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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
3034 |
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TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014 |
S.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO THE HAWAII CHILD WELFARE EDUCATION COLLABORATION.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the department of human services has lost a large portion of its child welfare services staff since 2009 and is still working to rebuild with suitable experienced social workers. Twenty-one per cent of child welfare services positions were eliminated during the 2009-2010 reduction in force. By nature, child welfare services also experience attrition of its valuable workforce due to the intense and difficult circumstances under which child welfare services employees work. As of December 2013, child welfare services had sixty-four vacant positions.
The legislature also finds that the department will face a critical shortage of experienced child welfare services workers and leaders in the coming five years. As of 2012, thirty-six per cent of the child welfare services workforce had twenty-one or more years of experience. However, there is concern about impending retirements as more than thirty-six per cent of staff is fifty years of age or older, and almost thirty per cent of staff is in their forties.
The legislature further finds that between 1998 and 2008, the department of human services, child welfare services branch, and the University of Hawaii, Myron B. Thompson school of social work, successfully ran the Hawaii child welfare education collaboration. The program admitted one hundred nine students, one hundred of which completed the program and twenty-five of which are still employed at the department in child welfare services positions.
The Hawaii child welfare education collaboration was a successful workforce recruitment and training program that provided a continuous stream of qualified social workers to fill vacant child welfare positions. Each year, full-time and part-time students enter the program and receive a specialized child welfare services curriculum, field integration seminars, and practicum placement in child welfare settings. In return for reimbursement of tuition, fees, and required educational expenses, participants of the program, if restored pursuant to this Act, will agree to become employed in child welfare services for a minimum of three years after graduation. The Hawaii child welfare education collaboration is needed to help fill the current child welfare services position vacancies and establish a future workforce of experienced child welfare workers. The program will not only help the department meet federal and state statutory mandates to keep children safe and avoid financial penalties, it will most importantly help keep Hawaii's children safe and increase the level of services for Hawaii's families.
Accordingly, the intent of this Act is to build a workforce of highly qualified social workers who will increase the level of child welfare services in Hawaii and improve outcomes for Hawaii's children.
The purpose of this Act is to make an appropriation to the University of Hawaii to restore the Hawaii child welfare education collaboration between child welfare services and the Myron B. Thompson school of social work.
SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $353,176 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2014-2015 for the Hawaii child welfare education collaboration between the department of human services, child welfare services branch and the University of Hawaii Myron B. Thompson school of social work.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2014.
Report Title:
Hawaii Child Welfare Education Collaboration; University of Hawaii School of Social Work; Appropriation
Description:
Appropriates funds to restore the Hawaii child welfare education collaboration to assist with the recruitment and training of graduate students from the University of Hawaii Myron B. Thompson school of social work for child welfare positions at the department of human services. (SD1)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.