RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, the Legislature finds that deliberation of societal issues such as abuse of controlled substances, alcoholism, and domestic violence are of concern; and

WHEREAS, it is relatively well-known and accepted that the internal and external well-being of a pregnant woman is correlated to the health and well-being of her unborn child; and

WHEREAS, it has been suggested that the experience of birth imprints the basic personality of a child; and

WHEREAS, it has been asserted that domestic abuse, or a lack of harmony in a child's domestic situation may correlate to a propensity for that child to domestically abuse in the future; and

WHEREAS, it has been suggested that appropriate and sufficient touch and human contact between an infant child and its parents and others is important to that child's development; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2005, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Health, Maternal and Child Health Branch, is requested to study the role of gestational environments, gentle birthing practices, domestic harmony awareness, and appropriate and sufficient touch and their connection to reducing abuse of controlled substances, alcoholism, and domestic violence; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Maternal and Child Health Branch, is requested to report its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2006; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Health.

Report Title:

Women's Health; Child Development; Abuse; DOH