A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING LEGISLATION THAT APPROPRIATES NEW FORMULA MEDICAID FUNDS TO ALASKA'S CHILDREN FOR HEALTH CARE, CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION

WHEREAS, 23,000 Alaskan children do not have health care coverage; 1,834 of those children live on the Kenai Peninsula; and

WHEREAS, Alaska has one of the nation's highest rates of child abuse and neglect with 15,000 reports of harm to children annually; and

WHEREAS, our teen suicide rate is the nation's fourth highest; and

WHEREAS, the Medicaid Rate Advisory Commission reports that Kenai Peninsula Hospitals incurred $3 million in uncompensated care costs in 1997; and

WHEREAS, increased Medicaid formula funds from the federal government allow for Alaskans to address the serious need for expanded prevention and intervention programs assisting these and other Kenai Peninsula programs:

• Parent Support Services
• Head Start Programs
• Infant Learning Center
• Unwed Pregnancy Prevention
• Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
• Expanded anti-smoking efforts
• Increase provisions for children care; and
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WHEREAS, the increased Medicaid formula funds provide an opportunity to expand urgently needed program capacity for intervention services aimed at achieving zero-tolerance of child abuse and neglect. On the Kenai Peninsula, funds have been proposed for two additional state troopers in Soldotna that would primarily engage in child victimization cases plus three additional child care protection workers; and

WHEREAS, the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly realizes that these programs are subject to federal funding and if, after three years, the reauthorization does not maintain the current levels of funding, the programs will be evaluated according to their merit.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE ASSEMBLY OF THE KENAI PENINSULA BOROUGH:

SECTION 1. That the Assembly urges the application of increased funds from the new federal formula Medicaid appropriation to address the needs of Alaska's children providing:

• health care coverage for uninsured children
• increased services for prevention and intervention of child abuse and neglect.
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SECTION 2. That this resolution takes effect immediately upon its adoption.

SECTION 3. That copies of this resolution be distributed to Governor Tony Knowles and to the members of the Alaska State Legislature.

ADOPTED BY THE ASSEMBLY OF THE KENAI PENINSULA BOROUGH THIS 21st DAY OF APRIL, 1998.

Jack Brown, Assembly President

ATTEST:

Linda S. Murphy, Borough Clerk