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Ilarry Kim <br />Mayor <br />2....4.411019r <br />.c. <br />-rt <br />Wil Okabe <br />Alanaging Director <br />Barbara J. Kossow <br />/)put ' iklanagirig Oirecior <br />25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603 • Hilo, Hawaii 96720 • (808) 961-8211 • Fax (808) 961-6553 <br />KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy., Bldg C • Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740 <br />(808) 323-4444 • Fax (808) 323-4440 <br />February 20, 2018 <br />Representative Sylvia Luke, Clair <br />Committee on Finance <br />Hawaii State Capitol, Room 308 <br />Honolulu, HI 96813 <br />Representative Ty J.K. Cullen, Vice -Chair <br />Committee on Finance <br />Hawaii State Capitol, Roo 308 <br />Honolulu, HI 96813 <br />Dear Chair Luke, Vice -Chair Cullen and Committee Members: <br />Re. HB 2277, HD 1 Rr !Ming to Child Welfare Services <br />Hearing Date 02/21/18 — 2:00 pm; House Conference Room 308 <br />Thank you for 'his opportunity to testify in support of HB 2277, HD 1. <br />My staff and I have been made aware of the critical need to i prove child welfare services in <br />Hawaii County. While oath of the State's East and West Hawaii offices are suffering from a shortage of <br />manpower, the initiative proposed in HB 2277, HD 1 recognizes the reality that it is in East Hawaii where <br />the State has the best chance to hire and retain the necessary personnel. <br />The caseload numbers that were presented at the first hearing on this bill varied a great deal, but <br />it seems clear that the child welfare caseload in East Hawaii is shocking and disturbing. Child welfare <br />workers have so many clients :hat it would be considered unacceptable by national standards. Add to <br />that the handicap of being asked to cover a huge geographic area, requiring a great deal of time- <br />consuming travel, and i is no wonder that the community is begging for your assistance. <br />The positions and funding requested in HB 2277, HD 1 are for a "pilot project," and if that is <br />determined to be the best way to give so e relief to the East Hawaii workers and the keiki they serve, <br />then I defer to your wisdom on that matter. My main concern is that the workers and their clients get the <br />relief called for, and the sooner the better. <br />Thank you for your consideration. <br />ectful y submitted, <br />Wil Okabe <br />Managing Director,County of Hawaii <br />C )Linty of I IaNvai'i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer, <br />