STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3241

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.C.R. No. 19

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 19 entitled:

 

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO CREATE A DATABASE RESOURCE WEBSITE TO HOUSE REAL-TIME AVAILABILITY OF ALL JUVENILE SERVICES FROM THE LOWEST LEVEL OF CARE TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF CARE FOR THE APPROPRIATE PLACEMENT OF JUVENILES IN HAWAII,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Human Services (DHS) to create a database resource website to house real-time availability of all juvenile services.

 

     Your Committee finds that many juveniles are being placed in facilities and programs that do not reflect the level of care that is required, and many times it is because there is a lack of communication between agencies or a lack of known options.  Your Committee recognizes that placing juveniles in service programs is more difficult than placing adults because of the acute possibility that juveniles may be physically or emotionally harmed.  Because juveniles are also still growing intellectually as people, they are still highly influenced by those around them, and both positive and negative influences can affect their lives greatly.

 

     Your Committee also finds that inappropriate placement of juveniles can lead to developmental hardship and decreased recovery and rehabilitation efforts.  The best way to address this issue is to allow those involved to be able to find appropriate levels of care with up-to-date availability and placement.  This can be done through a real-time database website that will allow probation officers, judiciary, community agencies, social workers, families, and others to access the most viable program for the juvenile's unique needs.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 19, and recommends its adoption.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services,

 

 

 

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair