HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 055 Draft 01 2008-2010COUNTY OF HAWAII
RESOLUTION NO.
STATE OF HAWAII
55 09
A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF FIAWAI`I
AND STATE LEGISLATURE TO CONTINUE FUNDING AND RESTORE FULL
FUNDING TO THE HAWAII HEALTHY START PROGRAM OR CONSIDER
FUNDING 80% (9.46 MILLION) IF BUDGET CUTS MUST BE MADE.
WHEREAS, Hawai`i's Healthy Start (HHS) program was initiated 25 years ago as a
primary prevention project for children ages zero to three by the Hawaii State Legislature,
which understood that the first three years of life are critical for healthy, normal child
development and that adverse experiences by infants and toddlers are the root of Hawai`i's major
social and health problems; and
WHEREAS, HHS has since become a nationally recognized program that has been
replicated throughout the United States of America, Canada, and Philippine Islands; and
WHEREAS, HHS is the only program in Hawaii that provides preventative in-home
services to the pregnant and families of newborns deemed at risk for unfavorable outcomes, such
as developmental delay, abuse, or neglect; and
WHEREAS, facilitating primary prevention and early intervention of potential
developmental problems during the child's first three years of life has proven to significantly
lower public special education and health care costs. According to Prevent Child Abuse
America, the long term costs of failing to prevent child abuse and neglect are estimated at
approximately $108 billion nationwide and includes costs for child welfare, mental health
services, special education, and juvenile crime; and
WHEREAS, according to the Hawaii State Department of Human Services data for
2007, HHS working under recent budgetary constraints has still achieved:
• 99% of families enrolled for at least six months had no confirmed reports of child
abuse or neglect,
• 95% of families identified a medical home for their child's well and sick care
within six months of enrollment,
• 90% of women participants received prenatal care for subsequent pregnancies,
• 70% of children enrolled received immunization before age two,
• Children were screened for developmental delays as follows: 78% by four
months, 84% by twelve months, and 81.73% by twenty-four months; and
WHEREAS, HHS Hawaii screens families at the Kona Community Hospital, Hilo
Medical Center and North Hawaii Community Hospital (prenatal and postnatal) to identify a
newborn's risk level for unfavorable outcomes by assessing several areas for risk. These risk
factors might include personal childhood experience, lifestyle behavior, mental health, direct
parenting experience, coping skills and support systems, stress, anger management, expectations
of infant's developmental milestones and behaviors, discipline methods, perception and
reception of a new infant, bonding and attachment; and
WHEREAS, HHS works cohesively with Hawaii Island Pediatricians, Obstetricians and
Gynecologists, public health nurses, Department of Human Services, Department of Health,
STEPS Program, and the Department of Education and a number of community nonprofit and
for profit organizations, including Easter Seals, Early Childhood Support Program, Care
Hawaii, Department of Human Services, Kamehameha Bishop Estate Programs, Good
Beginning Alliance, Family Strengthening Services, Voluntary Case Management to extend their
visibility and reach to Hawaii Island residents; and
WHEREAS, many social service programs on Hawaii Island refer stressed families
directly to HHS for assistance; and
WHEREAS, when fully funded, HHS Hawaii Island assists approximately 700 (Fiscal
Year 2007-2008) families; however since receiving a budget cut of thirty-three percent of its
original funding in the fiscal year 2008-2009 State Budget, HHS Hawaii Island is currently only
able to service approximately 470 families; and
WHEREAS, continuing funding for HHS and restoring its full funding amount will
lower costs for the State in the areas of health care, medical costs, special education, treatment of
child abuse, domestic abuse, substance abuse, and crime; and
WHEREAS, discontinuing funding for HHS will result in a job loss for over
200 employees statewide in an already sagging economy and will result in unemployment costs
and weakening of families that have been self-sufficient; and
WHEREAS, the Kauai County Council recently adopted Resolution No. 2009-28 on
January 28, 2009, by unanimous vote, for the continued and restored funding of the Hawaii
Healthy Start program; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII, that the
Governor of the State of Hawaii and State Legislature are encouraged to recognize the value of
HHS; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Governor of the State of Hawaii and State
Legislature are respectfully urged to restore full funding for HHS for the fiscal year 2009-2010
State Budget; and
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BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that copies of this Resolution be transmitted to U.S.
Senator Daniel K. Inouye, U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka, U.S. Representative Neil
Abercrombie, U.S. Representative Mazie K. Hirono, Senate President Colleen Hanabusa,
Speaker of the House Calvin K.Y. Say, Governor Linda Lingle, Senator Russell Kokubun,
Senator Dwight Takamine, Senator Josh Green, Representative Jerry Chang, Representative
Denny Coffman, Representative Cindy Evans, Representative Faye Hanohano, Representative
Bob Herkes, Representative Mark Nakashima, Mayor William Kenoi, City and County of
Honolulu City Council, Maui County Council, Kauai County Council, and Hawaii Healthy
Start.
Dated at Kona , Hawaii, this 19th day of February , 2009.
INTRODUCED BY:
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C ~ I' MEMBER O TY OF HAWAI`1
OUNTY COUNCIL
County of Hawaii
Hilo, Hawaii
I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by
the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the
County of Hawaii on FPh ru ark 19, ~Of19
ATTEST:
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COUNTY CLERK CHAIRPERSON & PRESIDING OFFICER
CALL VOTE
AYES NOF,S ARS EX I
ENRIQUES g
FORD g
GREIiNWELL
HOEFMANN
IKEDA }{
NAEOLI X
ONISHI X
YAGONG X I
YOSHIMOTO X
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Reference: ~C-138Laived F'C.__
RESOLU"I'fONNO. ~`5 ~9