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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0244.003 2014-2016PhOuNen. - r'w 24N Murashige, Laura From: Okutsu, Tara Sent: Tuesday, April 14, 2015 11:27 AM To: Council Testimony Subject: Resolution No. 150-15 in Support Attachments: Testimony for Resolution 105-15 (OKUTSU).pdf To the Members of the Hawaii County Council, Thank you for the opportunity to submit testimony in favor of Resolution 105-15. �. On Sincerely,v a C =O C. Tara A. Okutsu t Victim/Witness Counselor Office of the Prosecuting Attorney County of Hawaii w yx 655 Kilauea Avenue W = Hilo, HI 96720 Phone: 808-934-3306 Fax: 808-934-3517 Email: tara.okutsu4 hawaiicountv.aov Confidentiality notice: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and/or privileged information. Any rc^icw, use, dis'clos'ure, or distribution by unintended recipients is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e- mail and destroy all copies of the original message. Comm. No.-2g1'S Ref. To: Rc�— Ref. Data APR 14 11115 April 14, 2015 The Honorable Dru Mama Kanuha, Chair and Members of the Hawai'i County Council Dear Chair Kanuha and Members of the Council, Thank you for the opportunity to submit testimony in strong support of Resolution 150-15. According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, a 2013 study shows that 11.1% of Hawaii's high school students admit to being physically assaulted by someone they were dating or going out with one or more times during the 12 months before the survey. This number, however, does not include other forms of abuse, such as emotional, psychological, verbal, and digital dating abuse, or the number of times they were hit prior to the 12 -month timeline. It does not include the naivety and denial of students who are either not aware that what they went through was abuse—or those that are making excuses for it. Nor does it include those who lie on the survey because they were too ashamed to admit it on paper. Too many of Hawaii's keiki are forced into the cycle of abuse without any warning or awareness that these kinds of relationships are NOT okay. It is too often in my line of work that I see this cycle perpetuate to each generation, either as victims or perpetrators of domestic violence. I am asking for your support in approving this resolution so that we are able to provide training and materials on the Safe Dates Curriculum, an evidence -based program that teaches young teens about what both abusive and healthy relationships look like, and how they can help their peers. The training that would be provided here on the island would not only train the appropriate individuals on the curriculum itself, but would also train others to become trainers on this curriculum. Often, we see good programs fall short due to lack of funding, and it is one of our goals to make this program as cost-efficient and self-sustaining as possible. Sincerely, em(IiTsv- Tara Okutsu Victim/Witness Counselor He.en cw�y;.. en rgoer oPpow�;ly vo.;et.- am Em W,n 956 KhAUEA AVENUE MITCHELL D. ROTH pr?Yj`!4y, HILO, HAWAII 96720 PROSECUTING ATTORNEY PH: 961-04W FAX: 9914908 DALE A. ROSS9343403 • 9U_3503PROSECUTING FIRST DEPUTY • ATTORNEY WEST HAWAII UNIT n 91-990 HALEKII ST, SURE 150 KKd KEAIAKEKUA, HAWAII 913750 PH: 322-2562 OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY FAX 32245M April 14, 2015 The Honorable Dru Mama Kanuha, Chair and Members of the Hawai'i County Council Dear Chair Kanuha and Members of the Council, Thank you for the opportunity to submit testimony in strong support of Resolution 150-15. According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, a 2013 study shows that 11.1% of Hawaii's high school students admit to being physically assaulted by someone they were dating or going out with one or more times during the 12 months before the survey. This number, however, does not include other forms of abuse, such as emotional, psychological, verbal, and digital dating abuse, or the number of times they were hit prior to the 12 -month timeline. It does not include the naivety and denial of students who are either not aware that what they went through was abuse—or those that are making excuses for it. Nor does it include those who lie on the survey because they were too ashamed to admit it on paper. Too many of Hawaii's keiki are forced into the cycle of abuse without any warning or awareness that these kinds of relationships are NOT okay. It is too often in my line of work that I see this cycle perpetuate to each generation, either as victims or perpetrators of domestic violence. I am asking for your support in approving this resolution so that we are able to provide training and materials on the Safe Dates Curriculum, an evidence -based program that teaches young teens about what both abusive and healthy relationships look like, and how they can help their peers. The training that would be provided here on the island would not only train the appropriate individuals on the curriculum itself, but would also train others to become trainers on this curriculum. Often, we see good programs fall short due to lack of funding, and it is one of our goals to make this program as cost-efficient and self-sustaining as possible. Sincerely, em(IiTsv- Tara Okutsu Victim/Witness Counselor He.en cw�y;.. en rgoer oPpow�;ly vo.;et.- am Em W,n