Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Human Services and Health, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 168 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request a one-year extension of the Statewide Interagency Task Force (task force) to continue to develop a plan for coordination and expansion of services provided through Healthy Start to young children and their families.

The Department of Human Services, Department of Health, Hawaii Family Support Institute, Child and Family Service, Blueprint for Change, and Parents and Children Together submitted testimony in support of this measure.

The task force was created by S.C.R. No. 13, S.D. 1, Regular Session of 2003. Since then, many task force recommendations have been implemented. Members of the task force have made noteworthy accomplishments, including the establishment of an enhanced program model, now in demonstration on the Big Island.

Your Committees find that it is necessary to provide a one-year extension of the task force to further develop implementation plans to assure coordination and expansion of services provided to young children at risk and their families. In addition, the task force plans to:

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 168 and recommend its adoption.