I'm proud to celebrate public assistance worker appreciation week with you and acknowledge the hard work of Public Assistance staff and partners in assisting Alaska's families on their path to self-sufficiency.
It's rare that one division can have such a great impact on people's lives. The important work of case managers, eligibility technicians, support service staff, supervisors, administrative support personnel, employment specialists and others is vital to tens of thousands of Alaska families.
This has been a busy year for Public Assistance, and you have been successful every step of the way. From receiving a third TANF bonus to national accolades for Food Stamp accuracy, these and other major initiatives have kept all of us on our toes, and it is amazing how well you have consistently delivered quality service under ever-changing conditions. Over the past year, you have assisted Alaskans in moving from welfare to work and helped thousands of others stay self-sufficient. All of this success has allowed the state to continue to invest in childcare and other supportive services. That's great news for the families we serve.
Public Assistance staff and partners play an important role in the goals our department strives toward every day. You live our department’s mission through the work you do every day "to promote and protect the well-being of every Alaskan by investing in families and communities."
Thank you for another year of service and dedication to helping Alaska's families.
Keep up the good work and have a great Public Assistance Worker Appreciation Week.
Joel Gilbertson,
Commissioner