April 7, 2016

Dear Neighbors,

Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Last week, I updated you about April being Child Abuse Prevention month.  April is also national Sexual Assualt Awareness month.  Today, in the House State Affairs Committee, we heard a resolution from Senate President Meyer officially designating April 2016 as Sexual Assualt Awareness month in Alaska.  The movement to reduce sexual violence in Alaska has been on-going for a long-time now, and according to testimony I heard today it is showing some success--rates of reported sexual violence fell between 2010 and 2015.

Earlier in the week, Rep. Geran Tarr and I sponsored a “lunch and learn” presentation on the Green Dot program.  Green Dot is a bystander intervention tool that seeks to reduce intimate partner violence.  I encourage you to check out the video, and feel confident in your own ability to intervene in potential domestic violence situations. 

When Alaskans work together to reduce violence and trauma in our communities, everyone in our great state has a brighter future.

HB 27: Helping out Foster Children

Last week, I was proud to co-sponsor and vote for legislation that protects children within the foster care system in Alaska.  House Bill 27 will enact several policy shifts that benefit foster youth and families.  It speeds up the process for finding an adoptive home.  It supports better educational attainment for students by increasing stability in schools, and ensures that foster kids are provided assistance in educational and vocational training.  Additionally, the bill helps children come out of foster care with transitional living arrangements.  Finally, the legislation will go a long way towards increasing the number of foster and adoptive families.

I spoke when the legislation came to the House floor.  I am pleased to report that the legislation passed the House unanimously and is now making its way through the Senate.

Digital Town Hall and District meeting

Rep. Spohnholz and constituents Posie Boggs and Jennifer Hall Jones.
Posie and Jennifer were in Juneau to discuss literacy in Alaska.

Sen. Wielechowski, Rep. LeDoux and I are hosting a digital town hall meeting tonight, Thursday, April 7th from 6:30 to 7:30pm.  We will be hosting the meeting from a committee room in the State Capitol.  You can participate in a variety of ways:

1.      Head to the Anchorage LIO at 716 W. 4th Avenue and testify in person.
2.      Send an email to me at rep.ivy.spohnholz@akleg.gov.
3.      Call in and ask your question over the phone by calling 1-844-586-9085. 

Finally, I am hosting my first-ever constituent meeting on this Saturday, April 9th, from 3-5pm at Denny’s on Debarr.  The restaurant is located 3850 Debarr Rd.  I hope to see you there. Also,  I have mailed out a survey to folks in the district.  You can complete the hard copy and mail it back to my office, or you can take it online right now.

Best Regards,

Ivy Spohnholz