HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0067.056 2006-2008 `o~wtr o. ~V"i
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Harry Kim Christopher J• Yuen
Mayor Director
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Brad Kurokawa, ASLA
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~L1 tI.ttyS lYl ~iY~~Tt Deputy Director
PL\ALNNINIG DLEP7~ARTMENT
10] Pauahi Sveet, Suite 3 Hilo, Hawaii 96720-3043
(808) 961-8288 FAX (808) 961-8742
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February 16, 2007
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Honorable Pete Hoffinann
Chair and Presiding Officer
and Members of the County Council
COUNTY COUNCIL
333 Kilauea Avenue, Second Floor
Hilo, HI 96720
Dear Chair Hoffmann and Members of the County Council:
SUBJECT: BILL 345 -RELATING TO FAMILY/GROUP LIVING FACILITY
Attached for your information is a letter from Dr. Scott Ray, Department of Human
Services dated February 12, 2007, relating to Bill 345 -Family/Group Living Facility.
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CHRISTOPHER~~
Planning Director
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Wpwin60/Chris 07/Hoffmann -Bill 345 -Letter from Dr. Scott Ray - Dep[. of Human Services
Attachment
Comm. No.
Ref. To:
Ref. Date FEB 1 6
Hawaii County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.
LIKOA'LINtiCE 4 ~^~y ~ LILLIAN B. KOLLER, ESO.
GOVERNOR- ~ sas ~ i DIRECTOR
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~ HENRY OLIVA
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- { OEPUTV DIRECTOR
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STATE OF HAWAII
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
P. 0. Box 339
Honolulu, Hawaii 96809-0339
February 12, 2007
Chris Yuen, Director
Planning Department
101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3,
Hilo, HI 96720
Dear Chris:
I am writing in response to your request for verification of information on the types of
facilities the Department of Human Services (DHS) licenses, so they may be included in
proposed legislation that will permit up to eight unrelated persons plus staff in group living
facilities.
The only type of facility that we really need to be included is our DHS group homes for
youth, "child caring institutions" (HAR 17-894). These facilities are governed by regulaz
oversight based on current best social work practices and 19 pages of rules regulating
everything from the physical structural requirements of the building to staff levels, required
credentials and training and all other aspects of operating such a facility. These homes serve
eight or more children who have been "removed from the home in the best interests of the
child" by Family Court, but eight is generally the maximum we aze willing to house in an
individual facility, because larger numbers are likely to degrade the effectiveness of the
program.
Most of these youth are victims, sometimes requiring only emergency shelter, but
frequently in need of longer term social intervention in a group home setting. Many have been
moved from foster home to foster home. Some have been involved in the juvenile justice
system primarily as status offenders (e.g. truancy, run-away), but violent or serious offenders of
any kind aze not eligible for placement in our group homes. To address concerns about any of
these facilities, you can contact Amy Tsazk, Administrator of the Child Welfare Services
Branch, at 586-5667, or me in the DHS Director's Office at 721-6225. In the event that they
suspect a case of child abuse or neglect, however, they should contact the 832-5300 Child
Abuse Hotline,
Our largest population of homes consists of the numerous "foster boazding homes,"
which will not be affected, because we limit them to a maximum of five children (HAR 17-
893). DHS also licenses, but DOH administers "therapeutic" foster boarding homes for
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AGENCY
children with serious or chronic physical and emotional problems which will also not be
' affected.
Family Child Caze Homes (HAR 17-891.1) are limited to six children and will also not be
affected. These facilities are literally people providing child care in their own private homes
which must be licensed by out Benefits, Employment, and Support Services Division (BESSD)
in order to be compensated with Federal TANF dollars when providing child Caze for public
assistance clients returning to work and other related activities permitted under TANF. Group
Child Care Homes (HAR 17-891.2) are literally day care centers which have to meet
regulations from a variety of sources, and would not be affected by this legislation. Neither of
these two types of facilities are 24 hour residential facilities. For complaints about any BESSD
child care facilities, you can address complaints to me or Patricia Murakami (586.5320),
Administrator of BESSD.
The only adult homes that DHS licenses and monitors are Residential Alternative
Community Care Homes (RACC), which can only house up to two (three as of July 07) elderly
and disabled individuals as specified in HAR 17-1454 in our administrative rules. We only
fund placement of DHS eligible (e.g. Medicaze/Medicaid) clients in larger group home
facilities, but those facilities are licensed and/or certified and monitored by DOH rather than
DHS. For complaints about any of these homes you can contact me or Patricia Johnson (586-
5584),Administrator ofthe Adult Community Care Branch.
I hope this information is useful and helps you see how our clientele is highly similar to,
and if anything, somewhat less severe than those served by DOH. We very much appreciate the
attention you aze paying to this critical issue. Thank you for your time and your consideration.
Sincerely,
Scott Ray, Ph.D
Grants Admin rator
Director's Office
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AGENCY