireless Internet                                                                             
   • Beacon Award- Alaska Hospital and Healthcare Association                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MR.  LASLEY stated  that the  committee  is likely  aware of  the                                                               
Alaska  Psychiatric   Institute's  (API)   status  in   2018.  He                                                               
commended the  staff and administration for  their dedication and                                                               
efforts  in  transforming  API's   culture  and  operations.  API                                                               
typically  operates at  full capacity  but  sometimes lowers  the                                                               
census for complex cases. Although  it is an 80-bed facility, the                                                               
census is generally maintained at around 73-74 beds.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MR. LASLEY  highlighted the  forensic restoration  program, which                                                               
has  10 beds  for individuals  charged  with crimes  who need  to                                                               
understand the  court process  and assist  in their  own defense.                                                               
Due  to  high  demand,  there has  been  a  significant  backlog,                                                               
especially for those charged with  misdemeanors. To address this,                                                               
API collaborated with  the Department of Corrections  to create a                                                               
10-seat jail-based  restoration program  and recently  launched a                                                               
10-seat   outpatient   restoration   program  for   people   with                                                               
misdemeanors. This  expansion has  increased capacity from  10 to                                                               
30  seats, helping  reduce the  waitlist and  providing necessary                                                               
services more efficiently.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
4:10:19 PM                                                                                                                    
MR.  LASLEY  also  mentioned  the  complex  placement  transition                                                               
program  developed by  Dr. Oswald.  This program  aims to  reduce                                                               
failed  discharges from  API by  supporting  individuals as  they                                                               
transition back into the community.  Previously, about 25 percent                                                               
of discharges failed,  but with the new  discharge, planning, and                                                               
support program,  this rate has dropped  significantly, with only                                                               
one  failed  discharge  in   the  30-day  post-discharge  period.                                                               
Furthermore,   API    has   implemented    automated   medication                                                               
dispensing, enhancing medication  management and reducing errors.                                                               
This  technology  provides  24/7  medication  access  across  all                                                               
units, improving efficiency and safety.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MR. LASLEY  noted that the Alaska  Psychiatric Institute received                                                               
the 2023  Beacon Award from  the Alaska Hospital and  Health Care                                                               
Association.  API  recognized  that   a  significant  portion  of                                                               
patient-on-staff   and   patient-on-patient   assaults   involved                                                               
individuals  with  co-occurring  disabilities. To  address  this,                                                               
they  created  the Denali  Unit,  which  specializes in  managing                                                               
these  patients,   reducing  the   need  for   manual  restraint,                                                               
seclusion, and behavioral emergencies by 62 percent.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
4:14:05 PM                                                                                                                    
MR. LASLEY moved to slide 12:                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
[Original punctuation provided.]                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Division of Juvenile Justice                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
   • Traumatic Brain Injury Project                                                                                             
   • Job Training and Traditional Skill Building                                                                                
   • Community Engagement                                                                                                       
   • Employee Wellness Program                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MR. LASLEY praised the Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ)                                                                       
efforts in addressing  brain injuries among youth  in the system.                                                               
Collaborating  with  public  health and  the  Southeast  Regional                                                               
Resource  Center,  they  developed  the  Traumatic  Brain  Injury                                                               
Project and  a rapid assessment tool.  This initiative identifies                                                               
and  provides support  for youth  with  brain injuries,  ensuring                                                               
they   receive  necessary   treatment.   Initially  launched   in                                                               
Fairbanks,  the program  plans to  expand to  Bethel, Dillingham,                                                               
and Kenai.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
4:15:32 PM                                                                                                                    
MR.  LASLEY said  DJJ has  also focused  on providing  vocational                                                               
opportunities for youth, including  engine repair, gardening, and                                                               
barista  training, to  help them  develop  skills for  successful                                                               
futures.  Additionally, they  have  created community  engagement                                                               
programs,  such as  partnering with  Alaska Pioneer  Homes. Youth                                                               
earn  the  opportunity  to participate  in  activities  with  the                                                               
elderly,    fostering   social    skills,   communication,    and                                                               
understanding. These interactions benefit  both the youth and the                                                               
elderly, creating a positive and supportive environment.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
4:17:25 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR DUNBAR  asked whether  McLaughlin Youth  Center is  a DJJ                                                               
facility.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MR.  LASLEY  replied  that McLaughlin  is  a  state-run  juvenile                                                               
justice facility. He noted that  all DJJ facilities have a school                                                               
