The Child Care Program Office is pleased to announce the posting of our new website! Our new site gives families, child care providers, and the general public information about the programs and services the DPA Child Care Program Office oversees including the PASS child care assistance programs, the child care grant program, child care licensing, and child care resource and referral services. We hope you’ll take a few moments to visit the site and familiarize yourself with our programs. You can visit the Child Care Program Office website through the main Division of Public Assistance page by clicking on Child Care under the Programs section, or by clicking here.

It has been a whirlwind few weeks since I accepted the appointment as Director of Public Assistance, I've begun to get around the state and look forward to continuing these initial visits to our various offices. I am honored and excited to be asked to join the DHSS team, and to work with you to fulfill our mission of helping Alaskans achieve self-sufficiency.

I would like to join Governor Murkowski in honoring each of you during Public Assistance Worker Appreciation Week, July 11-17, 2004.

The important work of case managers, support service staff, supervisors, administrative support personnel, employment specialists and others is vital to thousands of Alaska families. The safety net services you provide help families make it through hard times, and gives them a chance to plan for a better future. The work you do everyday strengthens our communities and brings hope to those who need it most.

As the new Director of Public Assistance, I am proud to celebrate this special week with you and acknowledge the hard work of public assistance staff in helping Alaskans in need. This is a great time to reflect on all the successes of the past year and prepare for the challenges that lay ahead.

We are pleased to announce a new and improved online Food Stamp Manual!

The PDF version of the Food Stamp Manual currently on DPAweb will be phased out in six months after everyone is up to speed on this new manual.

Here are some basic instructions for how to use the manual. A group of 21 "test drivers" representing every office statewide and the Policy and Program Development section recently gave the manual their enthusiastic stamp of approval. The response was so positive, we are going to convert our other manuals to this new technology. Watch for the next installment, the new APA-related and Long Term Care Medicaid Manual, scheduled to appear this September.