The development of services for
Alaskan victims of domestic violence and sexual assault and their families is truly
an example of a "grassroots" effort that led to the creation of a
number of major statewide programs as well as a governmental funding agency,
the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (Council). The effort
started in 1976 when a group of concerned women established the Alaska
Women's Resource Center in Anchorage and began efforts to obtain services
for battered women. They organized the first Alaskan conference on domestic
violence. As a result of that conference, which began to focus attention on
the need for services, the state's first shelter Abused Women's Aid In
Crisis (AWAIC) was established in Anchorage in the fall of 1977. By 1978, limited services for victims of domestic violence and sexual
assault were also being provided in eight other communities, primarily through volunteers
and some federal funds.
In 1978, a statewide network of the
community-based non-profit groups that were providing services, the Alaska
Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (Network), was incorporated.
By 1980, federal funding ended, but State funds for the programs increased
to $1.8 million for FY81. This money supported sixteen programs. Funding for
the programs was funneled through the Network for decisions on program
funding, with the Department of Health and Social Services only
administering and monitoring the grants. The Legislature added intent
language in the FY81 budget stating "No further increases in domestic
violence and sexual assault budgets until legislation establishing
responsibilities is passed." There were concerns that having a
non-profit group outside of State government making funding decisions was
unprecedented and had no statutory base.
As a result, the Network and the
Department of Health and Social Services developed proposed legislation for
authorization to administer grants-in-aid to domestic violence and sexual
assault programs. The resulting legislation was AS18.66, which established
the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault and placed it in the
Department of Public Safety, effective October 24, 1981. The Network felt
strongly that since domestic violence and sexual assault are primarily
issues of safety and must be acknowledged as the serious crimes they are, the
Council should be in the Department of Public Safety. Also, cooperation of
police officers is crucial to protect victims of domestic violence and
sexual assault.
The Council, which is an
administrative, policy-making body, is composed of three public members
appointed by the Governor after consultation with the Network, and
representatives from the Departments of Public Safety, Law, Education, and
Health and Social Services. The purpose of the Council is to "provide
for planning and coordination of services to victims of domestic violence
and sexual assault and to perpetrators of domestic violence and sexual
assault and to provide for crisis intervention and prevention
programs" (AS 18.66.010) In FY01 the Council funded twenty-one
community-based victim services programs, eight community-based batterers'
intervention programs, and three prison-based batterers' programs.
