The state’s largest department is poised to become two separate sizable departments —again.<\/p>\n
An executive order from Gov. Mike Dunleavy is expected on the first day of the 2022 legislative session <\/a>that would split the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services into a Department of Health and a Department of Family and Community Services.<\/p>\n The proposed split was presaged by Dunleavy’s budget proposal, which was shared yesterday. In that budget,<\/a> funding is proposed for the two new departments rather than the Department of Health and Social Services.<\/p>\n Late last year, Dunleavy and state officials shared a similar plan to create separate departments via executive <\/a>order<\/a>. That proposal, which met opposition from tribal health organizations and lawmakers, fell through in March <\/a>when Dunleavy withdrew the order, citing technical issues<\/a>.<\/p>\n Department of Health and Social Services Commissioner Adam Crum said Thursday in a news conference that the fundamental difference between the two attempts is time.<\/p>\n “We had talked about this internally a lot up until the release last year, but the big difference was we had done stakeholder engagement on a minimal basis,” Crum said.<\/p>\n He said that was because of multiple factors, including a spike last fall in the number of COVID-19 cases in the state.<\/p>\n “With this, we have really taken the time and based on initiative from our legislative partners to push this message out and to really address and assuage any concerns from the general public and stakeholder groups. Also, there were a couple of items — “drafting errors” — that were identified by Leg Legal that have been corrected.”<\/p>\n Crum said as a result of outreach, each proposed department would include a transitional liaison.<\/p>\n Crum said the split may eventually realize savings, but that is not why it is being pursued. He also said it is not a step toward privatization. Privatization through an executive order would be inappropriate under state statute, Crum said, and it would require a long and drawn-out process.<\/p>\n “The main heart of this is appropriate size of government,” Crum said. “What we have here at Department of Health and Social Services is such a beast that we are the budget of 12 other state departments, the governor’s office, the court system and the Legislature combined.”<\/p>\n Additionally, Crum said it is hoped the change would improve services for Alaskans.<\/p>\n Crum said it will cost just less than $2 million for the split to happen. He said the proposal also entails adding 10 employees and the reclassification of 10 others.<\/p>\n “This is a small investment for us to actually step up and do the appropriate-sized action,” Crum said.<\/p>\n Under the proposed reorganization, the divisions of Public Health, Behavioral Health, Health Care Services, Senior and Disabilities Services and Public Assistance would fall under the Department of Health’s umbrella, according to an organizational chart. A Department of Family and Community Services would cover Pioneer Homes, the Office of Children’s Services, the Division of Juvenile Justice and the Alaska Psychiatric Institute.<\/p>\n