STAND. COM. REP. NO.1253

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: S.C.R. No. 93

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 93 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN AD HOC COMMITTEE TO STUDY THE CONTINUATION OF SERVICES AFTER THE PLANNED CLOSING OF THE CASEY FAMILY FOUNDATION OFFICES IN HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish an ad hoc committee to study continuation of services for foster children after the planned closure of Casey Family Programs' Hawaii offices.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by: Parents and Children Together; the Blueprint for Change; and one concerned citizen. The Department of Human Services submitted comments on this measure.

Your Committee finds that the planned closure of the Casey Family Program's offices in Honolulu and Hilo will leave a gap in the continuum of services for abused and neglected children in adoptive and foster care in Hawaii. Casey Family Programs has made a commitment to continue serving the one hundred children already in its permanent custody after the planned closure of its Honolulu office, but will not accept any new cases. Your Committee believes that through a concerted effort of committed and knowledgeable individuals from public and private sectors, a plan can be developed to ensure that at least some of the services provided by the Casey Family Programs will continue to be provided to foster children in Hawaii.

The Department of Human Services expressed its willingness to participate in the ad hoc committee and stated that, at the Department's suggestion, the Friends of Foster Kids had agreed to serve as convenor of the ad hoc committee.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by designating the Friends for Foster Kids as convenor and the Department of Human Services as a participant in the ad hoc committee, and correcting the reference to the Casey Family Programs in the title.

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 S.C.R. No. 93, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 93, S.D. 1.

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

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair