Announcement

I would like to join Governor Murkowski in honoring each of you by designating Public Assistance Workers Appreciation Week, July 13-19, 2003. The important work of case managers, support service staff, supervisors, administrative support personnel, employment specialists and others is not always apparent to the public. However, the people you help achieve self-sufficiency, or those unable to work whom you help with financial assistance, medical assistance or other services, know first-hand of your work. It is an art to be able to give aid, to lend a hand without building dependence, and to respect and preserve the dignity of those whom we serve. For your great success at this vital job, and for your contributions to the people of this State, I offer my sincerest thanks and congratulations.

We have added the new application for the Alaska Senior Assistance Program to the DPA Public website. It is available as a Adobe Acrobat PDF document for the public to print out and mail in.

There is also a Frequently Asked Questions page that answers many common questions about the program.

Public hearings to be held statewide

Emergency regulations for the Alaska Senior Assistance Program, a new safely net program for needy seniors, took effect July 1, 2003. The Alaska Senior Assistance Program is a needs-based benefit program that offers $120 per month to all Alaskan seniors age 65 or older who meet certain eligibility requirements.

The regulations give specific guidance for implementing the new program. Copies of the regulations, as well as additional information on the Senior Assistance Program, can be found on the Division of Public Assistance (DPA) web page at http://health.hss.state.ak.us/dpa/.

Eligible seniors will receive their final Longevity Bonus checks in August 2003. With that check, they will receive information about a new program called the Alaska Senior Assistance Program (ASAP). The ASAP is not a replacement for the Longevity Bonus, but it will help soften the blow to some seniors who are losing the bonus.

The Alaska Senior Assistance Program is a temporary program that will provide $120 a month to Alaska seniors age 65 or older who meet certain income and asset tests.

Most Alaskans know someone who has a seasonal job -- they play an important part in the state's economy. Just how important a role is revealed in a new report from the Department of Labor.

That belief is confirmed in a new study that shows Alaska's workforce jumps by 50,000 jobs every year when seasonal work begins. And that number tends not to change much year-to-year.

New Office of Children

Earlier this year, Governor Murkowski issued an administrative order asking that all department websites adopt the "look and feel" of the new state website.

The new look is in place for the department and DPA. There may be some broken links or other issues that should be resolved soon.

Additionally, we will soon be updating DPAweb and the public DPA website to update the new organizational structure.

At $1.6 billion, it is the most expensive in the state's budget, but the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services is about to embark on a new course aimed at delivering a better product more efficiently and at less cost.

"It's the most comprehensive restructuring in the history of the department and it might even be one of the largest restructurings in the history of the state government," said Joel Gilbertson, commissioner of Health and Social Services in Gov. Frank Murkow-ski's administration.

Governor Murkowski has now announced his final FY 04 budget plan,consistent with his stated intent to extend the life of ourConstitutional Budget Reserve by drawing down no more than $400 millionfrom our reserves this next fiscal year. In so doing, the Governor willexercise his power of the veto, reducing the budget passed by thelegislature by some $130 million in state funds.

A survey of child health and welfare released today showed a mixed bag of results for Alaska families. The Kids Count survey is sponsored by the Annie E. Casey Foundation and is released annually based on prior-year information.

Alaska scored well nationally in areas of child poverty (6th) and high school dropout rate (13th,) but poorly in percentage of children in single-parent families (38th), and children in families with neither parent working (47th).