Announcement

You’ve brought us another stride closer to our Food Stamp Program accuracy improvement campaign goal. As we near the end of the FFY 2007 sample year, Alaska stands 9th in the nation for overall payment accuracy. This will be our fourth consecutive year of progressive accuracy improvement – a first in our long history of tracking payment accuracy. You may recall that three states per year are recognized for having the most improved food stamp payment accuracy. We are currently in second place, and holding on to our position in the national competition for a performance bonus. We won’t call it a lock yet, but it is looking ever more probable thanks to your consistently great work.

On April 1, 2007, the Medicaid program began providing dental coverage for adults up to a total limit of $1,150 per year for dental care, such as exams and cleanings. This new coverage also includes fillings, crowns, root canals and dentures.

Medicaid still covers adult dental services for emergency pain relief and acute infection. These emergency dental services do not count against the annual limit.

From ACF Office of Public Affairs:

On the 10th anniversary of welfare reform, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is highlighting key successes of the initiative.

"Welfare reform brought significant improvements in the lives of many Americans by helping them break the cycle of dependency and encouraging them to pursue self-sufficiency," HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt said. "As we enter the next phase, we are committed to finishing the unfinished business of welfare reform by helping more Americans find jobs that will lift them from the welfare rolls."

Please note that beginning 10/07/2005 and ending 10/19/2005, you may experience noise or service interruptions because AT&T Alascom satellite facilities will be experiencing sun related service degradations as a result of the alignment of the sun with Alaska telecommunications satellite and ground stations. Sun outages occur for a few days semi-annually when the satellite passes directly between the antenna on earth and the sun. Radio frequency noise from the sun is stronger than the desired signal from the satellite, resulting in a brief service interruption.

The number of Alaska families collecting welfare has dropped 54 percent since the inception of the federal welfare reform efforts in 1996, according to the state Division of Public Assistance.

In addition, spending on the program during that same time period has dropped nearly 58 percent, to $49 million, the division said.

"It's been a tremendous success," said Katherine Farnham, the division's director. "Our performance has been better than most states on employment outcomes. We've really placed an emphasis on getting people into work activities and then getting them off benefits."

On Monday, January 17, the state will observe the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. This day offers every Alaskan--from our youngest school children who are just learning about Dr. King's life, to those Alaskans who remember the historic March on Washington in 1963--an opportunity to reflect on the magnanimous life of Dr. King and his message of social change through non-violence.

The Christmas season is a special time in Alaska. The long northern nights provide time to relax with friends and loved ones, reflect on the year just past, and re-energize for the new year ahead.

It is also a season for giving -- when children delight in brightly wrapped packages, adults exchange tokens of love and affection, and elders take joy in the presence of their family.

This month's challenge is on the subject of CSSD. Warning...it's formated a little differently than previous challenges. Please follow the prompts and ques. There is a fun surprise at the end!

Click here to begin the challenge:
December Skill Challenge

(A special thanks goes to Debbie McDonald for her creative works!)