Legislature(2025 - 2026)BUTROVICH 205
02/04/2025 03:30 PM Senate HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
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| Presentation(s): Department of Family and Community Services Overview | |
| Adjourn |
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ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE
February 4, 2025
3:31 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Forrest Dunbar, Chair
Senator Cathy Giessel, Vice Chair
Senator Matt Claman
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Löki Tobin
Senator Shelley Hughes
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
PRESENTATION(S): DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES
OVERVIEW
- HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
KIM KOVAL, Commissioner
Department of Family and Community Services
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Co-presented a Department of Family and
Community Services Overview.
HEIDI HAMILTON, Director
Division of Alaska Pioneer Homes (AKPH)
Department of Family and Community Services (DFCS)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Participated in the overview by the
Department of Family and Community Services.
SCOTT YORK, Director
Alaska Psychiatric Institute
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Participated in the overview by the
Department.
CLINTON LASLEY, Deputy Commissioner
Department of Family and Community Services
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Co-presented a Department of Family and
Community Services (DFCS) overview.
MATT DAVIDSON, Director
Division of Juvenile Justice
Department of Family and Community Services (DFCS)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Participated in an overview by the
Department of Family and Community Services.
KIM GUAY, Director
Office of Children's Services (OCS)
Department of Family and Community Services (DFCS)
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Participated in an overview by the
Department of Family and Community Services.
ACTION NARRATIVE
3:31:57 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR 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 Giessel, and Chair Dunbar. Senator
Claman arrived immediately thereafter.
^PRESENTATION(S): DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES
OVERVIEW
PRESENTATION(S):
DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES OVERVIEW
3:32:43 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR announced a Department of Family and Community
Services Overview.
3:33:54 PM
KIM KOVAL, Commissioner, Department of Family and Community
Services, Anchorage, Alaska, co-presented a Department of Family
and Community Services Overview. She expressed appreciation for
the opportunity to present on the department's progress since
the reorganization. She outlined the plan to go through a slide
deck and take questions during the presentation. She welcomed
practicum student Ms. Cooper, noting it was her first visit to
Juneau and that she had enjoyed learning and meeting with
legislators.
3:34:56 PM
COMMISSIONER KOVOL moved to slide 2:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Established July 1, 2022 by Executive Order 121
Alaska Department of Family and Community Services
• Commissioner's Office
• Finance & Management Services
• Alaska Psychiatric Institute (API)
• Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ)
• Alaska Pioneer Homes (APH)
• Office of Children's Services (OCS)
State of Alaska Department of Health
• Commissioner's Office
• Finance Management Services
• Health Care Services
• Behavioral Health
• Senior &Disabilities Servies
• Public Assistance
• Public Health
COMMISSIONER KOVOL explained that the slide helped clarify
distinctions between the department and its sister agency,
especially when questions overlap. She reported that the
reorganization has improved agility, responsiveness, and focus
on direct care for Alaskans, including youth, patients, and
elders. She emphasized the continuous operation of the
department's facilities and expressed pride in the staff and
community-based settings. She highlighted strong collaboration
with federal, local, and tribal partners and ongoing development
of strategic initiatives within the divisions.
3:35:33 PM
COMMISSIONER KOVOL moved to slide 3 and stated that the
department's mission is to provide and support safety and
personal well-being for vulnerable Alaskans. She identified the
four divisions: the Alaska Pioneer Homes, the Alaska Psychiatric
Institute, and the Division of Juvenile Justice.
3:35:49 PM
COMMISSIONER KOVOL moved to slide 4 and reviewed the
department's organizational chart, noting the inclusion of key
divisions, leadership, special assistants, and advisory boards.
3:36:04 PM
COMMISSIONER KOVOL moved to slide 5 and highlighted the Alaska
Pioneer Homes, which provide a range of services from
independent living support to advanced dementia care. Services
include nursing, medication assistance, recreational and social
programs, dietary support, housekeeping, and meal preparation.
She stated that 64 percent of residents have a diagnosed
dementia-related disease, with the division staffed by over 400
positions and operating on a budget just over $112 million.
3:36:44 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR asked that the Department discuss recent concerns
and changes at the Alaska Pioneer Homes, including the Fairbanks
location.
3:37:30 PM
HEIDI HAMILTON, Director, Division of Alaska Pioneer Homes
(AKPH), Department of Family and Community Services (DFCS),
Juneau, Alaska, participated in the overview by the Department
of Family and Community Services. She reported that both current
residents and those on the waitlist at the Pioneer Homes have
increasingly complex care needs, with a growing percentage
requiring Levels 3, 4, and 5 care. She noted the opening of a
nine-bed complex care neighborhood for residents who cannot be
served elsewhere, which has remained full for two years with
continued demand. She stated that more residents now require
payment assistance or qualify for Medicaid waiver programs,
indicating a shift in payment sources. She added that staffing
has been challenging since the COVID-19 pandemic, though recent
trends show slight improvement.
3:38:45 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR asked which Pioneer Home facilities are currently
experiencing the most stress and which have the most significant
physical issues.
3:39:02 PM
MS. HAMILTON replied that each Pioneer Home has unique
challenges but identified Fairbanks as having the most
significant infrastructure issues and the most difficult
staffing conditions. She noted that the Anchorage home is seeing
an increase in residents with fewer payment sources and more
complex personal backgrounds. She identified Fairbanks and
Anchorage as the two most challenging locations currently.
3:39:39 PM
SENATOR GIESSEL expressed appreciation to the Alaska Pioneer
Homes, specifically the Anchorage facility, for the excellent
care provided to her mother in the dementia unit.
3:40:03 PM
COMMISSIONER KOVOL moved to slide 6 and discussed Alaska
Psychiatric Institute. She stated that the API is the state's
only publicly operated hospital offering acute psychiatric care
for adults and youth in mental health crisis. She noted that API
operates five inpatient units with a total of 80 beds and
provides compassionate care statewide. She emphasized that API
is the only facility in Alaska offering competency restoration
services for individuals deemed incompetent to stand trial. She
reported API's current budget is $62.5 million.
3:40:42 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR asked if Department directors would like to update
the committee on any changes since last year.
3:41:09 PM
COMMISSIONER KOVOL reported significant improvements at the
Alaska Psychiatric Institute (API) since the high-stress period
in 2019. She stated that API is consistently at or near full
capacity, ranging from 72 to 80 patients, depending on room
configurations and clinical appropriateness. She detailed the
facility's services, including 10 youth beds, 10 forensic beds,
and a variety of treatment programs, noting the forensic program
has expanded to include services at Anchorage and Highland
Women's Correctional Complexes, as well as in the community. She
highlighted a major reduction in patient-on-patient and patient-
on-staff incidents and noted staffing has stabilized, supported
by resident students from colleges nationwide, with ongoing
recruitment led by Dr. Becker.
3:42:57 PM
SCOTT YORK, Director, Alaska Psychiatric Institute, Anchorage,
Alaska, participated in the overview by the Department. He
stated that API's census has increased and the facility is
consistently operating at high capacity, though not always at
the full 80 beds due to roommate restrictions. He reported
improvements in therapeutic programming, including the opening
of the Denali Unit for cognitively impaired patients, which
received the Beacon Award from the Alaska Hospital and
Healthcare Association. He highlighted additional programming
for patients and the expansion of outpatient and jail-based
competency restoration services. Since November 2023, the jail-
based program has extended from Anchorage Correctional Complex
to include female inmates at Highland Correctional Center.
3:44:47 PM
SENATOR CLAMAN asked what the average hold time is for people in
the competency restoration process.
MR. YORK asked for clarification on the question.
SENATOR CLAMAN clarified that he was asking about the average
duration individuals remain in the competency restoration
program at API after admissionspecifically, how long it takes
before they are either restored to competency or determined to
be unrestorable and moved off the unit.
3:45:38 PM
MR. YORK said he would provide that information to the
committee.
3:45:41 PM
SENATOR CLAMAN stated he was interested in both the average
length of stay for individuals in the competency restoration
program and the average time spent on the waitlist. He also
asked for clarification on the 80 licensed beds at API,
specifically whether that number reflects the total number of
beds in the building or if additional beds exist that are not
currently set up for treatment.
3:46:04 PM
MR. YORK stated that API is an 80-bed facility, with 10 beds
designated for forensic patients, 60 for civil adult patients,
and 10 for children on the Chilkat Unit. He reported that the
current waitlist includes approximately 45 individuals, with an
average wait time of about 160 days.
3:46:56 PM
CLINTON LASLEY, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Family and
Community Services, Anchorage, Alaska, co-presented a Department
of Family and Community Services (DFCS) overview. He moved to
slide 7 and stated that the Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ)
follows a restorative justice model focused on accountability,
community safety, victim restoration, and supporting offenders
and their families in preventing future crimes. He reported that
DJJ operates six facilities and manages about 155 youth in
services, with the majorityover 530 youthserved through 13
probation offices across the state. He noted that only about
one-third of DJJ-involved youth are housed in facilities. DJJ
has 400 full-time positions and a budget of $67 million. He
introduced Director Davidson as the division's newest director,
previously with DJJ and most recently with the commissioner's
office.
3:48:33 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR asked Mr. Davidson to provide highlights on changes
within the Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) since the
committee last received an update. He also inquired specifically
about the NYC facility, referencing prior issues with the intake
facility used by the court system and possible discussions
around redesign or facility changes.
3:49:10 PM
MATT DAVIDSON, Director, Division of Juvenile Justice,
Department of Family and Community Services (DFCS), Juneau,
Alaska, participated in an overview by the Department of Family
and Community Services. He stated that since the previous
presentation, the Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) has made
notable progress in hiring, particularly in facilities. He
reported an 11 percent vacancy rate, down from double that a
year and a half ago. In response to the question about the
McLaughlin Youth Center, he explained that the Detention Court
Unit is in need of deferred maintenance and renovation. He noted
that a proposal in the capital budget seeks funding for those
improvements and clarified there are no issues with the court
itself, only with the physical condition of that unit.
3:50:47 PM
SENATOR GIESSEL asked how many youths confined in DJJ facilities
have identifiable behavioral health issues that are at the root
of their challenges.
3:51:10 PM
MR. DAVIDSON stated that a very high percentage of youths in DJJ
facilities have one or more diagnosed behavioral health
conditions. He noted that all youth who go through treatment
programming have a diagnosis, and approximately 70 percent have
a dual diagnosis involving both behavioral health and substance
use issues. He added that each facility has on-staff mental
health clinicians and contract providers who deliver behavioral
health and substance use services.
3:52:06 PM
MR. LASLEY moved to slide 8 and introduced the Office of
Children's Services (OCS) as Alaska's primary child welfare
agency, responsible for child safety, investigating abuse and
neglect, and overseeing the state's foster care system. He
stated that OCS operates 21 offices statewide, with 600 full-
time positions and a budget of just over $200 million. He noted
the division has made significant improvements and commended its
performance. He recognized Director Gray's 25th anniversary with
OCS.
3:53:19 PM
KIM GUAY, Director, Office of Children's Services (OCS),
Department of Family and Community Services (DFCS), Anchorage,
Alaska, participated in an overview by the Department of Family
and Community Services. She stated appreciates the work that the
OCS does for Alaska's children. She reported a steady and
intentional reduction in the number of children in care, with
close monitoring to ensure safe outcomes. She noted that staff
vacancy and turnover have decreased to 37 percent, down from a
high of 59 percent during the COVID-19 pandemic, though further
improvement is still needed. She highlighted that reunifications
with families are increasing, with Alaska now performing above
the national average. She added that OCS is preparing for the
federal Child and Family Services Review (CFSR) Round 4 and is
actively coordinating with statewide partners in the child
welfare system.
3:55:04 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR acknowledged that a 37 percent vacancy rate would
typically signal a crisis in most divisions but recognized the
unique difficulty of recruiting and retaining staff at the
Office of Children's Services (OCS). He expressed appreciation
for those who remain in the field and commended Ms. Guay for her
25 years of service. He noted his surprise that Alaska is
performing above the national average in family reunification,
given the state's usual standing in other social indicators,
particularly in rural areas. He asked what factors contribute to
Alaska's success in achieving higher-than-average reunification
outcomes.
MS. GUAY responded that there is no single explanation for
Alaska's higher-than-average family reunification rate but
offered contributing factors. She noted that children in Alaska
tend to remain in care about three months longer than the
national average, which may be due to limited access to service
providers, especially in rural areas. She explained that the
extended time in care can allow parents more opportunity to
engage in services and work on behavior changes. She emphasized
that while not the only factor, this additional time appears to
support more successful reunifications.
3:57:00 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR commented that it was interesting to consider how,
although longer stays in state care might initially seem
negative, the extended time could actually benefit families by
providing a greater opportunity to stabilize and prepare for
reunification. He acknowledged the counterintuitive nature of
the finding and expressed appreciation for the explanation.
3:57:27 PM
SENATOR GIESSEL asked what the percentage is for reunification.
3:57:36 PM
MS. GUAY stated that 55 percent of children removed from their
homes in Alaska are being reunified with their families. She
clarified that the most recent national data from 2022, though
lagging behind Alaska's current numbers, shows a national
reunification rate of 48 percent.
3:58:14 PM
SENATOR GIESSEL asked if the Office of Children's Services could
provide data quantifying how many children are removed from
their families due to parental substance use disorder or other
behavioral health issues.
3:58:36 PM
MS. GUAY stated that over 80 to 90 percent of child removal
cases involve parental substance use disorders, with mental
health issues as the next most common factor. She noted that
while she did not have the exact figure available, these two
issues represent the majority of cases leading to child welfare
involvement and removals.
3:59:16 PM
MR. LASLEY moved to slide 9 and introduced the Coordinated
Health and Complex Care Unit as a key focus area created
following the department's reorganization two and a half years
ago. He explained that the unit was established to address the
needs of individuals with complex, co-occurring physical and
behavioral health issues who often fall through the cracks. He
stated that the unit monitors and supports cases across all
divisions within the Department of Family and Community Services
(DFCS). Its primary goal is to assist families and caregivers in
securing appropriate placements and coordinated care for these
individuals. It is a whole care system, so DFCS collaborates
closely with the Department of Health (DOH) to find gaps in the
system of care.
3:59:55 PM
MR. LASLEY informed the committee that SB 76, focused on complex
care residential homes, is being introduced to address the
ongoing challenge of finding appropriate, least restrictive,
home-like settings for individuals with intensive needs. He
stated that the bill is a result of work identifying significant
gaps in placement options. He also described a key role within
the Coordinated Health and Complex Care Unita Designated
Evaluation and Stabilization and Treatment Coordinatorwho
tracks all Title 47 involuntary commitment cases statewide. This
coordinator works closely with hospitals and courts to ensure
timely care transitions, which has improved system
responsiveness. Additionally, he noted that the Disproportionate
Share Hospital (DSH) agreement was moved from the Division of
Behavioral Health to the Department of Family and Community
Services during reorganization, and the unit now includes a
dedicated staff member to manage that funding source for
underinsured individuals receiving behavioral health care in
hospital settings.
4:02:14 PM
MR. LASLEY reminded the committee that, in addition to the 60
adult beds at the Alaska Psychiatric Institute (API), three
hospital partners across the state provide Designated Evaluation
and Treatment (DET) services. He specified that Fairbanks
Memorial Hospital has 20 beds, Mat-Su Regional Medical Center
has 16 beds, and Bartlett Regional Hospital in Juneau has 12
beds. He noted that these facilities strengthen the overall
continuum of care for individuals requiring services.
4:02:49 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR asked for the name of the facility of Anchorage.
4:02:56 PM
MR. LASLEY stated that while Providence in Anchorage has a
psychiatric emergency room, there is no other facility besides
the Alaska Psychiatric Institute (API) in Anchorage that
provides involuntary commitment services.
