STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1951

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 628, 629, 630, 631, 632

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 628, 629, 630, 631, and 632, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

 

Mental Health and Substance Abuse, hawaii Service Area Board

 

G.M. No. 628

PATRICIA ELLEN N. RICHARDS,

for a term to expire 6-30-2011;

 

 

Mental Health and Substance Abuse, KAUAI Service Area Board

 

G.M. No. 629

KURT KIYOSHI NAGATA,

for a term to expire 6-30-2011;

 

 

Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Oahu Service Area Board

 

G.M. No. 630

KURA MOANA MARIE AKAU,

for a term to expire 6-30-2010;

 

G.M. No. 631

ELLEN ALISSA HEID,

for a term to expire 6-30-2010;

 

G.M. No. 632

THOMAS J. McCORMACK,

for a term to expire 6-30-2009; and

 

 

 

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by the nominees, and finds Patricia Ellen N. Richards, Kurt Kiyoshi Nagata, Kura Moana Marie Akau, Ellen Alissa Heid, and Thomas J. McCormack to have the necessary qualifications to be nominated to their respective Mental Health and Substance Abuse Area Board.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of Ms. Patricia Ellen N. Richards's nomination from the Department of Health, the Membership Chair of the Hawaii Island Mental Health and Substance Abuse Service Area Board, and one individual.

 

     Ms. Richards is employed as a nursery worker at Leilani Foliage in Pahoa.  Her former work experience includes computer coder, shipping manager, and cook.  She has utilized the services of Care Hawaii and Hale O‘luea Clubhouse.  Ms. Richards also volunteers her time and services to the Glad Tidings Food Bank in Hilo.

 

     Your Committee finds that Ms. Richards has been actively attending and participating in Hawaii Service Area Board meetings and her appointment to the board would enable her to further facilitate and expand the implementation of the recovery process for those for whom she will be a role model.

 

     Based on her experience and training, your Committee finds Ms. Richards to be qualified to serve as a consumer representative for East Hawaii on the Hawaii Island Mental Health and Substance Abuse Service Area Board.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of Mr. Kurt Kiyoshi Nagata's nomination from the Department of Health and two individuals.

 

     Mr. Nagata is currently employed as a groundskeeper for Marriot Hotel.  He has also worked as a store room attendant and a yard maintenance worker.

 

     Your Committee finds that Mr. Nagata has a strong, positive interest in serving on the Board and that his willingness to reach out to consumers and share his own experiences while exuding his personal confidence would help them in the recovery process.

 

     Based on his experiences and training, your Committee finds Mr. Nagata to be qualified to serve as a consumer representative on the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Kauai Service Area Board.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of Mrs. Kura Moana Marie Akau's nomination from the Department of Health and four individuals.

 

     Mrs. Akau is a Care Hawaii Crisis Specialist, seasonal fundraiser for the Salvation Army, and a Kahi Kokua volunteer for Waikiki Baptist Church.  She has worked as an adult home care provider, sales clerk, housekeeper, and an officer in the New Zealand tax department.

 

     Based on her experience and training, your Committee finds Mrs. Akua to be qualified to serve as a consumer representative on the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Oahu Service Area Board.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of Ms. Ellen Alissa Heid's nomination from the Department of Health.

 

     Ms. Heid earned a Master of Social Work and Master of Arts in Political Science from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and a Bachelor of Arts in Politics from the University of California in Santa Cruz.  Her second year practicum focused on Geriatric Mental Health and Substance Abuse.  She is a Certified Peer Specialist by the Department of Health, Adult Mental Health Division. 

 

     Ms. Heid has been a volunteer for United Self Help, Helping Hands Hawaii, Mental Health Hawaii, and several other specialized service organizations.  She is an Associate Member of the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors Older Person's Division.  She has served on several Adult Mental Health Division Committees over the span of fifteen years.

 

     Based on her education, experience, and training, your Committee finds Ms. Heid to be qualified to serve as a consumer representative on the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Oahu Service Area Board.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of Mr. Thomas J. McCormack's nomination from the Department of Health and two individuals.  Mr. McCormack earned a Bachelor of Arts from Brown University, where he was nominated for the Untermeyer Fellowship in Poetry.  He has worked as an office worker for North Shore Ophthalmology, a cab driver, hospital aide, and a stock handler.

 

     Mr. McCormack's prior community experience includes serving on the Service Area Board (2000-2004) and his legislative advocacy volunteer experience with the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill.  He has been a member of the Honolulu Clubhouse for eight years.

 

     Your Committee finds that his insight and resolution would be real assets to the Area Board.  Based on his experiences and training, your Committee finds Mr. McCormack to be qualified to serve as a consumer/state council representative on the Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Oahu Service Area Board.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that are attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, experience, and qualifications of the nominees, has found the nominees to be qualified for the positions to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the nominations.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

 

 

 

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair