HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0067.012 2006-2008
586 4890 Dept n! Human Sarvice 02 48 25 p m 17-29-2006 1 l2
LINDA LINOLE ~ e • LILLIAN e. KOLLER, ESa.
GOVERNOR r ~ DIRECTOR
- - ~ NENRV OUVA
DEPIJr•' DIRECTOR
eC 29 P(~ ?
STATE OF HAVIIAII -
DEPARTMENT OF HI~S~R~VECES'
P. 0.8ox 339
Honolulu, Hawaii 96809-0339
December 29, 2006
The Honorable Pete Hoffman
Hawaii County Council
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Dear Council Member Hoffmann:
I am writing to support Bill 345 and respectfully request an amendment to include
facilities licensed or certified by the Department of Human Services.
Bill 345 amends the definition of "Family" to include a group of not more than
eight unrelated persons plus any program staff living in a facility licensed or
certified by the Department of Health. I would greatly appreciate it if you would
please also include facilities licensed or cert'rfied by the Department of Human
Services.
The Departments of Health and Human Services operate very similar facilities
providing a variety of group homes for children and adults. For example, our
"child care" homes provide emergency shelter and protection for abused or
neglected children who have been removed from their homes.
It is more economically feasible for service providers, such as the Salvation Army
and Hale Kipa, to provide these critical services for a larger number of children or
adults at a time, thus ensuring the availability of space on the Island of Hawaii for
their care.
The availability of services on the Big Island also prevents the need to send your
youth, elderly and disabled persons to facilities on Oahu, and allows them to be
visited by local family and friends and maintain contact with the positive
supportive elements of the communities that they know as home.
Additionally, these services often save the County money by preventing
members of vulnerable populations from ending up as victims of crime or
accidents.
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AGENCY Comm. No. 7.
Ref. To: Pr~+•ll~ G~jLt.
Ref. Gate ,1pN 4 2407
5~6 4A90 Dept of Human Service 02 4A 47 p m. 12-29-2006 2l2
The Honorable Pete Hoffmann
Hawaii County Council
December 29, 2006
Page 2
Please amend Bill 345 to include facilities licensed or certified by the Department
of Human Services and support the passage of the measure.
Thank you for helping us better provide services to the people of the Island of
Hawaii on the Island of Hawaii.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
C~~~
Lillian B. Koller, Esq.
Director
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNRY AGENCY