Alaska Health and Social Services Commissioner Joel Gilbertson will join charter members of the Native Family Assistance Program at the Alaska Native Heritage Center July 22
(Juneau, Alaska) – Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) Commissioner Joel Gilbertson and Division of Public Assistance Director Katherine Farnham will join the Cook Inlet Tribal Council and charter members of the Native Family Assistance Program on Friday, July 22 at the Alaska Native Heritage Center to celebrate the passage of Senate Bill 51, reauthorizing and expanding the Native Family Assistance Program that helps families move from welfare to work. Cook Inlet Tribal Council began providing Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) services July 1, 2005.
Governor Frank H. Murkowski signed SB51 into law on May 19. The law reauthorizes and expands the pilot program created by the Alaska legislature five years ago allowing DHSS to award grants to Alaska Native regional non-profit organizations operating TANF programs. The legislation also expands the program so that the 12 Alaska Native regional non-profits and the Metlakatla Indian Community, as authorized by federal law, are eligible for the Native Family Assistance Program
WHAT: Celebration of passage of SB51 – continuation and expansion of Native Family Assistance Program
WHEN: Friday, July 22, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
WHERE: Alaska Native Heritage Center, 8800 Heritage Center Dr, Anchorage
WHO: Alaska Department of Health and Social Services Commissioner Joel Gilbertson, Division of Public Assistance Director Katherine Farnham, Cook Inlet Tribal Council President and CEO Gloria O’Neill.