STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3659

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 151

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Human Services and Health, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 151 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH'S CHILD AND ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH DIVISION TO CONDUCT A FEASIBILITY STUDY ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTER OFFICE, ALSO KNOWN AS A FAMILY GUIDANCE CENTER OFFICE, IN KA‘U IN THE COUNTY OF HAWAII,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the Department of Health's Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division to conduct a feasibility study on the establishment of a Community Mental Health Center Office, also known as a Family Guidance Center Office, in the Ka‘ū district in the County of Hawaii.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from one member of the Hawai‘i County Council. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Health.

Your Committees find that the Department of Health's Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division manages Community Mental Health Centers, also known as Family Guidance Centers, that provide Hawaii's children and youth who have serious emotional or behavioral challenges access to essential intensive mental health services. On the island of Hawaii, there are two Family Guidance Centers--the East Hawaii Family Guidance Center in Hilo; and the West Hawaii Family Guidance Center that operates two offices, one each in Waimea and Kona. The West Hawaii Family Guidance Center's Kona office has been closed for some time as the lease for a new premises is being finalized, and as a result, the Waimea office currently serves the entire western region of the island of Hawaii. Your Committees further find that many residents in the Ka‘ū District on the south side of the island of Hawaii, which is located approximately one hundred miles from Waimea, face cultural, financial, and geographical barriers that prevent them from accessing health services. This measure will help determine the feasibility of establishing a Family Guidance Center office in the Ka‘ū district to serve the needs of the children and youth who reside in the southern region of the County of Hawaii.

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. 151 and recommend its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Human Services and Health,

________________________________ JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair

________________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair