HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

147

TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES AND DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL OUTREACH SERVICES TO HOMELESS INFANTS, CHILDREN, AND YOUTH IN HAWAII.

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, approximately 15 percent of the homeless population in Hawaii are children; and

 

     WHEREAS, almost 1,800 children resided in emergency and transitional shelters in Hawaii in 2004-2005; and

 

     WHEREAS, in 2006, approximately 1,000 children ages five through 17 enrolled in Hawaii schools were homeless; and

 

     WHEREAS, homeless children are especially vulnerable to malnutrition, physical abuse, disease, sexual exploitation, illiteracy, and drug abuse; and

 

     WHEREAS, risks to homeless children become more acute where the child suffers from a disability or has special needs; and

 

     WHEREAS, homeless children frequently lack access to basic needs and services such as food, clothing, shelter, health care, and education; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2007, that the Department of Human Services (DHS) and Department of Education (DOE) are requested to develop programs to provide medical check-ups for homeless children upon arrival at homeless shelters, schedule educational activities within the shelter for homeless children, and provide shelter employees with training to address the special needs of children; and


     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that DHS is requested to:

 

     (1)  Provide outreach services to homeless infants, children, and youth who do not live in shelters;

 

     (2)  Increase services targeted to homeless infants, children, and youth;

 

     (3)  Provide financial assistance to organizations that serve homeless infants, children, and youth;

 

     (4)  Offer a plan to increase efforts to provide basic services and assistance to homeless infants, children, and youth, including food, shelter, health, transportation, and education, and also to address issues that affect homeless children such as abuse, neglect, exploitation, mental illness, drug abuse, and the special needs of children with disabilities;

 

     (5)  Offer a plan to increase funding for parent participation programs and training; and

 

     (6)  Coordinate the efforts of the Interagency Council on Homelessness with the Interdepartmental Council for Early Childhood Education;

 

and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that DHS and DOE are requested to report its implementation plan to the Legislature no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2008; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Human Services, Superintendent of Education, and Chairperson of the Board of Education.

Report Title: 

Outreach Services to Homeless Children in Hawaii