OCS says licensing times and relative-search practices have improved but gaps remain for rural fingerprinting and youth supports
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Summary
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.
Office of Children's Services officials told the Senate Health and Social Services Committee on March 3 that they have made progress on audit recommendations about background checks, licensing timelines and supports for older youth, but operational gaps remain — particularly for rural fingerprinting and the recently lost higher-education support position.
Director Kim Guay said Part 2 of the HB 151 audit (Nov. 2023) included recommendations on background checks and fingerprinting when a child is placed with relatives. She said OCS has trained staff, worked with tribal partners to reach remote communities and tightened processes to follow up when checks are missed during emergency placements.
"When you place a child at, you know, 10:00 at night ... we don't have people on the ground processing," Guay said, noting coordination with law enforcement in some situations. She told senators the licensing application processing time has declined from over 45 days to about 43 days and that she hopes to shorten that further.
On supports for youth moving into higher education after aging out of care, Guay acknowledged a July human-resources issue led OCS to take the function back internally after losing a position that supported college-bound youth. She said the move was unplanned, and OCS is exploring closer work with universities to restore services.
Why it matters: timely background checks and licensing affect placement safety, particularly in rural Alaska where fingerprinting logistics are harder to coordinate; supports for youth aging out influence post-care outcomes and educational continuity. The committee requested additional details and follow-up from the department.