HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0448.011 2014-2016From:Care Hawaii Hilo
11/2/15
Hawaii County Council
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Re: Resolution 268-15, Draft 2
Aloha Council Members,
8069300770 19/02/2015 15:23 #429 P.001/001
P1 to
WV M
I am writing to express my support of Resolution 268-15, Draft 2 that urges the County of
Hawaii to enlist in the Stepping Up Initiative to reduce the number of jailed persons at Hawaii
Community Correctional Center (HCCC) with mental illness.
By enlisting Hawaii County in this national effort, you will afford us the opportunity to gain
necessary training, support, and hopefully put us "on the map" for available funding. As you
know, our County is in desperate need of funding to support services within the community that
have the ability to assist these mentally ill, non-violent offenders prior to, upon, and following
their release.
Services to the mentally ill need to be expanded to include a housing, gainful employment and a
strong grassroots support network. The more support one have in their life the better their
outlook will be.
If these non-violent, mentally ill offenders are able to gain access to services prior to (jail
diversion) or upon their release from a jail or prison facility, the recidivism in our County will
lower significantly and our Department of Public Safety personnel will not face the stress and
frustration of having their facilities over capacity; and therefore, overburdened. This will make
for a much safer, healthier, and productive community for us all to work, play, and enjoy.
Thank you for taking the time to read this testimony.
Mahalo, Malama P�onn000
Kevin Hedlund MSCP, CSAC
CBCM Team Leader
East Hawaii AMHD Team
Care Hawaii, Inc.
Office: (808)930-2805
Fax: (808)930-0770
Kevin@carehawaii.com
Comm. No.
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