You need to watch this

Senate Judiciary Committee addresses a Department of Justice Investigation into the State of Alaska's Behavioral Health System for Children.

This is hard to write. It’s easy to share only the good things happening in government, and frankly, many folks in my position would do just that.

But I can’t.

In December of 2022, the U.S. Department of Justice released a scathing report that describes an indefensible system of hyper-institutionalization of Alaskan children with behavioral health needs. What’s even worse, a disproportionate amount of those being institutionalized out-of-state are Alaska Native children.

I often use the word untenable to describe things that are unjustifiable and in this case, what is happening to Alaskan children in crisis is without a doubt, untenable.

I don’t have the silver solution right now. I wish I did. But please know, I am working with my school board members and behavioral health community advocates to find pathways forward. That is my promise to you - to fight with everything that is in me for Alaskans, for our children. It’s way past time for us to do better, to be better.

Wednesday, February 8th Senate Judiciary Hearing