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Harry Kim <br />Mayor <br />Oltruttfij <br />ffirt <br />11 <br />Wil Okabe <br />Managing Direc for <br />Barbara J. Kossow <br />Deputy Managing [Erector <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 />March 9, 2018 <br />Senator Josh Green, Chair <br />Committee on Human Services <br />Hawaii State Capitol, Room 016 <br />Honolulu, HI 96813 <br />Dear Chair Green and Committee Members: <br />Re: HB 2277, HD 1 Child Welfare Services <br />Hearing Date: 03-12-18 — 2:45 pm; Conference Room 016 <br />Thank you for this opportunity to testify in support of HB 2277, HD 1. <br />My staff and I have been made aware of the critical need to improve chi d welfare <br />services in Hawaii County. While both of the State's East and West Hawaii offices are <br />su ering from a shortage of manpower, the initiative proposed in HB 2277, HD 1 <br />recognizes the reality that it is in East Hawaii where the State has the best chance to <br />hire and retain the necessary personnel. <br />The caseload numbers that were presented at an earlier hearing on this bill <br />varied a great deal, but it seems clear that the child welfare caseload in East Hawaii is <br />shocking and disturbing. Child welfare workers have so many clients that it would be <br />considered unacceptable by national standards. Add to that the handicap of being <br />asked to cover a huge geographic area, requiring a great deal of time-consuming travel, <br />and it is no wonder that the community is begging for your assistance. <br />The positions and funding requeste in HB 2277, HD 1 are for a "pilot project" If <br />that is determined to be the best way to give some relief to the East Hawaii workers <br />and the keiki they serve, then 1 defer to your wisdom on that matter. My main concern <br />is that the workers and their clients get the relief called for, and the sooner the better. <br />Thank you for your consideratio <br />Respectfully submitted, <br />Harry Kim <br />Mayor, County of Hawaii <br />County of Hawai`i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. <br />