Legislature(2025 - 2026)BUTROVICH 205
01/27/2026 03:30 PM Senate HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
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| Presentation(s): Department of Family and Community Services Legislative Overview | |
| Adjourn |
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ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE
JANUARY 27, 2026
3:30 P.M.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Forrest Dunbar, Chair
Senator Cathy Giessel, Vice Chair
Senator Matt Claman
Senator Löki Tobin
Senator Robert Myers
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
PRESENTATION(S): DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES
LEGISLATIVE OVERVIEW
- HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
TRACY DOMPELING, Acting Commissioner
Department of Family and Community Services
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Co-presented a legislative overview for the
Department of Family and Community Services.
KEN COLE, Chief Executive Officer
Alaska Psychiatric Institute
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions regarding the
legislative overview for the Department of Family and Community
Services.
MATT DAVIDSON, Director
Division of Juvenile Justice
Office of Children's Services
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions.
KIM GUAY, Director
Office of Children's Services
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Co-presented a legislative overview for the
Department of Family and Community Services.
MARIAN SWEET, Assistant Commissioner
Department of Family and Community Services
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions.
ACTION NARRATIVE
3:30:32 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR called the Senate Health and Social Services
Standing Committee meeting to order at 3:30 p.m. Present at the
call to order were Senators Myers, Giessel, and Chair Dunbar.
Senator Tobin and Claman arrived immediately thereafter.
^PRESENTATION(S): DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY and COMMUNITY SERVICES
LEGISLATIVE OVERVIEW
PRESENTATION(S): DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY and COMMUNITY SERVICES
LEGISLATIVE OVERVIEW
3:31:08 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR announced that the Department of Family and
Community Services would offer a Legislative Overview.
3:32:17 PM
TRACY DOMPELING, Acting Commissioner, Department of Family and
Community Services, Juneau, Alaska, co-presented a legislative
overview for the Department of Family and Community Services.
She introduced herself and people available to testify. She
moved to slide 2 and reviewed the mission statement of the
department:
[Original punctuation provided.]
To provide support, safety, and personal well-being
for vulnerable Alaskans.
• Alaska Pioneer Homes
• Alaska Psychiatric Institute
• Division of Juvenile Justice
• Office of Children's Services
3:34:04 PM
ACTING COMMISSIONER DOMPELING moved to slide 3, Organizational
Leadership Chart, she said it maps the organizational structure
of DFCS. It includes the Office of the Commissioner and
individual divisions. It reflects key positions in the
organization.
3:34:20 PM
ACTING COMMISSIONER DOMPELING moved to slide 4, Alaska Pioneer
Homes (AKPH), and introduced the new director Dr. McGinley. She
discussed occupancy rates, services provided, locations, and
budget. Last year the department reported that 58 percent of
residents in pioneer homes had dementia related diseases. This
year the number is 62 percent.
[Original punctuation provided.]
Mission: Providing elder Alaskans a home and
community, celebrating life through its final breath.
Locations: Sitka - 1913
Anchorage - 1977
Fairbanks - 1967
Ketchikan - 1981
Palmer - 1971
Juneau - 1988
Staff: 427 full-time positions
Capacity: 506 residents
FY2027 Budget: $117,975.1
3:35:36 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR mentioned that Mr. McGinley had been the principal
of King Tech High School and Alaska Middle College.
3:35:55 PM
CHAIR TOBIN commented that her uncle was in the Fairbanks
Pioneer Home and there is a unit that is closed. She asked what
the department intends to do over the next several months to
address issues that the pioneer homes are facing.
ACTING COMMISSIONER DOMPELING replied that she has visited the
Fairbanks pioneer home and seen the closed unit. She said there
are vacancies for certified nursing assistants (CNAs). To fill
vacancies the department hires CNAs that travel, which
partially explains turnover. She said later in the presentation
she would discuss a CNA to LPN program.
SENATOR CLAMAN said he appreciated the historical perspective
of the six pioneer homes. He asked for the approximate
population of each home.
3:37:38 PM
ACTING COMMISSIONER DOMPELING provided the following
populations for the six pioneer homes:
Anchorage 162 residents 177 capacity
Palmer (Veterans) 73 residents 79 capacity
Fairbanks 58 residents 91 capacity
Juneau 47 residents 49 capacity
Ketchikan 42 residents 45 capacity
Sitka 63 residents 65 capacity
SENATOR CLAMAN asked if the department is trying to run the
homes at 92 - 96 percent capacity.
ACTING COMMISSIONER DOMPELING said the department would like
100 percent capacity. However, there is turnaround time for
when rooms become vacant. People on the waitlist need time to
prepare to enter. She said her goal is 95 precent capacity. She
said the Veteran's home has specific requirements. Also, there
are male and female considerations when placing residents in
rooms with a shared bathroom space.
3:40:14 PM
SENATOR CLAMAN praised the department for the capacity rates.
3:40:32 PM
SENATOR MYERS said that looking forward, the population of
Alaska is getting older, and he assumed more people would want
services in the coming years. He noted there was already a
waitlist and asked whether staffing was the primary factor
limiting capacity or whether facilities or other issues were
also contributing.
ACTING COMMISSIONER DOMPELING replied that staffing was
primarily the limiting factor. She added that there had been a
flooring upgrade throughout the home, which required residents
to move temporarily. She said that may have been the disruption
Senator Tobin referenced earlier. She noted that the new floors
in the homes are beautiful and were much needed.
3:41:25 PM
SENATOR MYERS clarified that his question was regarding all
homes not just Fairbanks. He asked what other challenges the
pioneer homes face would if they were to increase capacity.
ACTING COMMISSIONER DOMPELING replied that the primary issue is
staffing.
SENATOR GIESSEL commented that her mother lived in the
Anchorage pioneer home for nine years. Most of the nursing
assistants were Filipino. She wondered how the state's
immigration policies might affect staffing.
3:42:26 PM
ACTING COMMISSIONER DOMPELING moved to slide 5, Alaska
Psychiatric Institute (API) and introduced the Chief Executive
Officer, Mr. Cole. She discussed the mission statement,
capacity, and staffing of API:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Mission: Providing compassionate health care to
support Alaskans in living their best possible lives.
Capacity and Staff:
• 5 inpatient units
o Civil (3)
o Youth (1)
o Forensic (1)
• 80 licensed beds
• 321 full-time positions
FY2027 Budget: $66,963.6
ACTING COMMISSIONER DOMPELING said that in 2025 API provided
restoration services to 75 individuals, with 73 days being the
average length of stay.
3:43:37 PM
SENATOR TOBIN commented that she had the opportunity to tour
API. She said the facility has areas for court proceedings and
a Chilkat unit for youth. She asked the department to share its
vision for increasing bed capacity and its vision for the
Chilkat unit.
3:44:18 PM
ACTING COMMISSIONER DOMPELING said the jail-based restoration
program has taken some pressure off API. She said she and Mr.
Cole have discussed whether additional community space could be
used to establish a second satellite API facility. She noted
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and Joint
Commission requirements would need to be considered and said
space at API is limited. She said the department is exploring
options to expand services for Alaskans in need.
3:45:09 PM
SENATOR TOBIN asked for discussion on the Chilkat unit.
ACTING COMMISSIONER DOMPELING replied that the Chilkat Unit has
had openings in recent months, despite a previous period of
significant backlog. She said that when she visited a few
months earlier, only three or four youth were in the unit. She
noted the unit remains another pressure point and said the
department has spoken with a community partner about whether
nearby space might be available to relocate the Chilkat Unit
while still allowing access to API psychiatric support staff
and needed services.
3:45:54 PM
SENATOR GIESSEL asked whether API has become more stable since
governance changes were made approximately eight years ago in
response to concerns about the institute.
ACTING COMMISSIONER DOMPELING replied that the situation at API
has stabilized. She said the culture among staff and residents
has improved and noted a strong leadership team has been
developed under Mr. Cole. She said the Alaska Hospital and
Healthcare Association funded extensive leadership training for
staff and that leadership has held listening sessions to hear
staff concerns. She said transparency has increased and she
expressed confidence that API is moving in the right direction.
3:47:23 PM
SENATOR CLAMAN asked whether the Chilkat Unit is the youth unit
and asked how many beds are in the various units at API.
ACTING COMMISSIONER DOMPELING replied that the Chilkat Unit is
the youth unit and has 10 beds. She said she believed the
forensic unit also has 10 beds and that the remaining beds are
in the civil unit, totaling approximately 60 beds.
3:48:01 PM
SENATOR CLAMAN asked about the typical length of stay for
patients in the adult civil unit.
ACTING COMMISSIONER DOMPELING replied that she did not have
that information but would provide it. She noted that under Mr.
Cole's leadership the facility has strengthened its data
collection and reporting, allowing that information to be
readily obtained.
CHAIR DUNBAR asked Mr. Cole if he knew the answer.
3:48:48 PM
KEN COLE, Chief Executive Officer, Alaska Psychiatric
Institute, Anchorage, Alaska, answered questions regarding the
legislative overview for the Department of Family and Community
Services. He replied that he did not have the average length of
stay for civil patients available but would obtain the
information and provide it to the committee.
3:49:16 PM
ACTING COMMISSIONER DOMPELING moved to slide 6, Division of
Juvenile Justice (DJJ). She introduced the director, Mr.
Davidson, and discussed the division's mission, facilities,
offices, staff, and budget:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Mission:
• Hold juvenile offenders accountable for their
behavior.
• Promote the safety and restoration of victims and
communities.
• Assist offenders and their families in developing
skills to prevent crime.
Facilities / Offices / Staff:
• 6 youth facilities
• 13 probation offices
• 421 full-time positions
• FY2027 Budget: $72,840.9
3:50:19 PM
SENATOR TOBIN asked about recidivism rates for youth from the
region served by the Nome youth facility, which she said closed
during her first year in the legislature. She said she has
heard anecdotal reports that youth from that region may be
reoffending at higher rates and staying in custody longer when
placed away from their home communities and families. She asked
whether the department has data addressing those outcomes.
3:51:00 PM
ACTING COMMISSIONER DOMPELING said the department would need to
follow up with the requested information.
3:51:06 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR asked about planned improvements to the courtroom
intake area at the McLaughlin Youth Center (MYC), noting he had
toured the facility about two years earlier and recalled
discussion of a potential capital improvement project to
renovate the area where youth initially appear before being
taken into the facility. He asked whether the improvements had
been completed or whether funding was included in the
governor's budget.
3:52:32 PM
MATT DAVIDSON, Director, Division of Juvenile Justice, Office
of Children's Services, Juneau, Alaska, answered questions. He
replied that during the previous legislative session funds were
reappropriated from another project to support renovation of
the detention court unit at MYC. He said planning for the
renovation is underway and that staff are looking forward to
improvements to the space, although construction has not yet
begun.
CHAIR DUNBAR asked about the projected timeline for completion
of the renovations.
MR. DAVIDSON replied that he could not provide a specific
timeline but said the project is tied to funding previously
appropriated through the Facilities Council for roof work in
the same area. He said the project will likely take a couple of
years to complete.
CHAIR DUNBAR said he was pleased to hear the project has
funding and is moving forward. He noted that McLaughlin Youth
Center is a large facility located near the University of
Alaska Anchorage and the hospital.
3:54:16 PM
ACTING COMMISSIONER DOMPELING moved to slide 7, Office of
Children's Services (OCS), and said it is the department's
child welfare agency. She shared the mission statement and
information about offices, staff, and budget:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Mission: Ensuring the safety, permanency and well-
being of children by strengthening families, engaging
communities, and partnering with Tribes.
Offices and Staff:
• 5 regions with 21 offices statewide
• 608 full-time positions
FY2027 Budget: $211,123.8
3:55:12 PM
SENATOR TOBIN referenced the 2024 audit of the Office of
Children's Services (OCS) and noted concerns about
implementation of certain legislation. She asked about the
training program "Knowing Who You Are," developed by the Casey
Family Foundation, which she said had previously strengthened
partnerships with foster families and tribes but had not been
offered for several years. She asked whether there are plans to
restore that or similar programs and how the department intends
to support high-quality training that helps families care for
children in foster placements.
ACTING COMMISSIONER DOMPELING said the training had been
impactful and said MS. Guay could provide additional detail
regarding the program. She said her priorities include reducing
the length of time to permanency, increasing engagement with
families, and ensuring consistent contact with children in out-
of-home placements. She noted the Office of Children's Services
previously implemented an initiative called "Back to Basics" to
strengthen core services but said the effort was not producing
the desired outcomes. She said the department is reassessing
the initiative and working with leadership to develop new
strategies for improvement.
3:58:23 PM
KIM GUAY, Director, Office of Children's Services, Anchorage,
Alaska, co-presented a legislative overview for the Department
of Family and Community Services. She said the "Knowing Who You
Are" training was discontinued by Casey Family Programs several
years ago. She said Alaska attempted to adapt the program
internally but determined it was not meeting the intended goals
for staff training. She said OCS has since adopted a revised
training model focused on helping staff understand personal
bias, identity, and effective engagement with youth and
families. She explained the new approach uses shorter training
sessions over time rather than a single multi-day course. She
added that OCS is working with tribes on training efforts and
has implemented exercises such as the "blanket exercise" to
strengthen cultural understanding. She said the department
continues to evaluate and improve its training programs.
4:00:25 PM
SENATOR TOBIN said she would welcome an opportunity for further
discussion through the Alaska Children's Caucus or the Senate
Health and Social Services Committee to hear more about OCS's
work with parents and tribal partners to support children
placed in care and the families serving them.
4:01:03 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR asked whether the Office of Children's Services
(OCS) has interacted with a youth council associated with
Covenant House Alaska that includes formerly homeless youth. He
said the group had raised several policy concerns, including
the accessibility of government forms and whether more forms
could be provided digitally rather than on paper.
MS. GUAY said she was not certain which specific group was
referenced but noted that OCS frequently collaborates with
individuals with lived experience and community partners. She
said OCS works with groups such as Facing Foster Care in Alaska
advisory group, a resource family advisory board, and tribal
partners. She added that OCS recently began developing a
parents advisory committee. She said OCS is interested in
modernizing technology and improving digital accessibility of
forms but noted that improvements will require additional
funding.
4:03:41 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR said he would provide the name of the group and
asked about progress addressing the shortage of foster
families.
MS. GUAY replied that she did not have the current number of
foster homes available but said OCS has prioritized placements
with relatives and kin. She said the department has seen an
increase in relative and kin placements and continues to
conduct recruitment efforts to encourage additional foster
homes.
4:04:56 PM
SENATOR CLAMAN asked about recruitment and retention within
OCS, noting that the division has many positions within the
department.
ACTING COMMISSIONER DOMPELING said she would address
recruitment and retention later in the presentation.
4:05:28 PM
MARIAN SWEET, Assistant Commissioner, Department of Family and
Community Services, Juneau, Alaska, co-presented a legislative
overview for the Department of Family and Community Services.
She moved to slide 8 and introduced the Departmental Support
Services division:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Mission: To provide quality administrative services
in support of the department's mission.
Staff: 90 full-time positions
Division Highlights:
• Talent Acquisition Team
• Technology innovations
• Administrative consolidation
FY2027 Budget: $42,285.5
MS. SWEET said the division provides administrative support
across the department, including leadership support, public
information and outreach, budget and finance, information
technology, human resources, and facilities management.
4:06:45 PM
MS. SWEET moved to slide 9, Coordinated Health and Complex Care
Unit, and said the unit oversees complex cases involving
individuals in DFCS custody or those at risk of entering
custody and works with the Department of Health to address
system barriers and improve outcomes for Alaskans with complex
needs. She said the data presented reflected a snapshot from
the second quarter of the current fiscal year and noted that
since its creation the team has worked on approximately 150
unique cases. She added that the unit consists of six staff
members and is led by Deputy Director Makayla Viray:
Coordinated Health and Complex Care Unit
Works with the Department of Health to provide a coordinated
system that delivers compassionate, timely, and person-
centered care for the most vulnerable and complex Alaskans.
FY26 Q2 CHCCU Case Count by Division
Division / Number of Currently Cases Closed
Department of Cases Open Cases at End of Quarter
API 15 10 5
OCS 24 17 7
DJJ 2* 2 0
AKPH 2 1 1
DOH(SDS) 1 0 1
*Current DJJ cases overlap with OCS. These cases are not
included in the OCS case count.
Most common diagnoses, by order of occurrence
Adults
• Schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders
• Neurocognitive disorders
• Medical diagnosis
• Neurodevelopmental disorder
Youth
• Neurodevelopmental disorders (ADHD, autism, intellectual
disability)
• Trauma and stressor related disorders
• Disruptive, impulse control, and conduct disorders
• Schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders
• Personality disorders
• Neurocognitive disorders
4:08:22 PM
MS. SWEET moved to slide 10, At DFCS We Are, and said the
department's guiding value is a vision of "service first,"
emphasizing decisions and partnerships focused on the needs of
Alaskans. She said department leadership developed a strategic
framework titled SPAM, which emphasizes person-centered care,
workforce well-being, and innovative solutions to complex
challenges:
[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
4:09:33 PM
MS. SWEET moved to slide 11, Updates on Ongoing Department
Initiatives:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Updates on ongoing department initiatives
Renovations at our facilities and homes
Technological improvements
Continued emphasis on workforce well-being
Talent acquisition team Cross-agency collaborations
MS. SWEET provided updates on several facility improvement
projects. She said the roof replacement at the Palmer Veterans
Pioneer Home is nearing completion with funding largely
provided through a grant from the U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs. She said the Fairbanks Pioneer Home flooring project
is also nearing completion, allowing the wing to reopen for
residents. She said the Wasilla field office expansion is
nearly complete and noted that the Division of Juvenile Justice
is planning renovations to the detention and court unit at the
McLaughlin Youth Center and improvements at the Fairbanks Youth
Facility.
4:10:50 PM
MS. SWEET discussed technology improvements within the
department. She said the department has implemented Smartsheet,
a cloud-based project management tool used to track facility
projects, support budget projections and spending plans, and
assist with strategic planning. She said the department has
expanded use of the ImageSource system and created an online
tracking system for Title 47 involuntary commitment patients to
improve statewide monitoring. She added that the department has
created an online application for the Mental Health Treatment
Assistance Program and is upgrading Wi-Fi systems in Pioneer
Homes to support the INTRAC safety monitoring system used to
track resident safety and improve staff responsiveness.
4:12:58 PM
MS. SWEET discussed workforce well-being initiatives across the
department. She said the Division of Juvenile Justice operates
an employee-led wellness committee that organizes morale
activities, and the Alaska Psychiatric Institute maintains an
employee committee and a peer-based critical incident stress
management team. She said Pioneer Homes monitor staff well-
being to prevent burnout and recognize service excellence,
while the Office of Children's Services has implemented a
wellness and resiliency officer who conducts audits across
offices to support workforce improvements.
4:14:21 PM
MS. SWEET said the department has established a talent
acquisition team to create standardized hiring practices and
improve recruitment processes. She said the team is currently
piloting the program within the Office of Children's Services
and Departmental Support Services and reported that in calendar
year 2025 the department interviewed 391 candidates and hired
105 new staff.
4:14:57 PM
MS. SWEET said the department continues cross-agency
collaboration with the Department of Health on the Behavioral
Health Roadmap and the Alaska Integrated Comprehensive Plan.
She said the plan informs the department's strategic planning
and noted continued collaboration with the Department of
Corrections on the jail-based competency restoration program.
4:15:34 PM
SENATOR TOBIN asked whether the department has considered using
artificial intelligence tools in hiring processes or other
technological improvements.
4:16:01 PM
MS. SWEET replied that the department has not yet discussed
using artificial intelligence in hiring practices but said the
idea was intriguing. She noted there is interest in exploring
AI tools for data analysis within existing departmental
systems.
4:16:53 PM
ACTING COMMISSIONER DOMPELING moved to slide 12, 2025
Accomplishments, and shared the following highlights:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Alaska Pioneer Homes
Launched a new online application process
Residential enrollment has increased
Office of Children's Services
Number of children in care is decreasing
Family reunifications are rising
Division of Juvenile Justice
Medicaid for justice-involved youth
Staffing improvements
Alaska Psychiatric Institute
Expanded jail-based competency restoration in
partnership with the Department of Corrections
Success utilizing conditional release
ACTING COMMISSIONER DOMPELING said there are currently 7,462
individuals on the waitlist compared with slightly more than
7,000 six months earlier. She said the Office of Children's
Services has seen a decline in the number of youth in out-of-
home care, decreasing from 2,923 children in 2021 to 2,363
children in 2025. She said family reunifications have
increased, noting that in 2025 approximately 60 percent of
closed cases resulted in reunification, compared with 55
percent in 2024 and 51 percent in 2022. She added that
reunifications for Alaska Native children increased from 53
percent in 2024 to 58 percent in 2025.
4:18:18 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR asked what factors contributed to the improvement
in reunification rates and whether the change was due to policy
changes or other factors.
ACTING COMMISSIONER DOMPELING deferred the question.
4:18:48 PM
MS. GUAY said the improvement is likely due to multiple
initiatives and partnerships implemented by the agency. She
credited the work of Tribal organizations that have partnered
with the department. The department has also focused on
training and tracking to reduce re-entry. She said the state of
Alaska keeps children in care longer due to the Indian Child
Welfare Act, giving parents more time to work on changing
behavior.
4:20:42 PM
ACTING COMMISSIONER DOMPELING continuing discussion of slide
12, Division of Juvenile Justice, said DJJ facilities now have
Medicaid activated for youth, allowing individuals to become
eligible for Medicaid services 30 days prior to release and 30
days after release from facilities. She said the change
improves connections to medical, behavioral health, and dental
providers in home communities and allows screenings and
assessments to occur through telehealth prior to release.
4:21:09 PM
ACTING COMMISSIONER DOMPELING reported improvements in DJJ
staffing levels. She said the overall vacancy rate declined
from 14.9 percent in FY24 to 11.4 percent in FY25. She said
frontline facility staff vacancies declined from 21 percent in
FY24 to 14 percent in FY25. She said vacancy rates for juvenile
justice counselor positions declined from 21 percent before a
July 2023 pay increase to approximately 11 percent about a year
and a half later. She highlighted improvements at the Fairbanks
Youth Facility, where frontline vacancies declined from
approximately 52 percent in FY24 to 22 percent in FY25.
4:22:25 PM
ACTING COMMISSIONER DOMPELING discussed collaboration between
the Alaska Psychiatric Institute (API) and the Department of
Corrections on jail-based competency restoration services. She
said the Department of Corrections provides housing and
security for up to 10 male participants at the Anchorage
Correctional Complex and up to 10 female participants at the
Highland Mountain Correctional Center, while API staff provide
mental health treatment and competency restoration education.
ACTING COMMISSIONER DOMPELING said when restoration to
competency is unsuccessful, patients are often placed under
civil commitment and may become "conversion patients." She said
some conversion patients are conditionally released into the
community, typically to assisted living homes that provide
additional supervision and support. She said the court must
approve the conditional release, and there are currently nine
such patients in the Anchorage area. She said those patients
must comply with release conditions and attend monthly
outpatient appointments at API or they may be returned to the
facility. She said API has also developed a public dashboard
under Mr. Cole's leadership that reports data including civil
and forensic waitlists, patient census, seclusion and restraint
use, and average length of stay to increase transparency.
4:24:47 PM
ACTING COMMISSIONER DOMPELING moved to slide 13, 2026 Focus
Areas, and discussed departmental priorities for 2026. She said
the Coordinated Health and Complex Care Unit is working with
the Department of Health to expand community-based placements
and reduce reliance on institutional care:
[Original punctuation provided.]
2026 Focus Areas
Complex Care
Expand community-based alternatives for complex
individuals Advance complex care system reform
Pioneer Homes
Apprenticeship program
Health and well-being focus
Expanding behavioral health supports
Alaska Psychiatric Institute
Increase capacity in the competency restoration
program Onboarding of new electronic health record
system
Children's Services
Recruitment and retention
Improving practice
Expanding use of relatives and kin as resource
families
Juvenile Justice
Juvenile facility infrastructure
Juvenile probation service enhancements
ACTING COMMISSIONER DOMPELING said development of a Complex
Care residential home license is intended to expand treatment
options for individuals with complex needs and support
regulatory reform and sustainable funding for these services.
ACTING COMMISSIONER DOMPELIMG said the Alaska Pioneer Homes are
developing a CNA-to-LPN apprenticeship program to address
workforce shortages. She said the program is being developed in
partnership with the Alaska Vocational Technical Center and the
Department of Labor, has been approved by the Alaska Board of
Nursing, and is supported by grant funding. She said the
curriculum is being developed and will require approval from
the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing and the
Alaska Board of Nursing before implementation.
4:26:51 PM
SENATOR TOBIN asked whether the department has considered
seeking funding through the Rural Health Transformation Fund,
noting that workforce development was included in the state's
application.
ACTING COMMISSIONER DOMPELING said the department is reviewing
opportunities across the focus areas identified by the Alaska
Department of Health and prioritizing potential proposals for
funding.
CHAIR DUNBAR said hearing on the Rural Health Transformation
Fund (RHTF) would begin on Thursday and he expects RHTF to be a
major focus of the committee this legislative session.
4:27:44 PM
ACTING COMMISSIONER DOMPELING said there are plans for Alaska
Pioneer Homes to lead a health and wellness initiative focused
on elders experiencing substance use and behavioral health
challenges associated with aging. She said the initiative will
involve collaboration with medical professionals and behavioral
health providers and will include development of a network of
dementia-informed clinical counselors to support families,
caregivers, and staff.
ACTING COMMISSIONER DOMPELING said the Alaska Psychiatric
Institute (API), in partnership with the Alaska Department of
Corrections, is exploring expansion of the jail-based
competency restoration program from 10 to 24 participants. She
also said API is implementing a new electronic health records
system that will connect with the state health information
exchange to improve care coordination.
4:28:52 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR asked about the cost and implementation timeline
for the new electronic health records system.
4:29:27 PM
MR. COLE deferred the cost portion of the question to Ms.
Sweet. He said the system is scheduled to be deployed May 1 and
that user acceptance testing will begin soon.
4:30:14 PM
MS. SWEET said approximately $1.6 million has been encumbered
for the system. She said additional costs have occurred due to
integration with a Pyxis medication distribution system but
noted the project has not experienced the significant cost
increases often associated with large IT implementations.
CHAIR DUNBAR asked whether the electronic health records system
is new to API or whether it replaces an existing system.
4:30:58 PM
MR. COLE said the system will replace the long-used Meditech
platform with the Avatar NX electronic health record system
developed by Netsmart Technologies.
