STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1746

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  GOV. MSG. NO. 153
                                        




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was
referred Governor's Message No. 153, submitting for study and
consideration the nomination of:

     SUSAN MEYERS CHANDLER, Ph.D., gubernatorial nominee as the
     Director of Human Services for a term to expire December 2,
     2002,

begs leave to report as follows:

     Upon review of the resume and other background information
submitted by the nominee, your Committee finds that the nominee
has a unique range of skills, abilities, and experience that are
assets to the position to which the nominee is being appointed.

     Testimony in support of the nominee was submitted by the
Benefit, Employment, and Support Services Division, Med Quest
Division, Social Services Division, and Vocational Rehabilitation
and Services for the Blind Division of the Department of Human
Services (DHS), Senior Companion and Respite Companion Service
Programs of the DHS, Office of Youth Services, Housing and
Community Development Corporation of Hawaii, Children's Advocacy
Centers of Hawaii, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Aloha State
Association of the Deaf, State Rehabilitation Advisory Council
for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing, Good Beginnings Alliance,
Mental Health Association in Hawaii, Salvation Army Family
Treatment Services, Waikiki Health Center, Hawaii Center for
Independent Living, Kamaaina Kids, NAMI Oahu, Adoption
Connection, Communities in Schools - Hawaii, National Association
of Social Workers, Hawaii State Primary Care Association,

 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1746
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American Academy of Pediatrics, Hawaii Medical Association,
Comprehensive Evaluation of Hawaii's Healthy Start Program,
American Friends Service Committee, Goodwill Industries, Family
Support Services of West Hawaii, Domestic Violence Clearinghouse
and Legal Hotline, Hawaii Long Term Care Association, Child &
Family Service, Hawaii Nurses' Association, and twenty-one
individuals.  Testimony in opposition was received from two
individuals.

     Your Committee notes the following specific qualifications
of the nominee:  Susan Meyers Chandler, Ph.D., is currently
serving as the Director of Human Services and is being
reappointed to another term.  She received a Bachelor of Science
degree from Cornell University, a Master of Social Work degree
from the University of Hawaii, a Doctor of Philosophy degree in
social welfare from the University of California at Berkeley, and
an Executive Education Certificate in Public Administration from
the Maxwell School at Syracuse University.  Dr. Chandler is
currently on leave as a professor at the University of Hawaii.

     Your Committee finds that, although Dr. Chandler assumed
leadership of the DHS at a time when State government experienced
declining revenues and the public demanded that government right-
size, contain spending, increase services, and reform the welfare
system, she constantly looked for creative and innovative
approaches that allowed the DHS to accomplish its mission of
protecting and helping those least able to care for themselves.
In her efforts to develop a more efficient department that served
the public more effectively, she involved all levels of staff,
private, non-profit organizations, the public, and other
governmental agencies.  Her efforts to streamline the DHS have
resulted in the reduction or elimination of policies and
procedures that adversely affected operations or caused
unwarranted delays.  She increased collaboration and coordination
of services among the Divisions within the DHS and maximized
limited fiscal resources through increasing the involvement of
the private sector and consumers.  She has been visible to all
staff within the DHS as well as to those in the public who use
the Department's services or advocate for those who use DHS
services.  She provided staff within the DHS with opportunities
for professional growth while supporting improvements in
technology to help staff manage their increasing workloads.

     Your Committee diligently questioned the nominee about her
qualifications for the position to which she is being nominated.
Your Committee also questioned the nominee about her professional
accomplishments and her vision and goals for the DHS.  Your
Committee was impressed with the education, background, and
experience of the nominee in the human services field.  Your

 
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Committee believes the nominee adequately responded to the
Committee's inquiries and sufficiently satisfied the Committee's
concerns.

     Your Committee acknowledges that there have been small signs
of improvement in the Child Protective Services system (CPS) over
the last two years, and notes that improvements are ongoing and
progressing.  However, the CPS still requires serious attention.
Dr. Chandler assured your Committee that she is aware of the need
for improvement and will continue working with the CPS, courts,
police, attorney general, medical professionals, service
providers, the community at-large, and the legislature to bring
about those improvements.  Your Committee does not believe that
Dr. Chandler should be faulted for any individual tragedy.  While
it is true that, as the Director, she must take responsibility
for the DHS programs and services, individual cases of severe
child abuse are not always predictable and may not be preventable
under the best of circumstances.  Furthermore, Dr. Chandler has
worked well with the legislature and has always been open to
working with legislators and stakeholders to make positive
improvements to protect the health, safety and well-being of our
children.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this
report, your Committee, after full consideration of the
background, character, experience, and qualifications of the
nominee, has found the nominee to be qualified for the position
to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and
consent to the nomination.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Health and Human
                                   Services,



                                   ______________________________
                                   SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair

 
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