HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

THE TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION OF 2012

 

COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES

Rep. John M. Mizuno, Chair

Rep. Jo Jordan, Vice Chair

 

Rep. Della Au Belatti

Rep. Jessica Wooley

Rep. Faye P. Hanohano

Rep. Ryan I. Yamane

Rep. Chris Lee

Rep. Corinne W.L. Ching

Rep. Dee Morikawa

Rep. Kymberly Marcos Pine

 

NOTICE OF INFORMATIONAL BRIEFING

 

DATE:

Thursday, January 26, 2012

TIME:

8:45am – 9:40am

PLACE:

Conference Room 329

State Capitol

415 South Beretania Street

 

A G E N D A

 

 

 

The purpose of  this informational briefing is to review the issues, under the purview of  Child Welfare Services (CSW)[1], such as but not limited to standards for investigation of child abuse, reporting of child abuse, definition of child abuse, and final disposition for cases involving alleged abuse or neglect of children.

 

The briefing will review the balance between confidentiality for cases under the Department of Human Services and information which may be provided to family members only and/or the public in relation to cases of alleged child abuse or neglect.

 

At the conclusion of the briefing, the Chair of the House Human Services Committee will highlight the top concerns relating to the current system on child abuse and neglect obtained through the briefing and the top solutions proposed to better address child abuse and neglect in Hawaii.

 

The following organizations or individuals have been invited to participate in this briefing:

 

Department of Human Services, Child Welfare Services; and

Honolulu Police Department (HPD); and

Howard Garval, President and CEO (or his designee), Child and Family Services Hawaii; and

Hawaii Children's Trust Fund; and

Joyful Heart; and

Individuals with direct knowledge of child abuse or neglect; and

Agencies and faith based organizations which receive state funding for youth victims of abuse, neglect, or violence.

 

Only testimony from people on the testifiers list will be accepted.

 

Persons on the testifiers list wishing to offer comments should submit testimony at least 24 hours prior to the hearing with a transmittal cover indicating:

 

·    Testifier's name with position/title and organization;

·    The Committee the comments are directed to;

·    The date and time of the hearing;

·    Measure number; and

·    The number of copies the Committee is requesting. 

 

While every effort will be made to copy, organize, and collate all testimony received, materials received on the day of the hearing or improperly identified or directed to the incorrect office, may be distributed to the Committee after the hearing.

 

Submit testimony in ONE of the following ways:

PAPER: One copy (including an original) to Room 323 in the State Capitol;

FAX:     For comments less than 5 pages in length, transmit to 586-8524 (Oahu) or 1-800-535-3859 (Neighbor Islands); or

EMAIL: For comments less than 5 pages in length, transmit to [email protected].

 

Testimony submitted will be placed on the Legislative Web site after the hearing adjourns.  This public posting of testimony on the Web site should be considered when including personal information in your testimony.

 

 

If you require special assistance or auxiliary aids and/or services to participate in the House public hearing process (i.e., sign or foreign language interpreter or wheelchair accessibility), please contact the Committee Clerk at 586-6050 or email your request for an interpreter to [email protected] at least 24 hours prior to the hearing for arrangements.  Prompt requests submitted help to ensure the availability of qualified individuals and appropriate accommodations.

 

For further information, please call the Committee Clerk at 586-6050.

 

Selected meetings are broadcast live.  Check the current legislative broadcast schedule on the "Capitol TV" Web site at www.capitoltv.org OR call 536-2100.

 

 

 

 

 

________________________________________

Rep. John M. Mizuno

Chair

 

 

 

 



[1] Child Welfare Services is the social service provided to children and their families when children are reported to have been harmed or at risk of harm..  HRS Sec. 350 defines child abuse or neglect as "the acts or omissions of any person who or legal entity which, is in any manner or degree related to the child, is residing with the child, or is otherwise responsible for the child's care, that have resulted in the physical or psychological health or welfare of the child, who is under the age of eighteen, to be harmed, or to be subject to any reasonably foreseeable, substantial risk of being harmed…"