Report Title:

Human Services

 

Description:

Re-establishes the family center project.(SD1)

 

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

87

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2001

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

Relating to Family Support Centers.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The purpose of this Act is to re-establish the family center project, which was formerly established under Act 329, Session Laws of Hawaii 1990.

SECTION 2. (a) Effective July 1, 2001, to June 30, 2006, there is established a five-year project, known as the family center project, to be conducted by the department of human services. Under this project, the department shall be responsible for the planning, implementation, and establishment of family support centers.

For the purpose of this Act, "family" means the family as an enduring personal support system with the functions of nurturing, caring for, and educating children, youths, adults, and the elderly.

(b) There is established the family center council for the purpose of planning and implementing the establishment and development of the family center project. The council shall be appointed by the governor and consist of representatives from the public and private sectors of the community.

The council's duties shall include but not be limited to the development of a plan to make the family center project permanent.

(c) The purpose of the family center project shall be to coordinate the provision of core services to families at community-based centers to develop each community's capacity to identify and resolve its problems. Each center shall be responsive to its community and involve its participants as equal partners in program development and execution. Accordingly, each center shall be advised by a community liaison committee which shall be composed of community members.

(d) Each family center shall offer an array of services tailored to the specific needs of its constituents. Services shall be developed pursuant to family support principles which direct that services must:

(1) Be offered at convenient times in accessible locations;

(2) Build on strengths, rather than search for deficits;

(3) Involve participants and the community in planning and implementation;

(4) Show respect for participants;

(5) Serve the best interests of children;

(6) Strengthen families;

(7) Be presented in coordination with other agencies and services in the community; and

(8) Focus on community strengthening and development.

No single service shall overshadow the others, and services shall be provided in a coordinated manner. Because some services will be provided directly by the centers and other services will be provided by other agencies, the centers, with input from parent constituents, shall develop a service plan, using a systems management approach, for the provision of services. The staff of each center shall be responsible for ensuring that all components of the service plan are carried out. This may require interventions on the part of the staff, including but not limited to: accompanying parents to appointments with other agencies; advocating on behalf of parents; reminding parents of appointments with other agencies; and providing short-term counseling to parents concerning referrals for services.

(e) Each family center shall consider the following services, activities, and components when developing its core services:

(1) Enhancement of parenting skills, including community- or neighborhood-wide events and activities which promote family relationships in a positive and enjoyable manner;

(2) Infant and child stimulation activities to maximize child growth and development;

(3) Outreach services targeted at community organizations, families, youth, and others to ensure community awareness, acceptance, and participation;

(4) Health care, family planning, counseling, and other services to avoid unwanted pregnancies;

(5) Assessment and treatment planning for developmental problems of the parent or the child;

(6) Temporary developmental child care for the offspring of parents receiving services on-site;

(7) Peer support activities, including recreational and social activities;

(8) Educational services, such as post-high school classes and instruction to those attempting to earn general equivalency diplomas; and

(9) Job preparation and skill development services to assist young parents in preparing, securing, and maintaining employment.

(f) After conferring with the family center council, the director of human services may:

(1) Enter into agreements with the federal government, other state departments and agencies, and the counties;

(2) Enter into assistance agreements with private persons, groups, institutions, or corporations;

(3) Purchase services required or appropriate under this Act from any private persons, groups, institutions, or corporations;

(4) Allocate and expend any resources available for the purposes of this Act; and

(5) Do all things necessary to accomplish the purposes and provisions of this Act.

(g) An evaluation component shall be required for the family centers, which includes, but is not limited to, the following areas:

(1) Descriptive data on client status;

(2) Program utilization data;

(3) Profiles of participants;

(4) Intervention plans;

(5) Participant and community satisfaction ratings;

(6) Information pertaining to the lessons learned from operating under family center concepts; and

(7) Information pertaining to whether the family center project has changed the human services system, why each change occurred, and, if applicable, why expected changes did not occur.

The department of human services may utilize a portion of the funds available to conduct evaluations of the family centers.

(h) A training and technical assistance component shall be required for the family centers. The department of human services may utilize a portion of the funds available to conduct training sessions and provide technical assistance in developing and promoting family centers.

SECTION 3. The department of human services shall monitor and evaluate the project and shall submit a preliminary evaluation report on its findings to the legislature at least twenty days prior to the convening of the regular sessions of 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, and a final report on its findings to the legislature at least twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2006. Preliminary and final evaluation reports shall include but not be limited to:

(1) A descriptive summary of the operation of the family centers, including the services provided and a copy of the service plan developed by the centers; the number of recipients of services at the centers; the allocation of funds; staffing information; and the role and responsibility of the community family center liaison committees;

(2) An assessment of the impact of the centers upon the communities served;

(3) The composition and role of the family centers;

(4) Recommendations regarding the continuance of the family center project and plans for the implementation of other project sites;

(5) Recommendations regarding the process by which family centers are allocated resources;

(6) A projected budget for the expenditures required to continue or to expand the project; and

(7) Proposals for legislation necessary to facilitate the continuation or expansion of the project.

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $         , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2001-2002, for the establishment of a family center site, including the hiring of necessary staff.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that section 4 shall take effect on July 1, 2001.