CHAIR DUNBAR said everyone on the committee supports API. There
were negative reports on API in the past and so the committee
is glad to hear improvements are going well.
4:32:30 PM
ACTING COMMISSIONER DOMPELING continued at slide 13 and
discussed initiatives within the Office of Children's Services
(OCS). She said staff turnover declined from 52 percent in 2023
to 32 percent in 2025 due to improved hiring practices,
mentoring, phased case assignments, wellness assessments, and
reflective supervision. She noted recruitment remains
challenging and said the division currently has 99 vacant
positions. She said OCS will focus on strengthening
investigations and assessments statewide and will implement a
permanency review at the nine- to ten-month mark for children
in out-of-home care. She added that Alaska continues to
maintain one of the highest rates of relative placement in the
country, emphasizing placements with extended family when
appropriate.
4:34:11 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR asked whether the department would continue
following the principles of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA)
if the law were repealed.
ACTING COMMISSIONER DOMPELING replied yes.
SENATOR TOBIN asked how the department is preparing for
potential federal policy changes affecting foster youth aging
out of care, including possible changes to Medicaid and SNAP
eligibility.
4:35:28 PM
ACTING COMMISSIONER DOMPELING said the department has not
conducted a detailed analysis of the issue. She deferred to Ms.
Guay.
4:35:36 PM
MS. GUAY said OCS continues to work with youth who choose to
remain in care into adulthood as well as those who exit the
system, providing support services to help them transition to
independence.
4:36:15 PM
CHAIR TOBIN said she would welcome further discussion and noted
that other states, including Utah, have implemented programs to
support youth aging out of foster care.
MS. GUAY said she would welcome the opportunity.
SENATOR CLAMAN said he appreciated the information on
recruitment and retention but noted the division still has a
vacancy rate of nearly one in six positions. He asked whether
wages for Office of Children's Services (OCS) positions are
competitive given the challenging nature of the work.
ACTING COMMISSIONER DOMPELING said a previous classification
study found wages for protective services specialists to be
generally comparable with national standards. She said the
department is also exploring additional incentives and support
for staff, including addressing challenges such as on-call
responsibilities and identifying factors contributing to staff
turnover.
4:38:29 PM
SENATOR CLAMAN said he remained concerned about the high
vacancy rate despite improvements and noted the department has
made progress but still faces significant staffing challenges.
4:39:32 PM
ACTING COMMISSIONER DOMPELING said the department continues to
focus on improvements within the Division of Juvenile Justice
(DJJ). She said the division is enhancing telehealth
infrastructure to better connect youth leaving secure
facilities with community providers. She said DJJ is also
upgrading wireless infrastructure and implementing HIPAA-
compliant devices to improve privacy and electronic health
record access. She noted these efforts are supported in part
through the federal Promoting Continuity of Care Following
Incarceration grant administered through the Alaska Department
of Health. She added that DJJ is working to fully implement
juvenile probation service enhancements, including standardized
probation success planning, supervisory case reviews, and
greater casework flexibility to address staffing shortages,
particularly in rural areas.
4:41:00 PM
ACTING COMMISSIONER DOMPELING moved to slide 14 and concluded
the presentation by stating the department is making progress
in workforce stability, service delivery, and the use of data-
driven practices. She said efforts across the department
include improving outcomes for children and families through
the Office of Children's Services, strengthening programs
within the Division of Juvenile Justice, expanding services at
the Alaska Psychiatric Institute, and enhancing wellness and
behavioral health supports at the Alaska Pioneer Homes. She
said the department is prioritizing early intervention,
community partnerships, and least-restrictive care models to
reduce system bottlenecks and improve outcomes for Alaskans.
4:42:40 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR found no further questions and thanked the
department for the presentation.
4:43:02 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Dunbar adjourned the Senate Health and Social Services
Standing Committee meeting at 4:43 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| DFCS SHSS Legislative Overview 1-27-2026.pdf |
SHSS 1/27/2026 3:30:00 PM |
Overview: Department of Family and Community Services |