At an event today at the Gambell Job Center to help launch the state's Jobs for Alaska's Future campaign, Health and Social Services Commissioner Joel Gilbertson discussed the TANF program's success over the past three years.

"The Temporary Assistance caseload dropped by nine percent from FY03 to FY04, resulting in $4 million in savings," said Gilbertson. "In recognition of its performance, the TANF program is receiving its third Federal TANF High Performance Bonus Award."

Governor Murkowski Unveils FY06 Budget Proposal Calls for spending some of FY05 windfall on education, roads to jobs, other programs

“My vision for Alaska is that by developing our resources and providing good jobs for Alaskans, we can raise the quality of life for all of our citizens," Murkowski said. "These are the values reflected within the pages of this budget."

For complete coverage: Governor's Press Release

Seasons Greetings to all! Following the Thanksgiving holiday, it is more than appropriate to say 'Way to GO! and THANKS' to our two latest DPAStars!

It is an odd calendar we follow in the Food Stamp Program Quality Assessment process. Each federal fiscal year about 380 cases are randomly picked for review. The last of the 2004 sample was selected in September and the QA staff is finishing the last of those reviews now. We set our target at 93% payment accuracy and through your good work we are close to achieving that goal.

Take a quick look at the attached charts that show how your office and region has performed, and interestingly displays the weight each office has on statewide QA sample. Every case does matter and every office does contribute to our success. Still, you can see that the performance of some offices have great influence on our payment accuracy rate because of the number of cases drawn from there or the size of the allotments.

Funded by NIH grant, College of Pharmacy researchers show welfare recipients benefit from 'work therapy'

HOUSTON, Nov. 30, 2004 – It's said that "idle hands are the devil's workshop." A pair of University of Houston professors studying employment and drug use now provide support for that proverb. Led by Isaac D. Montoya, clinical professor at the UH College of Pharmacy, this National Institutes of Health (NIH) study found that employment reduces the chronic drug use of female welfare recipients.