RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, child abuse has become a serious problem that requires broad-based community action to prevent children from becoming innocent victims; and

WHEREAS, recent trends across the country in dealing with this problem have been to provide alternatives to the traditional philosophy of returning the abused child to the natural family, which may not be in the best interests of the child's safety; and

WHEREAS, returning a child to a safe home should be the ultimate concern of all parties involved, regardless of whether a safe home means being placed with the natural family, an adoptive family, or a foster family; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Human Services, Department of the Attorney General, family courts, and the police department of each county are all integrally involved in the child protective services system; and

WHEREAS, the dynamics of child abuse and neglect are very complicated and experts in child welfare are needed to evaluate the child protective services system; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2003, the Senate concurring, that the Auditor is requested to consult with the National Conference of State Legislatures, or other national entities with child welfare expertise, to conduct a program audit of child protective services in the Department of Human Services, Department of the Attorney General, family courts, and the police department of each county; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Auditor work with parents, foster parents, health providers, educators, and interested private organizations and individuals to commit to the effort outlined herein; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the audit focus on the following:

and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study also include but not be limited to a review of cases of recurring abuse and neglect; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that specific system recommendations be provided to guide the reform and design for an effective child welfare system; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Auditor submit the findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2004; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Auditor; Director of Human Services; Attorney General; Directors of the Family Court, First through Fifth Circuits; the Executive Director of the National Conference of State Legislatures; Chiefs of Police of the Counties of Kauai, Maui, and Hawaii, and the City and County of Honolulu; and Child Protective Services Roundtable members.

Report Title:

Requesting the auditor to conduct a program audit across the various agencies involved in the child protective services system.