HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-02-07 Letter to John Mizuno re HB 2277 relating to Child Welfare Services - WILHarry Kim
Alciyor
01)ffirr
Wil Okabe
Managing Director
Barbara J. Kossow
Deputy .thimigtfrig Director
25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603 • Hilo, Hawaii 96720 • (808) 961-8211 • Fax (808) 961-6553
KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy., Bldg IC • Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740
(808) 323-4444 • Fax (808) 323-4440
February 7, 2018
Representative John M. Mizuno, Chair
Committee on Health and Human Services
Hawaii State Ca itol, Room 329
Honolulu, HI 96813
Dear Chair Mizuno, and Comrnittee Members:
R HB 2277 Relatin to Child Welfare Services
Hearing Date: 02/09/18 — 8:30 am; House Conference Room 29
Thank you for this opportunity to testify in support of HB 2277.
My staff and 1 have been made aware of the critical need to improve child welfare
services in Hawaii County. While both of the State's East and West o ices are
suffering from a shortage of manpower, the initiative proposed in HB 2277 recognizes
the reality that it is in East Hawail where the State has the best chance to hire and
retain the necessary personnel.
If the nu bers 1 have seen are accurate, the child welfare caseload in East
Hawail is shocking and disturbing. Chil welfare workers have so many clients that it
would he considered unacceptable by national standards, and the caseload is even out
of line compared to other counties in Hawall. Add to that the handicap of being asked
to cover a huge geographic area, requiring a great deal of time-consuming travel, and it
is no wonder that the community is begging for your assistance.
lam not sure why the positions and funding requested in HB 2277 should be
considered a "pilot project," but if that is determined to be the best way to give some
relief to the East Hawail workers and the keiki they serve, then 1 defer to your wisdom
on that matter. My main concern is that the workers and their clients get the relief called
for, and the sooner the better.
Thank you for your consideration.
Resp
ctfu
ly submitted,
Wil Okabe
Managing Director, County of Ha ail
County of Hawai`i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer,