This page is devoted to listing resources available to people who are in need of a variety of services and for those who do not qualify for either the Chronic and Acute Medical Assistance program or the Medicaid program.
Division of Health Care Services - Beyond Medicaid and CAMA
There's good news to share regarding our Better Than Average food stamp payment accuracy campaign. We did top our 2004 goal of 93% payment accuracy. I received a message from the FNS Regional Food Stamp Program Director today saying it's a sure thing that Alaska will be the state with the most improved payment accuracy in FFY 2004. It will be a few months until the formal annoucement is made and our award amount determined, so we'll be recognizing your acheivement and celebrating more at that time.
Gov. Frank Murkowski at the beginning of the 2005 legislative session plans to introduce a bill to make permanent a program allowing Alaska Native nonprofit organizations to continue overseeing their regions' temporary assistance programs.
The state Legislature in 2000 authorized a pilot program, called the Native Family Assistance Program, that adds state money to federal funds so that regional nonprofit organizations can operate the welfare-to-work and welfare cash benefits programs under the state Department of Health and Social Service's Division of Public Assistance.
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.