we do find that programs that are run by american indians, alaska natives, for american indians, alaska natives or programs that target hispanics, run by hispanics, tend to produce better outcomes than programs that are not sensitive to those issues. so we use sort of a bias force paradigm. there are programs that are not run by the specific population group, but have modules that are targeted to the unique needs of that group. so they do not as well as the programs that are run by the specific population group, but they do better than programs that are general. so when we look at the outcomes of, say, a woman in a male program or a general program that doesn't have any gender specific programming, she doesn't do as well as the program that is targeted to, for women, run for women or a program that has gender-specific issues. the same thing for american indian, alaska natives, hispanics, african americans, and the same thing would be applicable to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender. the key issue is of cultural competence and that is the thing that if indeed you know you've got a d

facilitate the recovery, whether it's a gay, lesbian, bisexual individual, an american indian, alaska native, someone from the hispanic community, a white from appalachia. you're still trying to facilitate recovery. so that is the one thing that we have in terms of cultural competence and we have to radiate out from that by bringing in all the other idioms and icons and beliefs associated with substance use, but we're trying to achieve that. so that gives us a good position to start from. very good. when we come back, i want to get more into really the specifics among groups of what the, basically, the approach should be for each one of these groups within the context of providing services. we'll be right back. well, i think treatment programs that recognize that language and cultural icons and support and cultural imagery play a critical role in how a person relates both psychologically and socially could position themselves to do a better job at reaching the person who is affected. so one size does not fit all, but the strategy is one of welcoming and incentivizing through environmental an

alaska. we need to be able to teach survival and other things unique to our state. . funds are to be spent. whether our natives or other areas, they are better met to those decisions. >> when it comes to how we reform our education laws, it's fits all approach doesn't work in a state like alaska. i have introduced legislation several years back. we continue to work on it. it's the school accountability act. we want to make sure we have the quality teachers. assigning things like temporary snapshot in time. when in fact, they have made progress doesn't recognize the good that comes out of our schools. we need to evaluate our schools, based on the progress they have made. i have provisions within by legislation that would help upon to advance us as a rural state and not compromise the gains we have made. first of two opportunities you will have this evening to ask questions of each other. candidates make your questions brief and to the point. responses can last a minute and rebuttals, 30 seconds. murkowski your question. >> i sent out a letter that i'm threatening social security, yet you were originally quoted