4:03:17 PM
MR. LASLEY moved to slide 10 and explained that the slide shown
has been part of the department's presentation in previous years
and illustrates the department's commitment to person-centered
care. He emphasized that staff work closely with individuals,
families, and caregivers to ensure appropriate care and support.
He noted the high number of system touchpoints individuals with
complex needs often have within the department's four divisions,
as well as with external entities such as public safety,
corrections, workforce, Medicaid, and medical services. He
stated that the slide highlights the extensive coordination
required across multiple systems and agencies to meet the needs
of these individuals.
4:04:21 PM
COMMISSIONER KOVOL moved to slide 11 and shared the value
guiding principles of DFCS:
[Original punctuation provided.]
At DFCS we are:
• Strengthening lives through meaningful connections
with families, communities, Tribes, and providers
• Providing safe, person-centered care with integrity
and dignity to the Alaskans we serve
• Advancing an agency culture that prioritizes the well-
being of our workforce
• Mobilizing innovative solutions to complex challenges
COMMISSIONER KOVOL stated that the department's vision is
"Service First" and emphasized its commitment to strengthening
lives through meaningful connections with families, communities,
tribes, and partners. She highlighted the department's focus on
delivering person-centered care with integrity and dignity,
supporting workforce well-being, and pursuing innovative
solutions to complex challenges.
4:05:09 PM
COMMISSIONER KOVOL moved to slide 12 and introduced the
accomplishments section of the presentation, beginning with
"Strengthening Lives," which centers on building strong
relationships with community partners. She cited DJJ's
partnerships with Cook Inlet Tribal Council (CITC) and the
Alaska Native Justice Center (ANJC) to support Alaska Native
cultural programming and treatment planning for youth in secure
facilities. She also highlighted the partnership with the Rural
Alaska Community Action Program, which provides The Resource
Basket toolkit offering peer education, reentry resources, and
restorative practices for Alaska Native tribes. She noted that
the Alaska Psychiatric Institute (API) collaborates with the
Alaska Native Medical Center (ANMC) to offer culturally
appropriate meals. She added that DJJ youth participate in
hunting and fishing with staff, and game meat and fish are
donated to other residents statewide. She described community
family nights, including Friday ice cream socials that draw both
residents' families and local community members.
[Original punctuation provided.]
We strengthened lives by:
• Collaborating with Tribes and community partners
• Prioritizing culturally appropriate services and
treatment planning
• Connecting individuals to community services
• Serving meals that honor and reflect cultural
traditions
• Expanding our volunteer programs
• Increasing opportunities for family visits
4:06:40 PM
COMMISSIONER KOVOL moved to slide 13:
[Original punctuation provided.]
We have provided safe, person-centered care by:
• Fostering interagency collaboration
• Providing trainings on stigma awareness and trauma-informed
care
• Ensuring screenings and assessment of needs
• Listening to the voices of lived experience to guide our
work
• Implementing evidence-based programs to guide our work
COMMISSIONER KOVOL described the department's development of
adaptable service models tailored to meet the needs of diverse
families and communities. She emphasized strengthened
collaboration among the department's four divisions and with
sister agencies such as Health, Public Safety, Administration,
Labor, Education, and Corrections. She noted initiatives such as
traumatic brain injury (TBI) screening for DJJ youth and the use
of evidence-based programs like Parents as Teachers and early
childhood mental health systems of care.
4:07:26 PM
MR. LASLEY moved to slide 14:
[Original punctuation provided.]
We advanced an agency culture that prioritizes
workforce well-being by:
• Celebrating the achievements of our employees and
facilities
• Investing in training and professional development
• Prioritizing mental health and offering wellness
programs
• Fostering open communications in the workplace to
create a supportive environment
• Ensuring safe working conditions for all
MR. LASLEY highlighted key context and recent developments
within the Department of Family and Community Services since its
split from the former Department of Health and Social Services.
He stated that the department is one of the largest agencies in
the state, with nearly 1,900 personnel and a $485 million
budget. He emphasized that while the department has always
focused on caring for Alaskans in need, a renewed focus has been
placed on supporting the workforcethose providing that care.
4:08:34 PM
MR. LASLEY noted that the Commissioner has led efforts to
prioritize employee well-being, including hosting quarterly town
halls across all shifts, conducting unannounced site visits, and
consistently engaging with frontline staff. Divisions have
introduced initiatives such as fireside chats, facility-specific
town halls (including at API), employee engagement activities,
and wellness programming. Some teams have organized food trucks
and other morale-boosting events, and the Office of Children's
Services now has designated wellness officers.
4:10:09 PM
MR. LASLEY moved to slide 15:
[Original punctuation provided.]
We have mobilized innovative solutions by:
• Implementing successful recruitment and retention
initiatives
• Utilizing effective and innovative therapies for
treatment
• Improving technology
• Establishing data-driven approaches
• Developing flexible service models
• Centralizing services to decrease burden on frontline
staff Creating early intervention programs and
processes
MR. LASLEY discussed innovative workforce solutions,
particularly in response to post-pandemic staffing challenges.
He noted that Fairbanks remains a difficult area for
recruitment, especially at the Pioneer Home, and efforts are
underway to bring in additional support staff to stabilize
workloads. At the Fairbanks Youth Center, staffing has
significantly improved following a wage increase about 18 months
ago. He added that a renovation project is currently out for
bid, and while that limits full occupancy, the center is now
nearly fully staffed within its current operating capacity. He
concluded by highlighting a specific innovation in behavioral
health services at DJJ: the implementation of neurofeedback
therapy at the Bethel and Fairbanks youth facilities. This
therapy addresses neurological and behavioral factors
contributing to juvenile justice involvement and represents a
deeper effort to understand and treat the root causes of youth
behavior.
4:12:37 PM
MR. LASLEY moved to slide 16:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Updates on Ongoing Department Initiatives
• Renovations at our facilities
• Technological improvements
• Continued emphasis on workforce well-being
• Talent acquisition team
• Cross-agency collaborations
4:14:20 PM
MR. LASLEY discussed the Fairbanks Youth Facility renovation
project and referenced a reappropriation included in this year's
capital budget. He explained that $4 million is proposed to be
moved to McLaughlin Youth Center to invest in renovations to the
court unit. A much larger project had initially been considered,
but post-COVID increases in material costs made that plan
financially unsustainable. As a result, a significant portion of
the funds has been retained for remodeling the treatment unit at
the Fairbanks Youth Facility. He briefly mentioned that it is
important for staff to feel safe and supported. He stated that
DFCS created a talent acquisition team to reduce the time it
takes to fill a position after a vacancy occurs. He reported
that the team has successfully reduced that timeframe from 45
days to 10 days. He acknowledged the team faced challenges, but
after evaluation and adjustments, improvements were made. He
expressed optimism that the acquisition team model developed by
DFCS could become the gold standard for the State of Alaska.
4:15:41 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR asked about technological improvements within DFCS,
referencing past issues faced by its sister agency involving
outdated, manual processing systems and significant backlogs. He
noted that many public-facing systems were either paper-based or
online with back-end processes that still required manual data
entrysometimes using outdated formats like Excel or even MS-
DOS. He asked whether DFCS currently has fully online and
automated intake and public-facing systems, or if manual
processes are still required.
4:16:38 PM
MR. LASLEY responded that the department has been making several
technological improvements across divisions. He stated that the
Pioneer Homes application process, which was previously manual,
is now fully digital and automatically submitted online. He
noted efforts to digitize old paper records by scanning them to
reduce physical storage. He reported that a new electronic
health record (EHR) system has been implemented at the Pioneer
Homes, and development is underway for a similar EHR system at
the Alaska Psychiatric Institute, with the software already
purchased. He identified the department's child welfare data
systemknown as the Comprehensive Child Welfare Information
System (CCWIS)as a major area of concern due to its outdated
design. He explained that replacing CCWIS is a significant
undertaking, estimated at $80 million, and the department is
exploring a phased approach to make the project more feasible.
However, he acknowledged the challenge of maintaining the
existing system during the transition without overburdening an
already stressed infrastructure.
