The 2017 Legislative Session is under way and we hope you want to lend your voice to ensure the needs of the children and families we serve are met.  After reviewing many bills by looking at what impact would be felt by the children and families involved in child welfare, we have chosen to advocate for the bills listed below.

Please review the bills and prepare testimony for the one(s) that speak to you.  If you have your reasons for supporting a bill, it will be very fast to put together your testimony and submit it as hearings are called.  We have supplied talking points for each bill to help with this.  Furthermore, we will send you easy to follow steps to submit your testimony when the time comes.

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SB499  and HB581   Appropriation for  Zero to Three Court

Hawaii’s Zero to Three Court (HZTT) has improved outcomes for maltreated infants and toddlers, reduced the reoccurrence of substantiated abuse and neglect of infants and toddlers in the court’s jurisdiction, and helped to change the court’s culture to focus on the needs of infants and toddlers.  An evaluation of the HZTT was conducted by the University of Hawaii’s center on disabilities from August 2013 to July 2016.  The study concluded that the program is successful in meeting the objectives of reducing parental alcohol or drug use, improving reunification outcomes for families, decreasing the length of stay in foster care and number of placements, increasing visitation frequency, ensuring timeliness of service availability, and increasing access to services.

This small but very successful program lost its national funding, thus now needs $278,430 for fiscal year 2017-2018 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2018-2019 to continue its good work.

Click here for HZTT talking points.

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HB385 and Companion Bill SB500

This bill establishes the R.E.A.C.H (Resources for Enrichment, Athletics, Culture, and Health) Program to provide a framework and funding for after-school programs in public middle and intermediate schools.  We know that extracurricular activities are especially important for children affected by foster care.  In fact, the Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act  (HR 4980) directs states to expand the opportunities for children/young people in foster care to participate in extracurricular activities.  These experiences allow youth to build skills, while developing talents, and healthy relationships with peers and supportive adults.  New experiences and opportunities—even healthy risk taking –helps children/young people discover who they are and learn important decision making skills when they are supported by nurturing resource caregivers.

Click here for SB500 and HB385 talking points.

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HB1099

This bill brings the State into compliance with the federal Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015 and the federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act of 2010. It also amends the definition of “child abuse or neglect” to include sex trafficking. Another thing that it does to help keep our children safe is that it clarifies that child abuse and neglect reports that are expunged from the State’s central registry may be retained by the Department of Human Services for future risk and safety assessment purposes.

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In addition, we may be called upon to help the Department of Human Services advocate for release of funds by the legislature to cover board and clothing allowance increases to resource families for foster children that have been agreed to by the State and Hawaii Appleseed.

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Stay tuned and thank you for all you do to make the world a better place by caring about children, youth and their families!

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