HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0527.001 1998-2000 JNYY OF ~4h
CURTIS TYLER, III ~ ` ~ ~'O
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Countilrnember ~~T i Pdx: (808) 969-3291
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COUN~I`Y COUNCIL
Co~mty of Hawaii ca
Hazoaii County Buitdin~ n,~
25 Aupuni Street C- ~
Hilo, Hawaii 96720 ~
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November 16, 1999
MEMORANDUM cn
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TO: James Y. Arakaki, Chair and CounciP e~m~bers = o
FROM: J. Curtis Tyler, Ill, Chair ~
Human Services and Econ ~c evel~ent Committee
SUBJECT: Site Visit to Sex Abuse Resource and Advocacv Services. Kapiolani Medical Center
Yesterday, the Human Services Nonprofit Grants Review Committee visited the new office and
counseling services center of Sex Abuse Resource and Advocacy Services (BABAS) located at 375
Ululani Street, Hilo. SARAS is administered by the Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children.
Our review team consisted of Rory Flynn, Liana Cox-lshizu and Alapaki Nahele`a from the Legislative
Auditor's Office and myself. Councilwoman Julie Jacobson also participated in the site visit.
Representing Kapiolani Medical Center were Sex Abuse Treatment Center director Adriana Ramelli and
Allison Lopes, Kapiolani's director of grants and contracts. Local SARAS staff included branch
administrator Martha Ah Yee; outreach intervention specialist Luann Wu-O'Brien; business manager
Kathleen Williams; and Violet De Souza, administrative secretary. Our visit commenced at 1 I:00 a.m.
and concluded at 12:00 noon.
SARAS commenced services to sexual assault victims and significant others on October 1, 1999,
following the closure oftheYWCA's Sexual Assault Support Services (SASS) program effective
September 1, 1999. The two-floor newly refurbished SARAS counseling center on Ululani Street
provides an appropriate mix of offices and private counseling space. SARAS has retained the former
SASS site at the Kona Village Professional Plaza for delivery of services in West Hawaii.
To date, they have hired 4 on-call crisis workers for 24-hour crisis response; they soon expect to fill their
full complement of crisis staff-six on-call positions for Hilo and four positions for Kona. Two half-time
prevention/education coordinator positions will shortly be filled with the addition of a newly selected hire
in Kona. Recruitment is ongoing for a clinician. SARAS is currently working with the sex assault nurse
examiners program, the Hawaii County Police Department, and the Children's Advocacy Centers in Hilo
and Kona.
Based upon our site visit and interview with SARAS program staff, the grants review team of your ~
Human Services and Economic Development Committee recommends favorable Council action on m
Resolution No. 170-99. Transfer of funds in the amount of $40,826.25 to Kapiolani's SARAS program
will assure service delivery to sexual assault victims in Hawaii County throughout fiscal year 1999-2000. d
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