STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3516

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 545, 546, 547, 548

 

 

 

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 545, 546, 547, and 548, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Maui Service Area Board

 

G.M. No. 545

MICHAEL ZARATE,

for a term to expire 6-30-2013;

 

G.M. No. 546

SUSAN KING,

for a term to expire 6-30-2016;

 

G.M. No. 547

ALFRED ARENSDORF,

for a term to expire 6-30-2016; and

 

G.M. No. 548

KEVIN BLOCK,

for a term to expire 6-30-2015,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee has reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by the nominees and finds Michael Zarate, Susan King, Alfred Arensdorf, and Kevin Block to possess the requisite qualifications to be nominated to the Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Maui Service Area Board.

 

MICHAEL ZARATE

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Michael Zarate from the Department of Health and the Consumer, Family, and Youth Alliance.

 

     Mr. Zarate is a Peer Specialist with Aloha House, Inc.  He is pursuing a Bachelor's degree in human services and has been involved with several Native Hawaiian organizations.  He has extensive experience working with the local community and has served on numerous boards and commissions, including the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement.  Mr. Zarate's familiarity with and understanding of the cultural needs of his community equip him to effectively voice their concerns to this Board.

 

SUSAN KING

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Susan King from the Department of Health and the Consumer, Family, and Youth Alliance.

 

     Ms. King is a Mental Health Consumer Advocate and has worked with the Maui Consumer, Family, and Youth Hui to co-chair two successful conferences.  She organized the BRIDGES (Building Recovery of Individual's Dreams and Goals through Education and Support) group on Maui to keep consumers engaged and supported when Furlough Fridays were instituted two years ago, and this group is still active today.  Ms. King is actively involved with several boards and is the Chair of the Board for United Self-Help.

 

ALFRED ARENSDORF

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Alfred Arensdorf from the Department of Health, Hawaii Medical Association, and Catholic Charities Hawaii.

 

     Dr. Arensdorf is a Clinical Professor at the John A. Burns School of Medicine's Department of Psychiatry.  Previously, he was the Medical Director of the Department of Health's Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division.  Dr. Arensdorf is trained in disaster mental health and psychological first aid and has volunteered to work with victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in the immediate aftermath of those natural disasters.  He has also won several awards for his service and is active with numerous community organizations.

 

KEVIN BLOCK

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Kevin Block from the Department of Health.

 

     Mr. Block is the Immigrant Services Program Coordinator for the Maui County Department of Housing and Human Concerns.  His focus is on issues such as incarceration, substance abuse, and justice reinvestment for immigrant populations.  He has a Juris Doctor degree and recently sat for the state bar exam.  Mr. Block has been very involved in policy advocacy for vulnerable populations including immigrant women, Micronesian persons, and undocumented aliens and is a member of the Hawaii Coalition for Immigration Reform, Maui County Domestic Violence Task Force, and Homeless Alliance, among others.  Mr. Block is intimately familiar with the recovery process and his educational, professional, and personal background will make him a significant asset to this 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,

 

 

 

____________________________

JOSH GREEN, M.D., Chair