program within them.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR DUNBAR said his district  had the opportunity to tour the                                                               
tremendous facility and noted the  incredible work being done. He                                                               
mentioned that  collaboration with the Anchorage  School District                                                               
is going very  well. However, there are  noticeable problems with                                                               
the physical  plant, particularly  in the  intake area  where the                                                               
court  system  is  located.  These  issues  affect  the  flow  of                                                               
patients,   and  there   are  areas   that  could   benefit  from                                                               
renovation. He asked  if there are plans to make  changes or if a                                                               
capital request to improve the facility has been made.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MR. LASLEY replied  that he and the commissioner  will be touring                                                               
the  facility on  the eighth,  specifically examining  the intake                                                               
area and  cottages. He emphasized  that while the state  has many                                                               
great  facilities,   they  are   aging,  and  McLaughlin   is  no                                                               
exception. He  noted that the  section in  question used to  be a                                                               
32-bed unit  but is currently  unused due to needing  repairs and                                                               
has  been  repurposed for  other  services,  including the  court                                                               
program.  Addressing these  issues  is a  priority  for both  the                                                               
commissioner and him.  They plan to spend time  with the director                                                               
to thoroughly evaluate the facility and possible opportunities.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  DUNBAR  agreed that  there  are  many opportunities  for                                                               
improvement at  the facility, which  serves the entire  state. He                                                               
noted  that  the  impressive  42-acre  facility  has  significant                                                               
potential for  enhancement. He expressed  approval that  there is                                                               
consideration  for  a  capital   request  to  address  its  aging                                                               
infrastructure and changing uses.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
MR.  LASLEY emphasized  the importance  of collaboration,  noting                                                               
that API is  nearby and there is  significant interaction between                                                               
the two  facilities. He stressed  that inadequate  facilities for                                                               
youth present problems, which is why improving it is a priority.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
4:21:19 PM                                                                                                                    
MR. LASLEY moved to slide 13:                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     Office of Childrens Services                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
   • Foster Care Base Rate                                                                                                      
   • Tribal Compact Expansion                                                                                                   
   • Adoption File Modernization                                                                                                
   • Teams App for Youth                                                                                                        
   • CarePortal                                                                                                                 
   • Placement Search and Support                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
MR. LASLEY discussed the Office  of Children's Services (OCS) and                                                               
the importance of  resource families, also known  as foster care,                                                               
in  Alaska. During  the pandemic,  the state  lost many  resource                                                               
families, prompting a  review of base rates to  ensure they align                                                               
with  the services  provided. This  year's budget  includes a  $5                                                               
million request for  foster care base rates,  which will increase                                                               
funding  by  almost  30 percent.  The  allocation  includes  $3.6                                                               
million  from the  general  fund and  $1.4  million from  federal                                                               
funds.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MR.  LASLEY   noted  that   the  last   increase  was   in  2019,                                                               
highlighting the  need for  regular evaluations  and adjustments.                                                               
Additionally, through  the Alaska  Tribal Child  Welfare Compact,                                                               
the  state has  expanded funding  and collaboration  with tribes,                                                               
aiming to  address the disproportionate representation  of tribal                                                               
children in  the child  welfare system.  Twenty tribes  or tribal                                                               
organizations,  representing 170  tribes  statewide, have  joined                                                               
the compact,  focusing on prevention  and reducing the  number of                                                               
children  entering  the  system.  Regarding  innovation,  OCS  is                                                               
digitizing historical  adoption records to  improve accessibility                                                               
and reduce  physical storage. They  have also developed  a secure                                                               
app   for  real-time   communication   with  resource   families,                                                               
enhancing collaboration and productivity.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MR. LASLEY  said two additional  initiatives were  mentioned: the                                                               
CarePortal  and   the  Placement   Services  Support   Unit.  The                                                               
CarePortal, inspired  by a visit  to Oklahoma, is an  online tool                                                               
managed   by  Beacon   Hill   that   connects  tribal   partners,                                                               
nonprofits, faith-based  organizations, and others  with resource                                                               
families  to provide  immediate  needs like  diapers, cribs,  and                                                               
clothing. The  Placement Services  Support Unit  assists resource                                                               
parents  by answering  questions, providing  necessary documents,                                                               
and connecting them  with community resources. This  unit aims to                                                               
better support resource families and  will be further reported on                                                               
next year.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
4:27:50 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR   GIESSEL   asked   if   Alaska   Impact   Alliance   was                                                               
participating with CarePortal.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MR. LASLEY said it is doing a  lot of great work in the community                                                               
but is not specifically working with CarePortal.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
4:28:22 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR DUNBAR jokingly stated that  being in foster care is hard                                                               
enough without making kids use Microsoft Teams.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MR. LASLEY replied  that it is more for the  resource families to                                                               
communicate and receive  answers to questions in  real time. DFCS                                                               
is dedicated to innovation.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
4:29:10 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR WILSON said that last  year, there was a conversation about                                                               
having respite care  within foster care to  give families breaks.                                                               
He  noted  that  private subcontractors  and  organizations  like                                                               
Presbyterian   Hospitality   Homes   in  Fairbanks,   and   other                                                               
therapeutic foster  homes can provide  respite care.  However, he                                                               
was surprised that OCS and the  regular system do not offer this,                                                               
as  it results  in additional  placements and  negatively impacts                                                               
statistics. He  asked if a solution  has been found to  allow for                                                               
respite care  without counting it as  multiple placements, making                                                               
the system more workable for families.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
4:30:15 PM                                                                                                                    
MR. LASLEY said  that while respite care was not  a primary focus                                                               
this year,  it remains a  top priority. The department  has aimed                                                               
to  achieve many  improvements across  systems,  not just  within                                                               
OCS. He emphasized that he  and the commissioner are committed to                                                               
serving people over  worrying about statistics. Their  goal is to                                                               
do the best  for resource families, children,  and Alaskans, even                                                               
if  it   means  addressing   statistical  challenges   later.  He                                                               
acknowledged that  reporting to the federal  government remains a                                                               
challenge  but reiterated  their commitment  to prioritizing  the                                                               
needs of families.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
4:31:16 PM                                                                                                                    
COMMISSIONER KOVOL  stated that  DFCS leadership  visited Arizona                                                               
to study best practices and  its child safety unit. They examined                                                               
Arizona's new welcoming center,  which provides stabilization for                                                               
youth  before placement,  including full  medical screenings  and                                                               
respite  care for  any family,  not just  those in  the custodial                                                               
system. DFCS is  exploring how to implement a  similar system and                                                               
reviewing  Arizona's data  on  both  custodial and  non-custodial                                                               
family participation.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
4:32:24 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR WILSON asked how soon  the Online Resource for the Children                                                               
of Alaska (ORCA) system would end.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
4:32:46 PM                                                                                                                    
MR.  LASLEY  replied  that  the  ORCA  system,  like  many  other                                                               
facilities and systems, is aging  and needs replacement. Although                                                               
he did  not recall the  exact year  of its development,  he noted                                                               
significant  technological  advancements   since  then.  A  study                                                               
estimated the cost  of replacing ORCA at about  $50 million, with                                                               
implementation  taking four  to five  years. Various  models were                                                               
considered,  including off-the-shelf  and  custom solutions,  and                                                               
they found  a suitable off-the-shelf  model with some  tweaks and                                                               
add-ons. The cost is estimated at  $25 million in state funds and                                                               
$25 million from the federal government.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WILSON  stated that  during their  travels with  NCSL, they                                                               
met with organizations that work  with similar platforms in other                                                               
states.  They  are  considering  inviting one  to  Alaska  for  a                                                               
presentation on  using federal funds  and other  methodologies to                                                               
fund  a  new  implementation.  He emphasized  the  importance  of                                                               
preventing system  failure to avoid  putting vulnerable  youth at                                                               
risk  and creating  backlogs that  hassle families.  Wilson noted                                                               
that  today's presentation  was encouraging  and praised  the new                                                               
initiatives,  especially in  recruitment, which  has reduced  the                                                               
hiring  process  to  10  days.   He  expressed  hope  that  other                                                               
departments will  adopt similar  improvements and  looked forward                                                               
to  further  updates.  He  thanked  the  participants  for  their                                                               
updates and contributions to the committee hearing.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
4:36:51 PM                                                                                                                    
There being  no further  business to  come before  the committee,                                                               
Chair  Wilson adjourned  the Senate  Health  and Social  Services                                                               
Standing Committee meeting at 4:36 p.m.                                                                                         

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
DFCS SHSS Overview (1-25-24).pdf SHSS 1/25/2024 3:30:00 PM
Dept of Family and Community Services Overview SHSS 1.25.24