August 13, 2002
Tuesday - 12:05 am

Calling the fight against child abuse and neglect an ongoing challenge that demands a long-term commitment from the highest levels of state government, Gov. Tony Knowles on Monday announced the appointment of a Commission on Child Protection. The 16-member commission will recommend to the incoming administration and Legislature the next important steps for further improving our child protection system.

"Despite the progress we have made on child protection over the years, tragically there are far too many Alaska children who live in fear and danger," Knowles said. "Alaska's rate of abuse and neglect of its children continues to be among the highest in the nation. The treatment of some of these children at the hands of their parents is hard to comprehend and heartbreaking to explain. They are ignored, malnourished, unloved, threatened, beaten, sometimes even killed."

Knowles announced the appointment of 16 distinguished Alaskans to a new, temporary Commission on Child Protection. Chaired by Health and Social Services Deputy Commissioner Elmer Lindstrom, its mission is to recommend to the incoming administration and Legislature the next important steps for further improving our child protection system in a report or "white paper" to be completed by October 1st.

"I picked that date for two reasons," Knowles said. "First, so the commission's work will be available as my Administration prepares transition documents for the next governor. And second, so the commission's findings can become part of the campaign debate. Voters deserve to know how the candidates will address this issue that is so critical to Alaska's future."

Specific charges to the commission include:

(1) Review of recent reports and findings related to the child protection system to identify common elements;

(2) Assess the impact of recent enhancements to the child protective services such as the Balloon Project, state/tribal collaborative efforts, the health passport program, and the training academy;

(3) Make recommendations for elements to be included in the Program Improvement Plan under development in response to the findings of an ongoing federal review of Alaska's child protection system;

(4) Make recommendations for additional improvements to systems and services that support the child protection system or support families and children at risk of entering the child protection system such as mental health and substance abuse treatment services;

(5) Make recommendations for the creation of a formal and periodic process for clients and stakeholders to evaluate child protection system performance;

(6) Make recommendations for the continuation of formal mechanisms to improve coordination among state agencies in the child protection system; and,

(7) Document child protection case scenarios to highlight the successes and continuing challenges of the child protection system.

Knowles said he welcomed an ongoing federal audit of Alaska's child protection system, along with those in all 50 states, from which Alaska will develop an improvement plan to fix weaknesses in our system.

"Shedding light on problems in the system is the best way to convince Alaskans and the Legislature that continued improvements are needed," Knowles said. "We've turned the spotlight onto ourselves in the past. My Administration's Child Protection Review Team pointed to problems in the system five years ago and recommended solutions that led to our Smart Start initiative."

Knowles' commission will contribute to the federal process but he noted his task force recommendations are likely to be broader. The federal project requires a shorter-term plan for changes within two years while Knowles asked his task force to recommend long-term changes in the system.

"We can and must do better," Knowles said. "That's why the Knowles-Ulmer Administration made a top priority of improving Alaska's child protection system." Knowles said he was proud of progress made through his landmark "Smart Start" initiative and other efforts:

• Better care for more than 25,000 children through our Denali KidCare health insurance program;
• More reports of harm against children are being investigated, from a statewide average of just 73 percent six years ago to 92 percent today. In some areas of the state, we're at 100 percent;
• Rewriting our child protection law to make the system move faster to help kids. The goal still is to reunite broken families, but if that can't happen the law now insists on faster action to help children;
• As a result, adoptions, guardianships, and other procedures to get kids into loving homes have increased dramatically, with more than 1,300 children helped over the past few years.
• And our public safety system is working with overall crime in Alaska down 23 percent since 1995.
• Knowles closed his remarks with special words of support and thanks to those who work in our child protection system. They do their level best to help physically and emotionally battered children handed over to the system by irresponsible parents.
• "Their work is mind-numbing, gut-wrenching, and incredibly important," Knowles said. "All Alaskans should join me in thanking the social workers, child protection attorneys, guardians ad litem, foster parents, and others who get up every morning with one purpose in mind - to protect Alaska's most vulnerable children.

"The task force I'm appointing today is in no way an effort to criticize or discourage their work," Knowles concluded on Monday. "To the contrary, it is intended to get them more support and more resources to do an even better job."

Members of the commission include:

• Commission chairman Elmer Lindstrom, deputy commissioner, Health and Social Services;
• Anchorage Superior Court Judge Elaine Andrews;
• Carol Brice, longtime parent educator and owner of Family Training Associates in Fairbanks, and chair of the Alaska Children's Trust;
• Rob Shoaf, president, Alaska State Chamber of Commerce;
• Francine Eddy, Tlingit and Haida Central Council;
• Jim Ayers, Knowles' former chief of staff and long-time child protection advocate;
• John Pugh, chancellor, University of Alaska Southeast, member of the Alaska Mental Health Trust and former state commissioner of Health and Social Services;
• Gloria Stuart, foster and adoptive parent;
• Colleen Ray, child protection attorney and former social worker;
• Jewell Jones, director, Anchorage Health and Social Services department;
• Susan Humphrey-Barnett, Providence Hospital and former state commissioner of the Department of Corrections.
• Del Smith, commissioner, Department of Public Safety;
• Alison Elgee, deputy commissioner, Department of Administration;
• Lisa Nelson, child protection attorney, Department of Law;
• Theresa Tanoury, director, Division of Family and Youth Services; and
• Brant McGee, director, Office of Public Advocacy.

Media:

Governor Knowles Remarks MP3 Audio

Jay Livey and Elmer Lindstrom Remarks MP3 Audio

Source of News Release:

Office of the Governor
Web Site

 

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