4:18:42 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR acknowledged that large-scale software projects
often come with high costs and cited the SAP implementation in
Anchorage, which escalated from an initial estimate of $9
million to $87 million. He emphasized that while costs can
spiral, system upgrades are necessary,
4:19:08 PM
COMMISSIONER KOVOL moved to slide 17 and stated DFCS is
targeting the following future opportunities:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Future opportunities
• Increase foster home recruitment
• Regulation review and update
• Expanding treatment foster care
• Youth services transformation
• Expanding programming at API
• Increase data management capacities
COMMISSIONER KOVL reported a significant decline in licensed
non-child-specific foster homes since the pandemic, dropping
from 1,456 in 2020 to 920 currently. While the total number of
licensed providers is 1,154, she clarified that the foster home
count is the focus for recruitment. To address the shortage, OCS
created a Placement and Support Unit focused on recruiting and
supporting foster families and initiating a new respite program
in response to caregiver requests. She noted ongoing challenges,
including access to daycare for families taking in multiple
children, multigenerational household complications related to
the barrier crime matrix, and the rise in private placements
where families choose to avoid state involvement but still
receive support services. She also referenced the recent 30
percent increase in the foster care base rate and stated that,
since July 1, 2024, 348 new foster care applicants have entered
the process, though not all will be fully licensed.
COMMISSIONER KOVOL stated that the department is reviewing and
updating outdated regulations, some of which are decades old.
She highlighted the need to expand treatment foster care and
reported that Alaska is currently the only state without a
treatment foster home license. The department is working to
create a licensing category aligned with Medicaid language to
support this need, which was identified in the Behavioral Health
Roadmap and statewide comprehensive plan. She also discussed the
Youth Services Transformation Project, aimed at ensuring youth
receive services in the least restrictive settings. She
expressed appreciation for the governor and Department of
Health's support of the complex care residential home license
legislation, which is expected to help meet that goal.
4:22:51 PM
COMMISSIONER KOVOL said additional priorities include API's
expansion of outpatient restoration programming, which is
intended to reduce waitlists and allow legal proceedings to move
forward more efficiently, supporting both individuals and
victims. Lastly, she noted the department is working to improve
data management capacity by centralizing information into a
shared data lake to eliminate outdated practices like Excel
spreadsheets and scanned documents.
4:23:24 PM
SENATOR CLAMAN expressed concern that Alaska is the only state
without treatment foster homes and questioned how the state
missed the opportunity to develop this model. He noted that
other states likely implemented treatment foster care over time
and asked what led to Alaska not adopting it earlier.
COMMISSIONER KOVOL clarified that Alaska does have certified
treatment foster homes. Families seeking treatment certification
go through various agencies to become a certified treatment
foster home. The state lacks a single, streamlined licensure
category for treatment foster care. She explained that multiple
agencies offer different types of certifications, creating
inconsistency across the system. She stated that Alaska is the
last state without a unified treatment foster home license and
emphasized the need to align licensing language with federal
guidelines and best practices. She added that standardizing this
approach would better support families and improve care for
youth with treatment-level needs.
4:24:22 PM
SENATOR CLAMAN asked for a realistic timeline for when Alaska
could formally establish a treatment foster home license and
join the other 49 states in offering this level of care.
COMMISSIONER KOVOL responded that the department would like to
see treatment foster home licensure move forward as soon as
possible. She stated that the process is not complex and would
follow the standard legislative path to establish the necessary
statutory authority.
4:24:48 PM
SENATOR CLAMAN asked whether establishing a treatment foster
home license requires legislative action or if it could be done
through regulatory changes.
4:24:53 PM
COMMISSIONER KOVOL confirmed that establishing a treatment
foster home license would require legislative action.
4:24:55 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR noted that the Department of Health is introducing
SB 76 to create a new license type for residential complex care
homes. He asked whether the Department of Family and Community
Services plans to bring forward similar legislation soon to
establish a treatment foster home license.
4:25:13 PM
COMMISSIONER KOVOL stated that the department anticipates
wrapping up internal discussions soon and then plans to approach
legislators who may be interested in engaging on the treatment
foster home license.
