2018-02-26 Letter to Donovan M. Dela Cruz and Gilbert S.C. Keith-Agaran re SB 2276 Relating to Cild Welfare Services

Home

Harry Kim Mayor ffirr of Or 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603 • Hilo, Hawaii 96720 • (808) 961-8211 • Fax (808) 961-6553 KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy., Bldg C • Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740 (808) 323-4444 • Fax (808) 323-4440 Wil Okabe Aianagng.Director Barbara J. Kossow Deputy Alanaging Director February 26, 2018 Senator Donovan M. Dela Cruz, Chair Committee on Ways and Means Hawail State Capitol, Room 211 Honolulu, HI 96813 Senator Gilbert S.C. Keith-Agaran, Vice -Chair Committee on Ways and Means Hawaii State Capitol, Room 211 Honolulu, HI 96813 Dear Chair Dela Cruz, Vice -Chair Keith-Agaran and Comrnittee Members: Re: SB 2276 Relating to Child Welfare Services Hearing Date: 02/28/18— 10:45 am; Conference Room 211 Thank you for this opportunity to testify in support of SB 2276. My staff and I have been made aware of the critical need to improve child welfare services in Hawaii County. While both of the State's East and West Hawaii offices are suffering from a shortage of manpower, the initiative proposed in SB 2276 recognizes the reality that it is in East Hawaii where the State has the best chance to hire and retain the necessary personnel. The caseload numbers that were presented at the first hearing on this bill varied a great deal, but it seems clear that the child welfare caseload in East Hawaii is shocking and disturbing. Child welfare workers have so many clients that it would be considered unacceptable by national standards. Add to that the handicap of being asked to cover a huge geographic area, requiring a great deal of time- consuming travel, and it is no wonder that the community is begging for your assistance. The positions and funding requested in SB 2276 are for a "pilot project," and if that is determined to be the best way to give some relief to the East Hawaii workers and the keiki they serve, then I defer to your wisdom on that matter. My main concern is that the workers and their clients get the relief called for, and the sooner the better. Thank you for your consideration. Reg pectfully subrnitted, Harry Ki Mayor, County of Hawaii County of Hawai' i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.