THE SENATE

KA ‘AHA KENEKOA

 

THE THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE

INTERIM OF 2024

 

COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Senator Joy A. San Buenaventura, Chair

Senator Henry J.C. Aquino, Vice Chair

 

 

NOTICE OF INFORMATIONAL BRIEFING

 

DATE:

Thursday, November 21, 2024

TIME:

10:00AM

PLACE:

Conference Room 229

State Capitol

415 South Beretania Street

 

 

PHOTO ID REQUIRED FOR ENTRANCE TO THE STATE CAPITOL

BUILDING HOURS: 7AM TO 5PM, MONDAY - FRIDAY

 

A live stream of all Senate Standing Committee meetings will be available on the Senate YouTube Channel.

 

 

A M E N D E D  A G E N D A

 

This briefing aims to address the April 2024 audit and concerns re. regarding Foster Care by Child Welfare Services (CWS). There will be focus on recommendations from the Malama Ohana Working Group's data, the Audit of CWS, the 2016 East Hawaii Pilot Program findings, and any improvements by DHS to increase recruitment of foster families and social workers. The goal is to develop strategies to enhance support, improve recruitment, and strengthen the CWS system's effectiveness. [Edited on 11/18/24]

 

List of individuals/Departments that will be present:

·         State Auditor: Les Kondo

·         Department of Human Services: Director Yamane and Deputy Director Speer

·         Department of Child Welfare Services: Daisy Hartsfield – Administrator, Elladine Olevao – CWS Brand Administrator

·         Malama Ohana Working Group: Director Hartsock, Laurie Tochiki – Co-Chair, and Venus Rosete-Medeiros Co-Chair

 

Please note that each presenter will have fifteen minutes to present so that there will time for questions and answers.

 

Agenda:

      I.        Highlights of April 2024 Audit of CWS by Les Kondo

      a.    DHS Response

 i. Did the increased budget for pay differentials, of recruitment/training for resource caregivers in        2022 address these issues.

     II.        Malama Ohana Working Group Recommendations

a.     Delve into proposed strategies and their potential impact.

b.     Assess effectiveness in preventing future child abuse.

   III.        2016 East Hawaii Pilot Program

a.     Discuss successes and challenges faced.

b.     Analyze outcomes and lessons learned.

   IV.        Recruitment Status

a.     Update on Family First Hawaii Parents and Children Together/ Foster Parent recruitment. [Edited on 11/18/24]

b.     Update on Social Worker recruitment efforts.

c.     Identify gaps and strategize improvements within system.

 

Briefing Materials

 

No public testimony will be accepted.

 

The cable TV broadcast and/or live stream of this meeting will include closed captioning. If you require other auxiliary aids or services to participate in the public hearing process (i.e., interpretive services (oral or written) or ASL interpreter), please contact the committee clerk at least 24 hours prior to the hearing so that arrangements can be made.

 

FOR AMENDED NOTICES:  Measures that have been deleted are stricken through and measures that have been added are underscored.  If a measure is both underscored and stricken through, that measure has been deleted from the agenda.

 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL THE COMMITTEE CLERK AT (808)586-6890.

 

 

 

 

 

_____________________________________

Senator Joy A. San Buenaventura

Chair

 

 

_____________________________________

Senator Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate