Rep. Ted Eisheide urges committee to back resolution urging Congress to pass Kids Online Safety Act At an April 1 House Judiciary Committee hearing, Rep. Ted Eisheide and witnesses outlined mental-health and safety harms to minors from social media and urged support for a federal Kids Online Safety Act that would impose a duty of care on platforms, limit data collection for children and expand parental controls.

Representative Ted Eisheide is calling for urgent federal action on the Kids Online Safety Act to tackle alarming rates of teen depression and online dangers fueled by social media.

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#AK #OnlineSafety #CitizenPortal #YouthMentalHealth #SocialMediaEffects #AlaskaChildren

OCS reports more than 21,000 intakes annually, outlines training updates and limits on sharing screened-out cases Office of Children's Services Director Kim Gway told lawmakers OCS received roughly 21,000 reports in FY2024 and FY2025, described plans to update mandatory reporter training via the CJA Task Force and a new learning management system, and flagged a state regulation that limits sharing screened-out family data without parental consent.

Alaska's Office of Children's Services is tackling over 21,000 annual reports with new training initiatives and potential regulatory changes to better support families in need.

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#AK #CitizenPortal #ChildProtection #AlaskaChildren #FamilyServices #MandatoryReporters

OCS says licensing times and relative-search practices have improved but gaps remain for rural fingerprinting and youth supports OCS told the Senate committee it has shortened licensing processing to about 43 days, reinforced background checks and fingerprinting (with rural challenges), stood up a placement search and support unit, and is exploring ways to restore and strengthen supports for young people entering higher education after losing a prior higher-education support position.

Alaska's Office of Children's Services is making strides in background checks and licensing, but critical gaps remain for rural communities and youth transitioning to higher education.

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#AK #CitizenPortal #RuralServices #YouthSupports #AlaskaChildren #BackgroundChecks

OCS tells Senate panel workforce shortages, pay and burnout block full implementation of HB 151 reforms OCS Director Kim Guay and Acting Commissioner Tracy Dompling told the Senate Health and Social Services Committee on March 3 that workforce shortages, low pay and on-call demands are the principal barriers to completing reforms required by 2018House Bill 151; the agency laid out recruitment, training and retention steps and urged legislative attention to pay and retirement benefits.

Alaska's Office of Children's Services reveals that workforce shortages and low pay are crippling vital foster-care reforms, sparking urgent calls for legislative action.

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#AK #CitizenPortal #LegislativeAction #FosterCareReform #AlaskaChildren #WorkforceDevelopment

Committee hears how 'Meals to You' delivers summer food to remote Alaska households Food Bank of Alaska officials told legislators Meals to You shipped over 1,000,000 meals last season to nearly 10,000 students, using a custom vendor relationship (McLean Hunger Solutions) and USPS routing to cut damage and transit time for boxes to rural communities.

In a groundbreaking effort, the Meals to You program delivered over 1,000,000 meals to nearly 10,000 remote Alaskan students last summer, transforming food access in the region!

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#AK #CitizenPortal #RuralEducation #FoodSecurity #NutritionAccess #AlaskaChildren

Alaska Children’s Justice Act task force urges tighter ‘reasonable force,’ broader mandatory reporting and new grooming law The Alaska Children’s Justice Act Task Force told the House Judiciary Committee that current statutes permit harmful discipline and muddle prosecution; the task force proposed narrowing 'reasonable force,' expanding mandatory reporter categories and adding a grooming statute to allow earlier intervention.

The Alaska Children's Justice Act Task Force is pushing for urgent reforms to protect vulnerable kids from harmful discipline and ensure justice is served more effectively.

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#AK #LegislativeReform #MandatoryReporting #CitizenPortal #ChildProtection #AlaskaChildren

Alaska amends early intervention services for children with developmental delays Legislature updates laws to enhance early intervention services for children under three.

Alaska is taking a giant leap forward for vulnerable families by amending early intervention services for children with developmental delays—ensuring no child is left behind.

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#AK #AlaskaChildren #FamilySupport #EarlyIntervention #CitizenPortal #DevelopmentalDisabilities

Alaska Senate Bill 178 expands early intervention access for children with disabilities Senate Bill 178 lowers eligibility criteria for early intervention services to 25% developmental delay.

Alaska is taking a monumental step to support children with developmental delays by lowering eligibility for vital early intervention services to just 25% delay!

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#AK #AlaskaChildren #EarlyIntervention #DevelopmentalDelays #CitizenPortal #CivicAccountability

Alaska amends early intervention services for children with developmental delays Legislation enhances resources for families of children under three with developmental disabilities

A groundbreaking bill in Alaska could revolutionize early intervention services for vulnerable children under three, ensuring they receive vital support for a brighter future.

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#AK #ChildDevelopment #AlaskaChildren #EarlyIntervention #CitizenPortal #HealthcareAccess

Alaska enacts new early intervention services for developmentally delayed children Alaska's new legislation defines early intervention services for children under three years old.

A groundbreaking bill in Alaska could redefine early intervention services for children with developmental delays, sparking urgent discussions among lawmakers and advocates alike.

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#AK #ChildDevelopment #AlaskaChildren #EarlyIntervention #CitizenPortal #DisabilitySupport

Alaska Children's Trust advocates for Senate Bill 13 to support summer food program Jen Griffiths testifies for SB 13 promoting summer EBT to combat child food insecurity in Alaska.

Alaska advocates are rallying behind Senate Bill 13 to combat child food insecurity, aiming to feed 58,000 children this summer with a crucial Electronic Benefits Transfer program.

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#AK #ChildhoodHunger #FoodSecurity #NutritionAccess #AlaskaChildren #CitizenPortal