State wants offender-financed ASAP alternative

Spectrum, by Joel Gilbertson

The recent article in the Frontiersman on the reduction of state general fund support for adult Alcohol Safety Action Program failed to fully address the reasons behind the budget decision, and to indicate that the Department of Health and Social Services is working to ensure an offender-financed program takes the place of the existing program.

Alaska's expenditures have exceeded ongoing revenues for most of the past decade. Alaskans have spoken regularly about the need to prioritize state activities and fund those that are highest priority, but only to the extent continuing revenues will support them.

Let's put this particular decision in context. The Department of Health and Social Services' guiding principles are to promote self-sufficiency and health behaviors -- among individuals and communities. This includes encouraging individuals to be accountable for behavioral choices.

We believe that it is reasonable for adult offenders to accept responsibility for their actions. We believe that individuals must accept both financial responsibilities for ASAP-type services and attendance responsibility that result from court sentencing for violation of drug and alcohol laws. In a time of limited resources, these are not unreasonable expectations.

The FY 05 budget proposed by the Murkowski administration limits state general funding for the adult ASAP and many other fine programs. That decision should not be taken as repudiation of a program, but as a reflection of the need to prioritize and review funding options. The DHSS budget was developed to achieve savings while minimizing impact on services, access to care and eligibility for clients, and protecting rates for providers.

At the same time we are encouraging adults to accept personal responsibility, the proposed budget invests almost $300,000 to continue to operate the juvenile programs in the areas currently being served. It is our hope that this early intervention will pay off in many fewer future adults abusing alcohol and drugs.

Because most areas of the state currently have neither an adult nor a juvenile ASAP, the Department of Health and Social Services has undertaken an effort to research, develop and implement a self-supporting ASAP program. This effort is involving many partners in communities, including current ASAP providers, treatment providers, the Alaska Court System, Department of Corrections probations, local municipal and borough authorities, and the Anchorage Mothers Against Drunk Driving chapter. The new program would be available to serve both juveniles and adults in every community that chooses to operate such a program which would be completely supported financially by the individuals who receive the services, thus reinforcing individual responsibility. Other states that have models that are effective and may be adaptable to Alaska are being reviewed to facilitate the development of the planned program.

The challenge of preparing and submitting a complete state budget includes the balancing of many different issues. The budget should be reviewed in its entirety. The ultimate question must turn on whether the budget in its entirety is a reasonable use of state resources to meet the general state needs. The assessment cannot be made on the basis of any one program in isolation of the remainder of the state budget.

Joel Gilbertson is the commissioner of the Alaska Health and Social Services Department.