HCR 3-APRIL 2017: CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH  4:41:40 PM CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ announced that the final order of business would be HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 3, Proclaiming April 2017 as Child Abuse Prevention Month; and proclaiming April 7, 2017, as Go Blue Friday. 4:41:57 PM MAGDALENA OLIVEROS, Staff, Representative Geran Tarr, Alaska State Legislature, stated that the proposed resolution nominated the month of April to be named and recognized as "Child Abuse Prevention Month" and proclaimed April 7, 2017, to be recognized as "Go Blue Friday." She explained that "Go Blue Friday" would allow Alaskans statewide to wear blue as a symbolic gesture that child abuse would not be tolerated in Alaska. By speaking up and raising awareness, Alaskans could stand together to put an end to the violence, and be a part of the effort toward prevention. She offered a history of the national child abuse prevention month, and pointed out that it recognized a commitment and dedication to implementing and identifying solutions to ending child abuse. She stated that every year, many states recognized the month of April to stand strong in support of children. She reported that Alaska had one of the highest rates of child abuse in the country - 42 out of 1,000 children were victims of abuse - and that in 2014, the Office of Children's Services had received more than 40,000 allegations of harm. She noted that children who were subject to abuse were more likely to become abusers and engage in criminal activity, as well as have more psychological and physiological issues. She declared that every child deserved a safe home and an opportunity to grow into a responsible member of society. She emphasized that everyone needed to work together to support the children in the state. 4:44:29 PM REPRESENTATIVE GERAN TARR, Alaska State Legislature, directed attention to the "Alaska OCS Protective Service Reports Received During 2016" [Included in members' packets] and shared that these reports were produced monthly. She offered her opinion that these reports should be monitored closely, pointing out that the total number of alleged victims of physical abuse in this report was equal to the total number of students at Wasilla High School, at East High School, and half the students at Juneau-Douglas High School. She declared that the numbers were staggering, reporting that rates of child abuse in Alaska were six times the national average. She opined that this was a public health crisis, as well as a moral crisis. She directed attention to the handout about ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) [Included in members' packets] and explained that the challenge presented by the current fiscal situation offered an opportunity to better understand the cost to society from the impact of child abuse, estimated to be in excess of $700 million annually. She reported that these Adverse Childhood Experiences had impacts on relationships, the ability to keep jobs, and the engagement in risky behaviors. She added that there was also a physiological impact, which included obesity and diabetes. She declared that, not only was there a cost benefit to the health care system, but there was an added benefit for healthier communities, stronger individuals, and a healthier Alaska. She offered her belief that the state did not have "a handle on it enough" to not have this resolution presented for discussion each year. She stated that it was necessary to be reminded of the violence in our communities, the families that were struggling, the children that were impacted, and the ways that could be offered for a solution. She explained that "Go Blue Friday" provided a day for everyone to be a participant in the process, as everyone could wear blue or have a blue button, which could spark conversation. She expressed a strong hope that more people than ever would participate and encourage others to seek out help, which could help prevent child abuse. REPRESENTATIVE SULLIVAN-LEONARD asked why she chose the color blue. REPRESENTATIVE TARR explained that blue was the national color for child abuse prevention. She suggested that the House Health and Social Services Standing Committee all wear blue. 4:51:33 PM PATRICK ANDERSON stated that he had sent in written testimony. He shared that, in 2003, he had left law practice in order to pursue "a very nebulous vision of healing." He referenced a paper he had written in 2009 in which he stated that health care costs could be reduced by 50 percent by addressing a "lean health care" management system, which would include programs that addressed child abuse and neglect. He pointed out that there was a "huge cost to childhood acquired trauma," an issue for which criminal penalties could not be legislated. He said that the original Adverse Childhood Experiences study found that 22 percent of a predominantly white, middle class, well-educated population had identified sexual abuse in their lives. He stated that the legal definition of child abuse did not take into account all the iterations of adverse childhood experiences, and did not adequately reflect these costs. He suggested that policy dialogues needed to go further to include the programs which supported the elimination of child abuse. He declared his support for HCR 3. 4:56:02 PM CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ closed public testimony and stated that the resolution would be held over.