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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
1080 |
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THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO FAMILY RESILIENCE PILOT PROGRAM.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
The malama ohana working group was established
by Act 86, Session Laws of Hawaii 2023, within the office of wellness and
resilience to seek, design, and recommend transformative changes to the State's
existing child welfare system. In its
report submitted to the 2025 legislature, the malama ohana working group stated there is a shortage of resources
in Hawaii dedicated to preventing children and families' involvement with child welfare
services, especially primary prevention and universal support. The malama ohana working group recommended
the establishment of primary prevention and universal support programs that are
trauma-informed and culturally responsive in an effort to divert children and
families away from involvement with the child welfare system.
The
legislature finds that community and school-based organizations are safe,
accessible, and non-judgmental spaces where families can access formal and
informal supports and referrals. Providing family strengthening programming
helps to increase parents' protective factors:
parental resilience, social connections, concrete support, knowledge of
parenting and child development, and social-emotional competence of children. Community and school-based organizations, such
as family resource centers, have been successful in reducing the number of
families reported to the child welfare system.
Accordingly,
the purpose of this Act is to establish and fund a five-year family resilience
pilot program within the office of wellness and resilience.
SECTION
2. (a)
There is established within the office of wellness and resilience a
family resilience pilot program, in which the office of wellness and resilience
shall provide:
(1) Trauma-informed peer support navigators with
lived experience who have gone through the social services system to assist
families with enrollment in public or other benefits, family strengthening, and
cultural programming; and
(2) Financial assistance and resource supports to
aid with food, clothing, hygiene, housing, parenting, childcare, household, and
transportation needs.
(b) The office of wellness and resilience, shall
establish, no later than December 31, 2025, the following:
(1) Data
and referral system tracking needs and protocols to comply with applicable
state and federal laws; and
(2) An implementation and evaluation plan that
includes specific, measurable, attainable, reasonable, and time-bound goals.
SECTION
3. There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $987,150 or so much thereof
as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025–2026 and the same sum or so much
thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the office of
wellness and resilience to carry out the purposes of this Act, including the
contracting of services to implement the pilot program.
The
sums appropriated shall be expended by the office of wellness and resilience.
SECTION
4. This Act, upon its approval, shall
take effect on July 1, 2025, and shall be repealed on June 30, 2030.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
_____________________________ |
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BY REQUEST |
Report Title:
Office of Wellness and Resilience; Family Resilience Pilot Program
Description:
Establishes the Family Resilience Pilot Program within the Office of Wellness and Resilience and appropriates funds to execute the program, including the contracting of services.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.