STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 3555
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: GOV. MSG. NOS. 538, 541, 542, 543, 544
Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi
President of the Senate
Thirty-First State Legislature
Regular Session of 2022
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Health, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 538, 541, 542, 543, and 544, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of:
State Council on
Mental Health
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G.M. No. 538 |
TARA REED, for a term to expire 06-30-2025; |
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G.M. No. 541 |
KATHLEEN MERRIAM, for a term to expire 06-30-2024; |
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G.M. No. 542 |
LEA DIAS, for a term to expire 06-30-2023; |
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G.M. No. 543 |
SAMUEL RICE, for a term to expire 06-30-2023; and |
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G.M. No. 544 |
CHRISTOPHER KNIGHTSBRIDGE, for a term to expire 06-30-2025, |
begs leave to report as follows:
TARA REED
Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Tara Reed from the Department of Health and two individuals.
Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Ms. Reed's experience as a mental health counselor, commitment to public service, and passion for helping persons experiencing mental health and substance abuse challenges, qualify her for appointment to the State Council on Mental Health. Ms. Reed has worked as a primary counselor and group therapy facilitator for Po‘ailani, Inc. and as a case manager for the Salvation Army Adult Treatment Services. Your Committee notes that Ms. Reed currently serves on the Maui Service Area Board on Mental Health. Ms. Reed earned a Bachelor's degree in Social Work from the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa School of Social Work and has complete Master's level course work in Forensic Psychology from Argosy University. Her appointment to the State Council on Mental Health would fulfill the requirement for a community member who is a non-state employee, in accordance with section 334-11, Hawaii Revised Statutes. Your Committee therefore recommends that Tara Reed be appointed to the State Council on Mental Health based on her experience in counseling and commitment to helping persons with mental health and substance abuse challenges.
KATHLEEN MERRIAM
Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Kathleen Merriam from the Department of Health, Community Empowerment Resources, Hina Mauka, and four individuals.
Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Ms. Merriam's experience in the field of mental health, commitment to public service, and passion for helping persons experiencing mental health and substance abuse challenges, qualify her for appointment to the State Council on Mental Health. Ms. Merriam is currently a Mental Health Supervisor for the Windward Oahu Treatment Service Section for the Adult Mental Health Division of the Department of Health. Prior to that, Ms. Merriam served as a Case Manager and Psychosocial Rehabilitation Coordinator, both for the Adult Mental Health Division. Your Committee notes that Ms. Merriam is also an advisor for the National Alliance for Mental Illness, and a member of both the National Association of Social Workers and Statewide Suicide Prevention Task Force. Ms. Merriam earned a Bachelor's degree in Psychology, with a concentration in Mental Health Services, from Western Washington University, and a Master's of Social Work from the University of Hawaii. Your Committee further finds that Ms. Merriam's service on the State Council on Mental Health fulfills the requirement of section 334-10, Hawaii Revised Statutes, that a member be a representative of a principal state agency with respect to mental health. Your Committee therefore recommends that Kathleen Merriam be appointed to the State Council on Mental Health based on her experience working with the Adult Mental Health Services Division and commitment to helping persons with mental health and substance abuse challenges.
LEA DIAS
Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Lea Dias from the Department of Health and Department of Human Services.
Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Ms. Dias's experience in the field of vocational rehabilitation, commitment to public service, and passion for helping persons experiencing mental health and substance abuse challenges, qualify her for appointment to the State Council on Mental Health. Ms. Dias is currently the Branch Administrator for Ho‘opono Services for the Blind Branch of the Department of Human Services' Vocational Rehabilitation and Services for the Blind Division. Ms. Dias has served in the Vocational Rehabilitation and Services for the Blind Division for over thirty years, starting as a Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist and moving up through positions such as Counseling Section Supervisor and Adjustment Section Supervisor, to her current position as Branch Administrator. Your Committee notes that Ms. Dias has also served as the President for the National Council of State Agencies for the Blind and is National Board Member for the National Blindness Professional Certification Board. Ms. Dias earned a Master's of Education in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Your Committee further finds that Ms. Dias' service on the State Council on Mental Health fulfills the requirement of section 334-10, Hawaii Revised Statutes, that a member be a representative of a principal state agency with respect vocational rehabilitation. Your Committee therefore recommends that Lea Dias be appointed to the State Council on Mental Health based on her experience in the field of vocational rehabilitation and commitment to helping persons with mental health and substance abuse challenges.
SAMUEL RICE
Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Samuel Rice from Department of Health and Department of Human Services.
Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Mr. Rice's experience in the field of social work, commitment to public service, and passion for helping persons experiencing mental health and substance abuse challenges, qualify him for appointment to the State Council on Mental Health. Mr. Rice is currently the Assistant Program Development Administrator for the Department of Human Services' Adult Protective and Community Services, Branch Social Services Division. Prior to that, Mr. Rice served as a Supervisor for the Adult/Juvenile Community Service and Restitution Unit for the Court of the First Circuit of the Judiciary, and has over twenty years of experience working in the social services field. Your Committee notes that Mr. Rice has participated in numerous training programs in the field of social work, including topics such as workplace discrimination and accommodations, care for persons with dementia, civil rights awareness, and preventing sexual assault. Your Committee further finds that Mr. Rice's service on the State Council on Mental Health fulfills the requirement of section 334-10, Hawaii Revised Statutes, that a member be a representative of a principal state agency with respect social services. Your Committee therefore recommends that Samuel Rice be appointed to the State Council on Mental Health based on his experience in the field of social services and commitment to helping persons with mental health and substance abuse challenges.
CHRISTOPHER KNIGHTSBRIDGE
Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the reappointment of Christopher Knightsbridge from the Department of Health and two individuals.
Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Mr. Knightsbridge's experience with mental health counseling and treatment, commitment to public service, and passion for helping persons experiencing mental health and substance abuse challenges, qualify him for reappointment to the State Council on Mental Health. Mr. Knightsbridge is currently a doctoral student in Clinical Psychology at California Southern University. He has been a diagnostic practicum student for the I Ola Lahui Rural Hawaii Behavioral Health Program and was a guest lecturer for the Hawaii School of Professional Psychology. Your Committee notes that Mr. Knightsbridge also currently serves on the Colombia Southern University Psychology Advisory Board, Hawaii Psychological Convention Committee, and Hawaii Psychological Association Political Action Committee. Mr. Knightsbridge earned a Master of Arts from the Hawaii School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University Hawaii. Your Committee further finds that Mr. Knightsbridge's reappointment could fulfill the requirement of section 334-10, Hawaii Revised Statutes, that a member be an adult who has a lived experience of serious mental illness and is receiving, or who has received, mental health services. Your Committee notes that Mr. Knightsbridge currently serves as the First Vice President of the State Council on Mental Health and therefore is already familiar with the its work. Your Committee therefore recommends that Christopher Knightsbridge be reappointed to the State Council on Mental Health based on his experience in mental health counseling and commitment to helping persons with mental health and substance abuse challenges.
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,
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____________________________ JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair |
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