4:25:29 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR expressed support for the treatment foster home
license concept and stated if the administration wants to bring
a bill forward it would be treated like other legislation.
4:25:45 PM
SENATOR GIESSEL asked whether, in expanding programming at API
and working to reduce the waitlist, the department is
considering implementing a partial hospitalization program. She
clarified that such a model would involve intensive daytime
therapy while allowing individuals to return to a safe home
environment in the evenings.
4:26:20 PM
MR. LASLEY responded that the department is exploring all
options to determine how best to use state resources to meet
behavioral health needs. He noted that as new care settings such
as crisis residential and crisis stabilization services come
online, the department is assessing how these may help relieve
pressure on existing systems. He stated that if those services
function as intended, the department will then evaluate how to
repurpose or realign facility use statewide to support models
like partial hospitalization and other identified needs.
4:27:06 PM
SENATOR GIESSEL asked about the status of the Alaska Impact
Alliance, formed three to four years ago with the involvement of
OCS staff. She noted that its goal was to engage communities
particularly in rural Alaskato support family health and
intervene early when issues arise. She asked whether that
approach has been implemented and if the department is seeing
benefits from it, especially in relation to increasing foster
home recruitment and expanding treatment foster care.
4:27:55 PM
COMMISSIONER KOVOL confirmed that the department remains engaged
with the Alaska Impact Alliance (AIA) and stated that Director
Guay, who has more direct operational insight, would be the
appropriate person to respond to the question.
4:28:14 PM
MS. GUAY stated that the Alaska Impact Alliance has been
actively working in Metlakatla, Juneau, and Kenai. She explained
that the Alliance uses a research-based instrument to assess
community strengths and weaknesses and guide next steps. She
noted that Kenai has strongly embraced the approach and is
actively working within the community. She was less certain
about the progress in Juneau and Metlakatla following their
assessments but acknowledged that different strategies are being
explored in those areas.
4:29:01 PM
MR. LASLEY emphasized the importance of partnerships, stating
that the state cannot address every need alone. He highlighted
the department's role in helping launch the Alaska Impact
Alliance and commended the Alliance for its ongoing work. He
specifically noted the recent launch of the 907 Navigation App,
which allows any userfamilies or community membersto search
for statewide or local resources, including legal, family
support, medical, and behavioral health services. He described
the app as a significant step forward, especially for families
who often don't know where to go for help. He shared an example
from the Behavioral Health Roadmap initiative, where even
community leaders in places like Bethel were unaware of services
available in their own area. He concluded by stating that tools
like the 907 Navigation App could be transformative in
connecting Alaskans with the care and resources they need.
4:30:53 PM
COMMISSIONER KOVOL added that the department has been
collaborating with partners to expand telehealth services,
particularly for parents involved with the Office of Children's
Services. She explained that families often agree to case plans,
but challenges arise in accessing behavioral health or substance
use treatment. She stated that increased access to telehealth
has significantly improved engagement, with parents beginning
services more quicklysometimes before court intervention. She
emphasized that these partnerships are making a meaningful
difference, and that the department is committed to supporting
and strengthening those collaborative efforts.
4:31:41 PM
SENATOR GIESSEL asked for clarification regarding the private
entities mentioned as helping relieve some of the foster care
burden on the department. She referenced organizations such as
Beacon Hill and Safe Families for Children as possible examples.
COMMISSIONER KOVOL clarified that when referring to private
entities that are helping to relieve the foster care burden, the
department means families who step up as kinship caregivers but
choose not to formally engage with the Office of Children's
Services or pursue licensure. She explained that while the
department offers support and encourages these families to
participate in state resources, some decline due to a desire to
avoid state involvement.
4:32:33 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR asked for closing remarks.
4:32:42 PM
COMMISSIONER KOVOL thanked the committee for their time and said
the department would follow up with a response regarding
forensic treatment days at API.
4:33:15 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Dunbar adjourned the Senate Health and Social Services
Standing Committee meeting at 4:33 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SHSS DFCS Legislative Overview 2-4-2025.pdf |
SHSS 2/4/2025 3:30:00 PM |
DFCS Overview |