MINUTES for 2022-02-23 FINAL - Laserfiche WebLink

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Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes February 23, 2022 Page 5 Identify servicemembers, veterans, and their families and screen for suicide risk, 2) Increase connectedness and improving care transitions and 3) Increasing lethal means safety and safety planning. The overall goal is to reduce the amount of suicides. Chair Doolittle concurred and added that reducing stigma, talking more can help to lessen suicide. He introduced Isaac Nahakuelua who is working on his doctorate and is a mental health professional with the State. Schwartz agreed that reducing the stigma about mental health will help. Wendy provided her contact information and invited anyone to contact her to discuss further. Wendy. Schwartzgva. gov (808) 758-4129 Chair Doolittle thanked Wendy for being present and sharing with the committee. Discussion closed. Responsibility of Veterans Cemetery and Vietnam Memorial Maintenance Chair Doolittle introduced the topic and deferred to Isaac Nahakuelua. Isaac Nahakuelua brought up this discussion because through other topics of the committee's agendas, he was curious as to the budget of the local cemeteries. He discussed research on funding, guidelines and laws o the cemeteries and the responsibilities of each government agency that affects the local veterans cemeteries. He talked about the ownership of the cemeteries and how according to property tax information State of Hawaii is the fee owner but also brough up Executive Orders as noted on the website. He posed the question if the State of Hawaii - Office of Veterans Services (OVS) would be willing to take the cemeteries back (ownership and maintenance). A discussion ensued. Kelcie Figueira of OVS explained that it would ultimately be up to the State's administration, but she didn't think it would be feasible as they do not have blue collar workers (such as maintenance workers) under their staffing. This is something that would also have to be budgeted under the State's budget for salaries of new employees and maintenance operating budgets. Lewis thanked Nahakuelua for this deep dive and thorough research and that we will continue to look at options to support our local veterans' cemeteries and Parks and Recreation staff. Chair Doolittle agreed that the key is to find ways to provide financial or labor support our local cemeteries. Discussion closed.